NCJ Number
3457
Date Published
1971
Length
112 pages
Annotation
ARTICLES COVERING THE MATTERS OF IDENTIFYING THE SUICIDE PROBLEM LOCATING SOLUTIONS, FINDING WORKERS FOR PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND ORGANIZING PREVENTION CENTERS.
Abstract
SIMPLY ESTABLISHING PREVENTION CENTERS WILL NOT DO MUCH TO ERADICATE THE TRAGIC SITUATION OF SUICIDE. TO BE EFFECTIVE THESE CENTERS MUST BE PROPERLY ORIENTED, ORGANIZED, AND STAFFED. VARIOUS CULTURAL AND INDIVIDUAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH SUICIDE RATES ARE EXAMINED. EDWIN S. SHNEIDMAN, FORMER CHIEF OF THE CENTER FOR STUDIES OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF MENTAL HEALTH, DESCRIBES THE HISTORY AND PRESENT MAGNITUDE OF THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, DETAILING THE CATEGORIES UNDER WHICH NATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE TAKING PLACE AND THE SUPPORT PROGRAM INVOLVED. METHODS OF SELECTING, SCREENING, AND TRAINING NONPROFESSIONALS TO OPERATE SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTERS ARE PRESENTED WITH THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF EACH. A DESCRIPTION OF THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN SUICIDOLOGY AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY IS INCLUDED, WITH STATISTICS REGARDING GRADUTES AND AN OUTLINE OF THE COURSE WORK. THE BOOK ALSO CONTAINS A DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN ESTABLISHING SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTERS AS SEPARATE ENTITIES FROM OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES. SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATORS WILL FIND THIS BOOK A VALUABLE AID IN PLANNING A SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER. (SNI ABSTRACT)