Surveys 162 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals with regard to suicidal behaviors, suicide risk factors, and reasons for living. Approximately 41% of the respondents indicated a serious consideration of suicide including the identification of a specific suicide plan or a past suicide attempt with significant intent to die.…

The degree of ambiguity in the term "suicide attempt" was examined among 14 expert suicidologists, and 59 general mental health clinicians. The participants judged whether each of ten vignettes of actual adolescent self-harm behaviors was a suicide attempt. Low levels of agreement were found within each group, although agreement was better for the…

Cognitive style is a well-established theoretical construct but there is considerable ambiguity in the way it has been used and uncertainty regarding the nature of its role in suicide. This article suggests that enriching cognitive styles through the development of thinking skills is possible when the therapy session is construed as a learning…

Examines the psychological studies of bereavement support groups as well as exploring the ways in which people talk about their participation in such groups after their family member's suicide. This paper draws on a study of 16 interviews with bereaved parents and (adult) children, half of whom had attended a bereavement support group after their…

Presents two case vignettes that pose issues of concern for suicide postvention, with particular relevance to the development of school-based crisis intervention response programs. Two commentaries follow the vignettes. (Author/NB)

Developed pilot instrument to examine differences between adolescents who have attempted suicide and others. An 86-item questionnaire was administered to 25 suicide attempters and 57 nonsuicide attempters. Found significant differences for each of 3 domains (family environment, social environment, self-perceptions) and for 55 questions. Used…

The article details those characteristics of gifted students which make them more vulnerable to suicide. It discusses warning signs to help identify gifted students at risk of suicide and describes prevention and intervention programs. Resources are listed. (Author/DB)

Compared young (aged 18-25) and other adults on characteristics of suicide, examining unbearable psychological pain, interpersonal relations, rejection-aggression, inability to adjust, indirect expressions, identification-egression, ego, and cognitive constriction. Found that young adults' suicides did differ psychologically in a number of…

Employed record linkage using emergency room logs to study adolescent suicidal behavior. Compared suicidal patients to age- and sex-matched adolescents being treated for reasons unrelated to suicidal behavior. Found suicidal subjects had higher risk of contact with state Department of Social Services, organization which devotes 90 percent of…

Three neuropsychological case studies of individuals with learning disabilities support the possibility that nonverbal learning disability is associated with greater emotional dysfunction and the potential for suicide. Further research to resolve some concerns about this possible predisposition to suicidal behavior is recommended. (MSE)

Suicide is not just a high school problem. When a 10-year-old student was found dead at home, district administrators decided not to overdramatize the event. While appropriate communications were being made, district guidance counselors, assisted by 7 child-study team members, worked with students and staff to put the tragedy into perspective.…

Surveyed 737 university students using measure of suicidal ideation. Found that over 43 percent of subjects had experienced some level of suicidal ideation during previous year, 14.9 percent of whom acted on thoughts without making suicide attempt and 5.5 percent of whom had actually made suicide attempts. Serious suicidal ideation and actual…

Presents some sociohistorical concepts about suicide as framework for considering contemporary attitudes among elderly. Includes verbatim report of group therapy session in long-term care facility in which residents openly discuss their feelings about suicide of fellow resident a day earlier. Illustrates importance of emotional outlet, such as…

Examined lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts in 1,425 Hispanics and 1,309 non-Hispanic Whites. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, fewer Hispanics reported ideation or attempts. More women of both ethnic groups reported suicide attempts than did men. Individuals with psychiatric disorder diagnoses were more likely to report suicide…

In this interview, psychiatrist Barry Garfinkel and "Kappan" Senior Fellow Jack Frymier explore appropriate school responses to the growing adolescent suicide problem. The three strongest social correlates of youthful suicidal behavior are family background, youth unemployment, and decreasing religious observance. Superintendents need to control…