NCJ Number
124179
Date Published
1990
Length
131 pages
Annotation
This book describes steps in developing and implementing a community-school prevention, intervention, and postvention program for juvenile suicides.
Abstract
The prevention stage is designed to help youth cope with the psychological and situational stresses that may precipitate a suicide attempt. Intervention involves the interruption of a suicide attempt that is imminent or in progress. The postvention stage consists of followup with attempted suicides and assistance for persons affected by completed suicides to prevent imitative behavior. The process of program organization described in the book involves all crucial components of the community concerned about youth. This includes community leaders, police, hospitals, mental health clinicians, clergy, school personnel, parents, the media, youth, and youth-serving agencies and organizations. The planning process is supported from the top down, beginning with the local chief executive, in all components and includes mechanisms for awareness, education, and action. In addition to chapters on program development and program components, there are chapters on the characteristics of the suicidal adolescent and intervention techniques. Appended supplementary materials and sample program forms, 80-item bibliography.