This opinion piece considers the current predominance of assessment tools and strategies in working with people at risk of suicide, and questions their efficacy and how they are privileged in day to day mental health practice. While such tools and an evidence-based "scientific" approach to assessment clearly has its place, the author…

The death of a child is one of the most tragic events imaginable. Even more gut-wrenching is when a child intentionally chooses to end his or her own life in order to escape from unbearable suffering. Unfortunately, the occurrence of self-harm behaviors increases dramatically and occurs at elevated rates during adolescence (Nock et al., 2008), and…

People who have committed a certain sin ought to be dead; I am a person who has committed that sin; therefore, I ought to be dead. Thus is the logic of a suicidal mind. Lester, Szaz, and others argue the "sinner" should always be allowed to kill him/herself. Shneidman, Leenaars and others do not agree. Once one knows the suicidal mind, it is easy…

A 15-year-old male presents with moderately severe depression, and fluoxetine 20 mg is initiated. When he returns 14 days later, he describes suicidal ideations for the first time. He has recurrent thoughts of wishing he were dead, a plan, but no intent to act. How would this affect medication management? This article presents the opinions of five…

Examines suicide rates among Blacks and explores theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon. Suggests that increased incidence of suicide among young Blacks is due to decreased Black solidarity because of stresses from overt racism, and discusses intervention strategies for suicide prevention and therapy that emphasize strengthened social…

Reviews recent trends in suicide among young Blacks and discusses three inadequate causal theories (urban stress, status integration, and Black family deficit). Presents an alternative explanatory paradigm which focuses on weakened communal and family ties as a result of upward mobility. (MK)

Considers explanations for women's use of less violent methods to commit suicide. Reinterprets "Snow White" and makes parallel with contemporary clinical cases to show that illusion of a nondefinitive death is often assimilated, in western culture, with step toward rebirth. (Author/NB)

A psychiatrist discusses adolescent suicide and points to clues that may alert teachers to symptoms of student depression. Teachers should watch for students who have experienced a loss and who show sudden changes in behavior. Steps for helping them are suggested. (PP)

This paper describes 10 common characteristics of suicide that pertain to suicide committed at any age. Each characteristic is defined and analyzed, with specific approaches to treatment identified. The 10 characteristics, based on clinical experience and the relevant work of others, are listed. The commonalities discussed include: (1) the common…

Presents information about suicide among adolescents. Profiles the suicidal person and reviews general distress signals and events precipitating suicide. Suggests responses to potential or actual suicides, including intervention, prevention, and ministry strategies. Provides recommendations for educators and clarifies common myths about suicide.…

Stephenson, Belesis, and Balliet (2005) urge that future research on college student suicide should not continue its historical emphasis on completed suicide nor on the contrast between students and non-students. But their paper does not provide an adequately complete and accurate summary of our present knowledge of completed student suicide. This…