Notes that diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to denote death sentence. Contends that AIDS is unique terminal illness in that no other single disease in history of American legal system has generated more litigation than AIDS. Examines medico-legal issues associated with AIDS-related death: estate planning,…

Applied reliable coding system to narrative descriptions of meaning of death contributed by 504 college students. Content analysis of free-form responses suggests that constructions of death differed significantly depending on subject's sex, health status, previous history of suicide attempts or ideation, and death fear or threat. (Author/NB)

Study of selected elderly psychiatric inpatients (n=152) suggests that suicidal ideation may initiate process of smoldering when patient, family, and professionals interact in such a way as to dampen apparent distress. Suicidal thoughts/mood may be masked by affective or cognitive constriction, camouflaged by anxiety and external agitation, and…

In conceptual framework of suicide process, reviews literature on life events and social support in suicide. Concludes that life events play important role in suicide process as risk and precipitating factors and that findings on disintegration of social networks and poor social support indicate lack of protective factors. Discusses implications…

Reviews climate in legal and clinical formulation of standards of care for hospitalized adult suicidal patients. Suggests general guidelines for effective assessment, management, and treatment procedures that balance need for high-quality care by reasonable and prudent practitioner with requirements of court-determined/statutory standards.…

Administered Suicide Opinion Questionnaire to 100 Italian and 100 U.S. physicians, comparable in age, gender, and medical field. Found significant difference on seven of eight scales, with Italian physicians showing greater agreement on mental illness, right to die, religion, impulsivity, normality, aggression, and moral evil scales. Found gender…

A survey of school-counseling-association members concerning peer-helper programs examined the nature and prevalence of programs within Washington state. Results indicated that peer helper/counseling programs were widely used but were often supervised by non-counseling professionals. Significantly more completed suicides were at schools where…

Discusses psychological autopsies as a way of preventing suicide on college campuses. A review team develops a narrative of events leading up to incident, reviews actions taken within the campus emergency process, gathers information about the student, makes recommendations for prevention activities, and provides debriefing for those responsible…

A review of international statistics indicates that youth suicide rates are not increasing in all nations. Furthermore, it is suggested that the quality of life in nations is improving and that this improvement itself may increase the risk of suicide, especially in youth with narcissistic personality traits and antisocial personality disorder…

Examines 15 common myths about adolescent suicide, presenting the actual facts corresponding to each. The myths relate to such issues as prevalence, warning signs, education about suicide, differences between males and females, common methods of adolescent suicide, mental illness and suicide, suicide prevention, genetic factors, poverty and…

Mental health counselors may lack essential information for competent assessment and treatment of suicidal clients. This article will increase mental health counselors' awareness of suicidal risk factors, outcome research on cognitive-behavioral counseling for suicidal clients individually or in the family context, and practical techniques for the…

Two or more types of suicide may be distinguished by a given culture. Gender differences in the cultural construction of suicide options are examined. Ethnographic and historical data from Native Americans of the Great Plains, Muslim societies in Southeast Asia, and tribal societies of the Amazon area are analyzed. (Author/EMK)

The gap between male and female suicide rates in India is relatively small; however, society's views on motive are found to be quite different. Data from several sources are incorporated in this field study report. "Sati" is discussed; a gender typology of reasons for suicide is developed. (EMK)

The role of gender and sociocultural factors in men's and women's suicidal behavior were studied. A retrospective case-note analysis compared sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of males and females admitted to a university hospital. Means and reasons for behavior are related to cultural factors, focusing particularly on the situation of…

Gender and history of suicidality were related to current symptoms of depression, reasons for living, and reported self-destructive and life-threatening behavior among college students (N=242). Several measures intended to identify persons at risk were studied. Findings are related to cultural and gender specific expectations. Implications for…