Suicide postvention is a response or reaction to a community or individual following a suicide attempt or completion by someone known to that community in order to facilitate healthy psychological adjustment. Suicide postvention typically involves counselors or others in paraprofessional roles providing factual information about the attempt or completion, educating those affected by the suicide
Suicide is a serious public health issue both at the global level and in the United States. Globally, the World Health Organization indicates that there were 1,000,000 deaths by suicide in 2000, and projects that there will be 1.5 million suicide deaths in the year 2025. Additionally, the overall rate of suicide in the world
Suicide is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon with profound global implications. This article delves into the critical dimensions of suicide from a psychological perspective, offering insights into its risk factors, causes, prevention, and intervention strategies. It explores the role of mental health, environmental, and interpersonal factors in suicide, along with diagnostic criteria, assessment tools, and
The Suicide Assessment Manual for Inmates (SAMI) is a new instrument designed to assess risk for suicide attempts among individuals admitted to a pretrial remand center or jail. The SAMI is a 20-item clinical checklist of risk factors derived from the suicide research literature. Initial research on the SAMI has focused on its factor structure
Prisoner suicide assessment and prevention is an area of active research and clinical involvement. Indeed, it is an important component of the forensic psychologist’s clinical responsibilities due to the disproportionately high incidence of prison suicide as compared with the general population. This high incidence is a consistent phenomenon across countries. In some countries, this translates
Suicide by cop (SbC) is a phenomenon confronted by police officers in which suicidal individuals behave in such a way as to force officers to use lethal force against them. Research findings have found common characteristics and behaviors among SbC subjects. The phenomenon is recognized sufficiently that there are a number of court decisions that
Suicide Definition Suicide is the act of intentionally taking one’s life. This definition, however, has been expanded to describe the range of thoughts and behaviors that are exhibited by individuals who are in some manner considering suicide. Suicidal ideation involves having thoughts of killing oneself or of being dead. Suicidal intent involves having a plan
Cluster suicide refers to the occurrence of two or more suicides or suicide attempts, or both, that occur closer together in time and geographic space. Of all the different age groups, teenagers are more susceptible to cluster suicide than others, accounting for about 100 to 200 deaths every year in the United States. It has
Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is the intentional termination of a human’s life, at the explicit request of the one who dies, with the aid of a physician. The so-called “Doctor Death,” Dr. Jack Kevorkian, brought attention to PAS when he assisted several terminally ill patients end their lives. Kevorkian was imprisoned for his activities. Related to
This health psychology article examines the intricate relationship between suicide and media influence, delving into the historical evolution of media coverage and its profound impact on suicidal behaviors. The exploration begins with an elucidation of suicide, emphasizing its significance within the realm of health psychology. The first section explores the portrayal of suicide in various