Both suicide and homicide rates rose in nations formed after the formal break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Homicide rates, but not suicide rates rose in Eastern European nations after the fall of their communist regimes in 1989.

The author advises survivors on the four tasks of grief and reflects on the suicide of her college-age son in 1977 and the recent death of her father, a suicidologist, from age-related causes. She describes current collaborative efforts by organizations dedicated to the prevention and aftermath of suicide.

The study reports on 65 refugees with diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and manifest suicidal behavior (40% had suicide attempts; 29% detailed suicide plan; 31% recurrent suicidal thoughts). Our hypothesis was that the predominant kind of stressful experience in PTSD patients might be reflected in their choice of method ...

In this article, Prof. Darrel Amundsen critiques Judge Reinhardt's comments regarding "Historical Attitudes Toward Suicide" in his Compassion in Dying opinion. Amundsen demonstrates that the court's characterization of ancient Jewish and Christian practices is inaccurate and misleading because it fails to acknowledge the complexities of the moral issue of suicide. ...

State-level initiatives directed at youth suicide prevention since 1980 were analyzed. During 1992 and 1996, each governor was surveyed regarding his or her state's efforts in youth suicide prevention. Questions pertained to legislation, a mandated or recommended school-based suicide prevention curriculum, funding, a special advisory council, a state plan, the ...

This article critically reviews research on suicide, AIDS, and HIV seropositivity. Studies indicate that men with a diagnosis of AIDS or HIV seropositivity have up to 36 times greater risk of suicide than men without the diagnosis. Yet few studies controlled for independent risk factors such as premorbid or comorbid ...

The objective of this study was to predict suicidality in people with schizophrenia. Ninety-six patients with recent-onset schizophrenia were rated every 2 weeks for 1 year to examine (1) the temporal course of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and (2) the extent to which anxiety, depression, and mild suicidal ideation ...

This is the first study of the suicide-related knowledge and attitudes of teachers and clergy in Australia. These professional groups have been identified as "gatekeepers" who might serve as a first line of assistance for distressed young people. Such gatekeepers, along with medical and mental health professionals, have a vital ...

The suicide rate and the death rate for undetermined causes were negatively associated over time from 1968 to 1990 in the USA, suggesting that these undetermined deaths may include a fair proportion of suicides. In contrast, there was no association between suicide and undetermined death rates over the states in ...

A survey evaluated a Breastfeeding Drop-In Center's (BDC) provision of "hands-on" professional breastfeeding help and support in a community setting. Results from telephone interviews using a pretested 29-item open- and closed-ended questionnaire with a sample of 57 BDC clients showed: (1) 81% were breastfeeding at 4 months, (2) 51% were ...

As part of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland, a nationwide psychological autopsy study, all suicide victims (n = 1397) over a 12-month period were investigated concerning factors associated with any variation in suicide frequency between weekdays and weekends. In particular, employment status was expected to have influenced the ...

A study of all firearm fatalities in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia during the 10-year period from 1985 to 1994 is presented. The overall number of cases was 71 (0.35 per 100,000 population), of which 48% were homicides, 28% were suicides, and 24% were accidental. Most victims were young ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between firearm ownership, the presence of guns in homes, the use of psychiatric services and suicides in 15-24-year-old males in Eastern Finland. METHOD: Police and medicolegal records of all suicides (n = 68) performed by 15-24-year-old males in the ...

To determine the relative effectiveness of telephone intervention styles with suicidal callers, researchers listened unobtrusively to 617 calls by suicidal persons at two suicide prevention centers and categorized all 66,953 responses by the 110 volunteer helpers according to a reliable 20-category checklist. Outcome measures showed observer evaluations of decreased depressive ...

BACKGROUND: To study driver suicides, all motor vehicle driver fatalities in Finland from 1987 to 1991 were analysed. METHOD: Cases were collected from all driver fatalities (n = 1419), as those that accident investigation teams considered possible suicides (n = 99). Drivers committing suicide classified according to ICD-9 by two ...

