This survey of 60 adolescents with behavioral-emotional disorders revealed significant gender differences in the frequency of suicide ideation and suicide attempts, with the females reporting higher frequencies in both areas. No gender differences were found in the rationales offered by the adolescents for suicidal behavior. (Author/JDD)

Provides support for connection between grief reactions and traumatic life events. Discusses reactions to life traumas (alcoholism, abuse, disability, divorce, infertility) within context of grief framework. Applies literature pertaining to responses to suicide and murder to traumatic life events. Discusses and dissolves proposed differences…

A study illustrates how legal sanction promotes a culture that transforms suicide into assisted suicide and encourages choosing death when faced with serious illness. The question of extending legal euthanasia to those not physically ill complicates the issue. Also, doctors may feel they can end a terminally-ill patient's life without consent.…

In contrast to attempted suicide rates of 9-12% among adolescents in community-based studies, attempted suicide was reported by 39% of 138 self-identified gay and bisexual adolescent males presenting in a social service agency for lesbian and gay adolescents. Findings suggest that gay youths are at increased risk for attempting suicide. (TJQ)

Estimated impact of exogenous social and political events on suicide behavior in the United States between 1910 and 1920. Concluded that World War I did not influence suicide; Great Influenza Epidemic caused suicide to increase; and continuing decline in alcohol consumption from 1910 to 1920 depressed national suicide rates. (Author/NB)

Reviews various systems of psychotherapy for suitability for suicidal clients. Discusses psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy, primal therapy, transactional analysis, Gestalt therapy, reality therapy, person-centered therapy, existential analysis, and Jungian analysis in light of available treatment options. Includes 36 citations. (Author/CRR)

Describes cognitive-behavioral approach to family therapy for suicidal people. Reviews relationship between family interactions and suicide. Highlights general strategies for treating suicidal family members. Focuses on adolescents and parents. Includes clinical examples. Suggests family influence on members' emotional and social adjustment is…

Compared to normal controls who had never attempted suicide, suicide attempters (n=45) between 16 and 30 years of age admitted to a general hospital psychiatric ward were significantly more hopeless, depressed, and hostile. The suicide attempts seemed to occur in response to stress. A crisis intervention model was suggested as most appropriate way…

College students (n=210) read obituaries describing suicidal death of 18-year-old man or woman, in which survivors were described as mother and father, father and stepmother, or mother and stepfather. Found that stepparents were viewed as having been less "close" to victim, as taking less time to "recover psychologically" from loss, and…

A crisis-intervention plan charts the components of the school district's response to a crisis that includes prevention, intervention, and follow-up. The plan should explain how a school will communicate with other agencies, staff, parents, students, and the news media; describe what long-range training the school will provide for school…

Notes that, although Native Americans show high rates of alcoholism, violence, suicide, and early death, these problems are seldom covered well in textbooks. Conducted content analysis of 26 textbooks on alcoholism and substance misuse. Found that only four provided detailed discussion of Native American drinking. Suggests need for greater…

Examined impact of medical student's suicide on fellow medical students (n=20). Identified pattern of posttraumatic symptoms which persisted over several months. Found students' tendency to identify with victim was related to prevalent experience of medical student depression. (Author/ABL)

Compared social correlates of African-American statewide suicide rates to Caucasian rates. Found Caucasian suicide rates were higher in south and west; African-American rates were higher in the north. Homicide rates of Caucasians and African Americans showed similar patterns of associations with social variables, particularly those related to…

Studied suicide risk after attempted suicide, as predicted by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolite concentrations, in 92 psychiatric mood disorder inpatients admitted shortly after attempting suicide. Results revealed that low CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) predicted short-range suicide risk after attempted suicide in mood…

Explored experiences of 35 survivors of suicide during 9 months after suicide of family member. Although 26% reported at least one experience of perceived stigmatization related to the suicide, 69% of subjects reported experiencing strong social support from others. Most reported role uncertainty in themselves regarding how they should behave as…