Beginning with a short history outlining different societies' attitudes to suicide, the book continues with a discussion of the difficulties of definition and measurement. The book includes a chapter on suicide letters and discusses whether they are a useful tool for understanding suicide. Finally, the book considers practical aspects and issues such as assisted suicide and suicide prevention.

How can suicide be prevented and treated by mental health professionals? This book offers a clinical guide to the assessment, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour, from a new and useful theoretical perspective - a developmental process approach. The book presents the arguments and research evidence that suicidal behaviour is not just a response to current emotional crises, but is influenced by persistent characteristics that can be defined in psychological and biological terms. The authors bring together research-based evidence that establishes three key aspects of the developmental process approach: suicidal behaviour results from the interaction between stressful life events and an individual vulnerability; this individual vulnerability is itself the product of psychobiological factors, genetics and past life events; vulnerability, in this sense, influences how the individual perceives, interprets and reacts to adverse life events, perhaps leading to hopelessness and suicidal behaviour. Psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and other mental health practitioners will appreciate the conceptual and clinical value of this book based on its: Description of biological and psychological developmental processes leading to suicide, integrating evidence-based information from a broad range of disciplines Psychobiological definition of long- and short-tem risk factors for suicide, and innovative approach to psychological and biological targets for treatment and prevention Cutting-edge discussion of implications for the study and treatment of suicidal behaviour, by some of the leading authorities in the field

Suicide is a complex human behaviour that remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although suicidal behaviour continues to perplex clinicians and scholars, there have been recent advances with regard to the research related to the understanding, assessment, and biopsychosocial treatment of suicidal individuals, as well as the prevention of suicidal behaviour. This volume combines the efforts of several leaders in the field of suicidology in an attempt to grasp a better understanding of why people have suicidal thoughts, engage in suicidal behaviour, and ultimately die by suicide. The book is divided into four major parts and provides a comprehensive summary of the progress being made in the field of suicide prevention.

In this book international experts address a range of key current issues relating to suicide. The opening chapters discuss nosology, definitions, clinical determinants, and conceptual models of the suicide process and consider the evidence regarding potential biomarkers of suicide risk based on neuroscientific research. Adopting a neo-Durkheimian perspective, the role of various social factors in the genesis of suicidal behavior is then explored in depth. Practical user-friendly tools that facilitate risk assessment by clinicians are provided, and detailed consideration is given to efficient and innovative strategies for the prevention of suicide and the treatment of suicidal behavior, such as psychotherapy, psychopharmacological approaches, and effective organization of care, including surveillance and the use of online tools. The final part of the book focuses on the need for and development of a personalized approach within the field of suicide prevention.

This essential reference volume in the field of suicidology brings forth leading-edge conceptualizations of suicidal behaviour by including emerging trends and recent research advances in the field across the globe. It highlights the trajectories of suicidal behaviour, emphasizing the psyche behind attempting suicide, identifying vulnerable groups, and bridging the gap between theoretical underpinnings and application for addressing the aftermath of suicide. The handbook delineates research progress on risk assessment among vulnerable groups of varied milieu. Furthermore, it introduces various avenues of change and well-being. It also addresses important concerns related to terrorism and suicide in the armed forces. This handbook is a comprehensive repository of the latest research synergized with theoretical conceptualizations that pave the way for newer approaches towards management and prevention of suicidal behaviour. It includes contributions by eminent authors across the globe, and is a must-have resource for scholars, academics and professionals in the areas of mental health and social work.