No matter what the course of treatment determined to be most appropriate, suicidal behavior must be considered thoroughly, and it must be conveyed to the patient that the clinician can assist him or her through this period of increased distress. Hopelessness must be viewed as a symptom with the assumption ...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antidepressants among suicides in the era since the introduction of newer less toxic antidepressants. Comprehensive post mortem toxicological examinations were performed on 94% of certain and uncertain suicides in Mobile County, Alabama, between October 1, 1990 and September 30, ...

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of suicide pacts in England and Wales DESIGN: Analysis of the death certificates and coroners' records of all people who died in pacts between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1992. SUBJECTS: 124 people who committed suicide in 62 pacts. RESULTS: Suicide in a pact ...

The purpose of this paper is to describe patterns of suicide in young people in rural communities. Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention and Australian Bureau of Statistics data are used to discuss regional and gender differences in suicide rates, with particular attention to completed suicides in young people. ...

The proportional mortality ratio for suicide is higher in farmers than in the general population. The reasons for this are likely to be complex, but may include easy availability of firearms, stress related to work, financial difficulties, and family problems. A psychological autopsy study of suicide in 84 farmers who ...

The seasonal variance of suicides and attempted suicides in Italy from 1974 to 1994 has been studied to determine the extent and the nature of the seasonal influence on suicidal behaviour. The relationship between some climatic factors and suicide and attempted suicide rates has also been analyzed. A significant effect ...

This review summarizes the published literature on suicide by jumping, in particular focusing on the social and psychological characteristics of people who have chosen this method of suicide, and the opportunities for prevention. Suicide by jumping accounts for 5% of suicides in England and Wales, and there are marked variations ...

Suicide among older persons in the United States is a major problem that has increased dramatically during the past decade. Little is known about older nonsuicidal adults' attitudes toward suicide. The purpose of this study was to identify attitudes of older persons toward suicide and to explore the relationship of ...

A regional profile of suicide in Queensland follows on from earlier work which failed to find urban-rural differences in suicide rates. Suicide rates were higher in the north of the state and lower in the more developed south Rural Queensland health regions displayed both the lowest (Darling Downs and Mackay) ...

OBJECTIVES: To identify variables, other than legal definitions, that may have influenced North Cheshire's Coroner in returning a verdict of 'suicide' or an 'open verdict' on unexpected deaths of the elderly. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all coroner's verdicts in North Cheshire during a 5-year period 1989-1993. MATERIAL: Forty-seven 'suicide' and ...

In the UK the suicide rate for male adolescents has nearly doubled since 1975. With a similar increase reported from other countries it is not surprising that preventing suicide in young people has become a priority for many health professionals and policy makers. Unfortunately despite advances in our understanding of ...

Recent epidemiological studies have reported an increased risk of suicide in patients with panic disorder, raising the possibility that there may be a unique relationship between panic and suicide. However, other studies, such as large chart reviews, have not found a meaningful increase in suicidal behavior among panic patients, except ...

This descriptive exploratory study examines the behavioral and affective reactions of clients to the suicide of their psychotherapist 1 year after the event, including remembered responses upon first hearing of the suicide. Initial grief reactions of participants were found to be similar to other suicide survivors with strong attachments to ...

The pattern of suicide in Ireland broadly matches that in various neighbouring countries, with the prevalence among males being significantly greater than among women. Over recent years there has been a significant increase in suicide among young men. Similarly, prison suicide patterns mirror those in neighbouring jurisdictions, with a marked ...

As we approach the new millennium a new dimension in interactive communications has arrived. The internet is one such medium, and while it remains a relatively new form of information sharing, it has not escaped the attention of vulnerable young people. This paper discusses the internet resources on suicide and ...

Epidemiological trends in national suicide rates were identified, including a slowdown in the 1980s in the suicide rates of nations with the highest rates and a rising male suicide rate worldwide. A review of theories of national differences in suicide rates permitted selection of a small set of predictor variables, ...

