This document is a short summary of teenage suicide issues intended for use by teachers. Possible causes for teenage suicide are discussed, including: (1) chemical abuse; (2) unrealistic view of death; (3) the nuclear threat; (4) societal changes; (5) family changes; (6) lifestyle decisions; (7) academic pressures; and (8) the success code.…

This document presents a report and supplemental views from the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor concerning H.R. 4650, The Youth Suicide Prevention Act. An amendment to the bill is provided and a brief summary of the purpose of the Youth Suicide Prevention Act is given. Legislative background and consideration of the bill…

This report was written as part of an attempt by the state of Vermont to significantly decrease the number of adolescents involved in self-destructive and suicidal behaviors. It focuses on schools as a starting point to preventing youth suicide in Vermont. The introduction outlines the extent of the problem of adolescent suicide. The remainder of…

A comprehensive bibliography of publications on the subject of death education is presented. Listed items represent only those published over the past 8 years. The listing is divided into articles and books which have focused on various dimensions of dying and death and those which deal exclusively with suicide and life-threatening behavior. Only…

Few follow-up studies of parasuicides in the literature focus on changes in underlying psychopathology. This study compared a group of parasuicides who mastered their presenting problems within 3 months after the key episode with a group who had not and examined some of the underlying psychopathology and its relationship to repetition of suicidal…

This instructional module emphasizes that depression and suicide are real problems for elderly people, shows how depression and suicidal thoughts can arise in older people, and describes interventions that can be used. Chapter 1 presents an introduction and overview of elderly suicide and includes sections on the plight of the elderly, community…

Designed as a guide for the prevention of suicide and other self-destructive behavior, this booklet is divided into two main sections. Outlining the problem of suicide in the nation, the first section contains an introduction to the topic of suicide with statistical information, then eight segments deal with such subjects as facing the reality of…

This document presents information on suicide intended for a general audience who want to understand and prevent suicide. The history of suicide in ancient cultures and its incidence in industrialized countries is discussed first. Especially concerned people, i.e, survivors, families at risk, individuals at risk, and caregivers, are defined.…

In response to the recent suicide epidemic, many school districts have struggled to devise suicide prevention procedures. Smithtown Central School District in St. James, New York developed procedures in 1983 using research data on the warning signs and risk factors relating to the suicidal child. These procedures focus on a multidisciplinary team…

Suicidality ratings for 90 patients in a voluntary psychiatric hospital ward are correlated with five possible indices of depression: self-ratings of depression, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale scores, depressive diagnosis, and alcohol and drug use. Both depression and suicidality emerges in the factor structure as…

Changes in the direction and magnitude of adult black suicide rates in large metropolitan centers of the United States are examined in this paper. The data presented are primarily from Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) with 100,000 or more black residents and indicate that (1) the gap between the suicide rates of black males and…

This survey investigation examines practicing high school counselors' knowledge of adolescent suicide, and the counselors' formal training in "suicidology" with particular reference to the sex of the counselor respondents regarding knowledge and training. A questionnaire of 28 items was constructed, field-tested and mailed to 425 professional high…

Severly depressed children were identified who were also self-abusive and/or suicidal. Case study revealed fragmented, pathological homes, where the children's affect disorders were symptomatic of acute family breakdown, marital disharmony, and violence, both verbal and physical. Follow-up on children revealed that no child had committed suicide.…

The trend of increased adolescent death by suicide is an international problem. Discusses why it happens and what motivates a young person who is on the threshold of life that he would rather die than live. Gives statistical data and behavior theories related to suicide. (Author/RK)

To the extent that suicidal persons are met with consistent respect, concern, acceptance, and a desire to help in understanding their feelings and behavior, the risk of self-destructive action will be diminished. (Author)