Suicidal Behaviour: Underlying dynamics is a wide ranging collection of articles that builds upon an earlier volume by the same editor (Suicidal Behaviour: Assessment of people-at-risk, 2010) and delves deeper into the dynamics of suicide by synthesizing significant psychological and interdisciplinary perspectives. The volume brings together varied conceptualizations by scholars across disciplines from around the globe, thereby adding on to the available theoretical understandings as well as providing research based inputs for practitioners in the field of suicidal behaviour. This book contains sixteen chapters divided into two broad sections. The volume opens with a discussion about the Theoretical Underpinnings of suicidal behaviour spread through the initial eight chapters that conceptualize the phenomenon from different vantage points of genetics, personality theory, cognitive and affective processes, stress and assessment theories. The second section brings in the Varied Research Evidences and Assessment Perspectives from different populations and groups. Building upon the theoretical foundations the chapters in this section discuss the nuances of dealing with suicidal behaviours among sexual minority populations, alcoholics, military personnel, and within in specific socio-cultural groups. The section closes with an intense focus on a significant issue encountered often in clinical practice, that of assessment of suicide risk, and ways of resolving the cultural, ethical and legal dilemmas.

Suicide and self-harm are world-wide public health issues that can have devastating effects on families, friends and communities. They are both a priority for anyone working in mental health, social work, emergency departments and related fields, however suicidal and self-harming behaviour can take place anywhere anytime - it may be a pupil in a school, an inmate in a prison or a colleague or family member. For this reason, this book has been written in a clear, accessible and practical style for anyone who wants to learn more about working with and preventing suicidal and self-harming behaviour. - It identifies common risk and protective factors as well as specific warning signs of imminent suicidal behaviour - It provides essential communication skills for undertaking a risk assessment, illustrating how each skill can be used in real-life practice. - It looks specifically at the issue of self-harm and suicide in prisons, schools and emergency departments - It lays out clear strategies for identifying and addressing issues of self-care when working with people who are suicidal or who self-harm - It identifies how we can assist those who are bereaved following the death of a loved one by suicide Packed with learning outcomes, case scenarios and reflective questions, this book acts as a toolkit for anyone working in this difficult field.

Sociologists have debated suicide since the early days of the discipline. This book assesses that body of work and breaks new ground through a qualitatively-driven, mixed method 'sociological autopsy' ofone hundredsuicides that explores what can be known about suicidal lives.

Over its two editions, The New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry has come to be regarded as one of the most popular and trusted standard psychiatry texts among psychiatrists and trainees. Bringing together 146 chapters from the leading figures in the discipline, it presents a comprehensive account of clinical psychiatry, with reference to its scientific basis and to the patient's perspective throughout. The New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, Third Edition has been extensively re-structured and streamlined to keep pace with the significant developments that have taken place in the fields of clinical psychiatry and neuroscience since publication of the second edition in 2009. The new edition has been updated throughout to include the most recent versions of the two main classification systems—-the DSM-5 and the ICD-11—-used throughout the world for the diagnosis of mental disorders. In the years since publication of the first edition, many new and exciting discoveries have occurred in the biological sciences, which are having a major impact on how we study and practise psychiatry. In addition, psychiatry has fostered closer ties with philosophy, and these are leading to healthy discussions about how we should diagnose and treat mental illness. This new edition recognises these and other developments. Throughout, accounts of clinical practice are linked to the underlying science, and to the evidence for the efficacy of treatments. Physical and psychological treatments, including psychodynamic approaches, are covered in depth. The history of psychiatry, ethics, public health aspects, and public attitudes to psychiatry and to patients are all given due attention.

Looking at the problem of suicide and suicidal behaviour from a psychoanalytical perspective, Kind analyses the various motivations for such impulses and the therapist's countertransference reactions to a suicidal patient. Therapeutic strategies for dealing with threatened or actual suicide are evaluated within the clinical context. Suicidal patients, for example, may provoke emotions of anger, guilt and helplessness in their therapists: these emotions only intensify if a patient makes a successful suicide attempt. The issue of guilt is used by Kind as a starting point for his exploration of what suicidal behaviour actually represents. He bases his analysis on clinical observations made during therapy with psychosomatic patients, neurotics and patients with borderline disorders. The dynamics of transference and countertransference, object relations, transitional domains and types of interaction, both within the patient and between the patient and the therapist, are discussed. Understanding the origins of suicidal impulses makes it possible for the therapist to cope with his or her own reactions to the patient's behaviour. This book provides an insightful and comprehensive study, which will be of interest to all those working in mental health care and related professions.