These hearings on teenagers in crisis deal with many of the problems faced by adolescents, with a special emphasis on suicide. Other topics which are discussed include child abuse, drug abuse, pregnancy, youth employment, mass media influences, the lack of parental guidance, and after school activities. Testimony is recorded from 11 witnesses…

A study was conducted of phencyclidine use by a national sample of 2,750 youthful drug abuse clients representing 97 drug abuse treatment programs. Data from this 1976-1977 client survey indicated that phencyclidine use is widespread. More than 31% of the subjects reported current or past use of phencyclidine, with males and females having similar…

This paper presents and evaluates a comprehensive client management system for suicide and crisis intervention services. The management system consists of five service designations: self-injury, crisis, active support, general support, and single contact. These designations determine the extent and type of activity engaged in, as well as the scope…

A group of 20 female college peer counselors were compared to 20 female suicide attempters and a control group of 20 nonsuicidal females for personality characteristics and family background, using the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and a questionnaire. (Author)

Counseling of older persons presents different problems depending on the setting. Cases of suicide occurring in general medical hospitals and neuropsychiatric hospitals and calls to a community agency are reviewed for diagnostic and demographic characteristics as well as probable causes. Suggestions are made to meet needs in hospital and crisis…

One-third of college student deaths are the result of suicide and the rate is rising. A survey of deans of students suggests considerable ignorance of this fact. An implication is that college student personnel, with the power to provide help for desperate students, must first recognize the need. (Editor/PG)

This paper provides an annotated bibliography of various resources about adolescent suicide. The first section addresses facts and myths about adolescent suicide, followed by a presentation of causal factors in the second section. The third section focuses on the educator's role in suicide prevention; suicidal warning signs, interactions with the…

Men and women were randomly chosen from courthouse divorce files. After initial contact by mail and by phone, those who agreed were mailed questionnaires developed to assess adjustment to divorce and to obtain information about the nature of divorce. Of those sent questionnaires, 44% completed and returned the assessment; the total sample…

One hundred and fifteen patients coming to a psychiatry walk-in clinic were evaluated for suicidal ideation prior to their intake interview. Sixty percent of the patients had suicidal ideation, 20% to an extreme degree. Recognition of suicidal ideation, based on a content analysis of the clinical chart, was 27% for the entire group and 56% for the…

A therapeutic technique for dealing with a chronic caller to a suicide prevention center was tested. The two objectives to such a technique were to reduce the frequency of calls made by chronic callers to the suicide prevention service, and to persuade callers to be more specific when discussing their problem. To accomplish these objectives, a…

This paper describes a program of free, short-term, individual bereavement counseling for survivors of sudden death in Marin County, California. Co-sponsors are Marin Suicide Prevention Center and Marin County Coroner's Office. Most survivors are initially referred to the program by the coroner at the time of certifying cause of death, others are…

Presents statistics on the incidence of adolescent suicide, some factors responsible for such behavior, and different approaches to treating the problem. (RK)

Depression is an emotional dysfunction encountered daily by counselors. This author discusses a step by step behavioral paradigm developed specifically to be employed with moderately depressed persons not receiving sufficient positive reinforcement from their environment. (Author/MPJ)

This paper explores the use of a public health/public policy model to prevent suicide. Various methods are analyzed using the concepts of availability and lethality to illustrate means by which they might be modified through the public health/public policy approach of community action and legislative change. (Author)