Relative to controls, crisis workers have consistently higher apprehension about their own mortality. Significance for selection and training of suicide counselors is noted. (Author)

Chronic callers (N=67) are reviewed; 51 percent were diagnosed as drug or alcohol dependent. Four were known to have committed suicide and 37 had made suicide attempts; 47 percent of the group was eventually referred to an ongoing treatment resource. Agency strategies for dealing with the chronic caller are discussed. (Author)

Although the suicide rates of people over 60 continue to be consistently higher than those of younger age groups, relatively little research has scrutinized the phenomenon of geriatric suicide. Recent research is summarized and reviewed. Suggestions are offered for the direction and scope of future research. (Author)

Focuses on patterns and trends of Black suicide across the life span. Examines risk and protective factors, influence of cultural factors, and implications of these patterns. Risk factors include male gender, early adulthood, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, antisocial behavior, and homosexuality. Protective factors include southern…

Examines a scale that assesses prisoners' (N=1,655) emotional states and suicidal tendency. Results indicate that the scale has both high test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Subscales showed significant discriminant power in differentiating the high- and low-risk groups which were classified according to various measures of suicidal…

Reexamines a case originally published in 1977--before it was appreciated that suicide aggregated in the families of adolescents--to illustrate the importance of identification as a suicide-inviting factor. Presents the case and then provides comments from two professionals. (RJM)

This article highlights findings of a study on the suicides of three academically talented male adolescents. Results of the psychological autopsies are reported in terms of commonalities with adolescent suicide in the general population; commonalities among the three cases related to their giftedness; and themes emerging across the cases,…

Study evaluated the peer-based Suicide Intervention Project (SIP) in terms of changes experienced by its first participants. Improvements were expected in attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, self efficacy and intentions toward talking to other university students about personal feelings and mental health problems. Results are discussed…

Proposes a nomenclature for suicide-related behavior in the hope of improving the clarity and precision of communications, advancing suicidological research and knowledge, and improving the efficacy of clinical interventions. Provides a background of the ambiguity surrounding suicide terminology, contrasts nomenclature with classification, and…

Reviews the concept of rational suicide and compares it with one researcher's list of commonalities of suicide. Claims that the list cannot accommodate rational suicide. Suggests that the list is biased against rational suicide and should be renamed so it cannot be maintained that suicide must be irrational. (RJM)

An analysis of suicide-related calls received by a crisis center indicates that the overall number of calls varied by both month and day of the week. Suicide ideation calls, and calls involving a suicide attempt, varied by day of the month. Results could be used in scheduling crisis center staff. (RJM)

Tests the ability of the Edinburgh Risk of Repetition Scale (ERRS) to identify patients at high risk for repeat deliberate self-poisoning (DSP). A statistically significant relationship between ERRS scores and repetition was observed; however, sensitivity and specificity were low. The ERRS had limited value in identifying patients at high risk of…

A vignette depicting classical features of major depression was presented to subjects along with questions related to mental health literacy. Responses of those with major depression were compared to those of a control group. Results demonstrated that despite increased professional contact by those with major depression and suicidal ideation,…

Examines the relationship between the exposure of adolescents to the suicide of a peer and subsequent suicide risk. Results failed to support any of the hypothesized differences between exposed and unexposed adolescents of differing relationship categories on measures of suicide risk or depressive symptomatology. Three possible explanations for…

Using Erikson's theories on identity development as a framework, this paper examines the motives for and contexts of suicide among preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults, identifies specific school-age populations that are vulnerable to suicide, and discusses implications. (Contains 45 references.) (GCP)