1st Edition

Suicide Strategies and Interventions for Reduction and Prevention

Edited By Stephen Palmer Copyright 2008
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    All practitioners working in the caring and helping professions face many challenges and questions when dealing with suicidal clients: Is this client being serious? Can I do more? What should I do? Should I refer on? Should I break confidentiality? Have I assessed this client correctly? Both experienced practitioners and trainees wish to have more knowledge about assessing and dealing with suicidal clients.

    Suicide: Strategies and Interventions for Reduction and Prevention examines myths about suicide, explores facts and statistics at national and international levels, and uses client cases to uncover thoughts leading to suicidal behaviour. The editor offers an insight into what can be done in the community, and within therapeutic settings when working with this challenging client group. Contributions are divided into four parts, covering:

    • suicide: statistics, research, theory and interventions
    • personal experience of suicide
    • three therapeutic approaches to prevent suicide
    • group interventions.

    Featuring chapters from a range of experienced practitioners, this book provides a wealth of information on strategies and possible interventions. The addition of a self-harm management plan, assessment checklists, and list of useful organizations makes it essential reading for both mental health professionals, and those in training.

    Palmer, Preface. Cooper, Foreword. Palmer, Introduction Suicide: Strategies and Interventions for Reduction and Prevention. Part I: Suicide: Statistics, Research, Theory and Interventions. Palmer, Suicide: definitions, statistics and interventions at the international level. Palmer, Suicide statistics for the UK and the national suicide prevention strategy. Stark, Suicide in Rural Areas. Sheehy, O’Connor, Cognitive style and suicidal Behaviour. Ruddell, Curwen, Understanding suicidal ideation and assessing for risk. Part II: Personal Experience of Suicide. Walen, It’s a Funny thing about suicide. Cooke, Suicide: A friend’s view. Kapoor, Client Suicide and its effect on the therapist. Part III: Three Therapeutic Approaches to Prevent Suicide. Froggatt, Palmer, Cognitive-Behavioural and Rational Emotive Management of Suicide. Lees, Stimpson, A Psychodynamic Approach to Suicide. Sharry, Darmody, Madden, A Solution-focused Approach. Part IV: Group Interventions. Pietilä, Support groups. Séguin, Goulard, Bergmans, Links, Group interventions for adolescents and young adults with recurrent suicide attempts.Part V: Appendices. Appendix 1 Personal self-harm management plan. Appendix 2 Assessment checklist. Appendix 3 Useful organisations. Appendix 4 Useful books. Appendix 5 WHO document for health professionals. Palmer, Postscript.

    Biography

    Stephen Palmer is Director of the Centre for Stress Management, London. He is also an Honorary Professor of Psychology and Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit at City University, London. He is a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

    "This book will help to take away the veil of mystery and suspicion about a topic that now permeates all of society in times of constant and unremitting change and stress, suicides. The editor has done a magnificent job in demystifying this subject, and deserves our wholehearted support and gratitude." - Professor Cary Cooper, From the Foreword

    "This valuable book has faced the subject, can be dipped into when required and offers help as well as a certain amount of comfort to anyone working with suicidal people." - Jenny Bloomer, Counsellor & Psychotherapist, Therapy Today, July 2008 

    "...a welcome and compassionate attempt to increase practitioners' understanding and confidence, as well as their clinical skill." - Emma Taylor, The Psychologist

     

    "[Suicide:Strategies and Interventions for Reduction and Prevention] addresses many different aspects of suicide, though not in a systematic way...This book would be of greatest interest to readers who are broadly interested in depression and suicide."

    -Joe Alford, in PsycCRITIQUES, December 3, 2008, Vol. 53, Release 49, Article 8