A four-month follow-up outreach program for suicide attempters was developed with an emphasis on continuity and quantity of "treatment" received. The experimental group showed a statistically significant reduction in suicide reattempts. Presented at the Seventh International Congress of the International Association of Suicide Prevention, August…

Suicide among black Americans has risen sharply in this decade. The suicide pattern differs from that of white Americans in that black suicide is mainly a youth phenomenon and the rates between black females and black males are relatively equal. The lack of research into these phenomena is highlighted. (Author)

The testimony presented by a health educator before the U.S. Joint House Aging Subcommittee on Preventive Health Care for the Elderly is presented as an example of effective communication. (MM)

Explores the relationship between sexual abuse and two problem outcomes in adolescents (N=42,568): binge drinking and suicidal ideation. Focused on factors related to problem behaviors among adolescents reporting sexual abuse. Results indicate that adolescents who endured sexual and physical abuse exhibited more problems than those experiencing…

Argues that social forces and social pathologies figure prominently in the dynamics of suicide. Gives several examples of "social suicide," including mass suicide, organizational self-destruction, social analogues to individual suicide, and military suicide. Claims that suicide prevention requires social, economic, and cultural transformations at…

Compares the Self-Destructive Potential items of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) with the Suicidal Risk Scale in a sample of 32 inpatients. Computed the scales' sensitivity and predictive power for distant and recent suicidal behavior. Both measures demonstrated good diagnostic power but the SRS was the more efficient…

Examined the correlation between inmate behavior and the physical location of a warden's office. Responses (N=51) indicate that office location correlated significantly to the number of inmate disciplinary actions. Institutions with outside warden offices reported more inmate discipline and attempted suicide when compared to institutions with…

This followup study used data from a previous study to examine gender differences in risk factors that increase the probability of suicidal behavior among 3,461 students in grades 7 through 12. There were significant gender differences in that more aggressive behaviors increased the likelihood of males reporting suicidal behavior. (SLD)

Identifies the correlates of current suicidal ideation and past suicide attempts among 555 adolescents. Results indicate that suicidal behavior in delinquent boys was associated with depression and decreased social connection, whereas suicidal behavior in delinquent girls was associated with impulsivity and instability. Current ideation was…

Self-determination and the common good must be respected in social work practice and policy regarding end-of-life decisions. This article discusses self-determination in end-of-life decision making, ethical decision making and the NASW Code of Ethics, and professional ethics based on a balanced view of both self-determination and the common good.…

Two experiments exposed college student volunteers to rock music with or without suicidal content. Music and videos with suicide content appeared to prime implicit cognitions related to suicide but did not affect variables associated with increased suicide risk. (Contains 60 references and 3 tables.) (Author/JBJ)

This article provides a brief overview of psychological autopsy as a research method, illustrated by the cases of three adolescent suicides at a school for gifted students. Commonalities among the cases related to giftedness are discussed, along with suggestions for preventing suicide among gifted adolescents. (Author/PB)

Evaluates the extent to which a model of social support may help explain the low suicide rate of black females. Results taken from a national survey indicate that for all race/sex categories, seeking support from friendship and familial resources is negatively related to attempted suicide. (RJM)

Assesses whether artists as an occupational group are more apt to die from suicide than nonartists. Analysis of data from 21 states finds that artists have a 270% higher risk of suicide than nonartists. However, after controlling for gender and sociodemographic variables, this risk level is reduced to 125%. (RJM)

Analysis of nationwide data on 2,099 African American suicides and 1,729 African American natural deaths indicates that being divorced or widowed significantly raises the odds of death by suicide, but being single does not. A parallel analysis for whites finds greater support for a link between marital status and suicide. (RJM)