Presents possible factors that might produce lower risk for suicide among future elderly in the United States. Makes predictions of elderly suicides based on assumption of stable rather than changing rates; produces estimates of more than twice current number of suicides and proportionate increase in number of suicides from 1:5 for 1980s to 1:3 by…

Examined perceptions of bereaved undergraduate students (n=112) and a matched group of potential comforters. Bereaved students reported experiencing more unhelpfulness and blame and less interpersonal contact than potential comforters thought they would give, but also reported more recovery and acceptance, more helpful support, and less need for…

Study of prejudice directed toward deviant and psychiatric groups and toward religious and ethnic groups involving 44 college student subjects replicated results of 25-year-old study. Deviant and psychiatric groups, including people dying from cancer and suicide attempters, received more prejudice than did religious and ethnic groups. Extraversion…

Epidemiologically based study investigated 14 suicides among current patients of London psychiatric unit. Statistical analysis showed it to be discrete cluster of suicides, rather than chance occurrence. Found no evidence of direct linkage or "contagion" between suicides. Thirteen patients suffered from severe, chronic mental illness.…

Examined hypothesis that introversion in general and introverted-intuitive-feeling-perceiving type as measured by Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are related to suicidal ideation/behaviors. Data from 330 college students revealed 4 interactive suicidal behavior risk models: introverted-perceiving (females); introverted-sensing-feeling (males);…

A high school principal describes a 48-hour plan he constructed to deal with adolescent suicide. Essential steps include activating the emergency contact chain used for school closings, enlisting community support, relaying the facts, refusing to glorify the suicide, helping staff help students, and evaluating the plan. (four references) (MLH)

Notes that suicide is common in old age, but public opinion remains negative. Following a review of theories of suicide and summary of arguments against suicide, constructs argument for why elderly have unique claim to an ethical, unobstructed suicide. Claim rests on their "developmental autonomy," based on experience and wisdom of the elderly.…

Evaluated postvention provided to two schools following student suicides. Devised risk index for suicidal behavior among exposed adolescents that differentiated high (n=272) and low (n=534) scorers on outcome variables. Counseled students (n=63) did not differ from matched controls (n=63) at eight-month follow-up on range of outcome variables.…

Proposes that difficulties in the formation of cohesive gender identity are related to the adolescent's motivation to attempt suicide. Uses Fast's (1984) distinction between "event-centered" and "self-centered" experiences to explore problems in formation of gender identity with reference to regression to earlier stages of…

Examined whether illness type, pain level, and life expectancy affected reactions of undergraduates (n=160) toward a terminal illness suicide with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or cancer. AIDS patients were more stigmatized than cancer patients; suicide was more tolerated if victim was suffering greater pain. (Author/ABL)

Presents case summary involving survivors of suicide of 17-year-old child. Includes two therapists' comments on working with issues and dynamics described. One therapist suggests seeking entry into the family system through the father's difficulties. Another therapist recommends using the "Gandhi technique" or the intervention used by…

Shows how discrete-time survival analysis can address questions about onset, cessation, relapse, and recovery. Uses data on onset of suicide ideation and depression and relapse into cocaine use to introduce concepts underpinning method, describe action of discrete-time hazard model, and discuss main effects and interactions that can be included as…

Reviews literature germane to school-based suicide programs and identifies components that are descriptive of comprehensive and systematic school-based suicide programs. Uses literature review to devise checklist to enable school counselors to compare their programs with current views of prevention of teenage suicide. Checklist is appended and…

Administered Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST) to 408 American college students. Like Israeli youth from other studies, suicide tendency in American sample was characterized by four attitudes: attraction to life, attraction to death, repulsion by life, and repulsion by death. All four factor scales showed good reliability estimates.…

Examined impact of cause of death on responses to bereaved individual. Sixty adults listened to audiotape of recently bereaved widow. There were three versions of tape, each identical except for stated cause of death: suicide, accident, or heart attack. Found that respondents were more anxious after interaction than before. Perceptions of person…