This article profiles the suicide prevention practices at a large metropolitan jail, a facility that experienced nine inmate suicides in a recent 24-month period. The suicide rate in this facility was found to far exceed the rate for jails of comparable size as well as the national rate of jail ...

This article refutes Professor Margaret Battin's idea that the Bible tolerates and even encourages suicide. Dr. Barry argues that the Bible only allows killing in self-defense or as punishment for serious wrongdoing. To support his view Barry first describes several incidents in the Scriptures where suicide is requested from God ...

A small but concerning percentage of completed suicides are seen as having left no clues. The classical case, albeit a literary one, is Robinson's Richard Cory. These people often dissemble, even about their suicide risk. An even smaller group of these individuals present themselves in therapy without communicating a sign ...

In the United States, despite the increase in knowledge about suicide, the rate of suicide has remained virtually unchanged for the past 30 years. The members of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) are uniquely qualified to determine what, if anything, can be done to reduce the rate of suicide. ...

There has been no systematic, large-scale statistical investigation of the link between gambling and suicide, despite the suggestion of such a link from small-scale case studies. This article examines whether gamblers or those associated with them are prone to suicide and whether gaming communities experience atypically high suicide rates. Las ...

This article describes suicide-related penal legislation in contemporary Europe, and analyzes and relates the results to cultural attitudes towards suicide and to national suicide rates. Data were obtained from 42 legal entities. Of these, 34 have penal regulations which--according to definition--chiefly and directly deal with suicide. There are three main ...

A review of anthropological, sociological, and psychological theories of suicidal behavior indicates that a disruption in social relationships and a breakdown in community networks increase the risk of suicide. Current suicide prevention tactics fail to address these problems, and suggestions are made for tactics that would focus on the underlying ...

"This paper studies the changes, trends, regularities, and characteristics of suicides committed by Chinese people based on statistical data and some investigative information from the government health department. From a sociological point of view, the author also analyzes the reasons for suicide in China and proposes some methods to reduce ...

The New Zealand suicide rate among 15- to 19-year-olds has almost trebled over the past 20 years--from 5.8 per 100,000 in 1970 to 15.7 in 1991 (UNICEF, 1994). New Zealand has one of the highest teenage suicide rates among industrialized countries. The aim of this paper is to shed light ...

The New South Wales Department of Corrective Services has introduced a number of suicide prevention measures in order to deal with the problem of inmate suicides. This article describes the measures. The article also shows that the characteristics of the incarcerated population differ greatly from those in the community. Findings ...

As in other countries, suicides are a matter of great concern in The Netherlands. This article addresses suicide-prevention measures in prisons in The Netherlands. It focuses primarily on screening, monitoring, incapacitation, psychological support, and transferal to specialized institutions. In addition, it asks which practices are common, which can be improved, ...

Suicide was examined in three ethnic groups in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, for the period 1986-1991. The influence of the different cultures on suicide was studied. The Han have the most tolerant views toward suicide and were found also to have the highest suicide rate. The Hui follow Islam, which condemns ...

Official statistics in Turkey show that 3.33 per 100,000 population aged 15 years or over commit suicide every year. Suicides are more frequent in the cities and in the western part of the country. Although suicide rates are much lower than in Western Europe, suicide attempt rates reached comparable levels, ...

This article presents descriptive statistics on the 66 suicides occurring in federal institutions in Canada over a 4-year period. Criminological and institutional factors of those who committed suicide included lengthy involvement in the criminal justice system, a greater likelihood of being incarcerated for robbery or murder, and involvement in institutional ...

In a recent analysis of the suicide statistics of two areas of Stockholm of contrasting demographic and socioeconomic status, we found the suicide rate higher in the low-income area. In the present study, the suicide rate of the richest and poorest countries of Sweden were compared to test whether the ...

Timely cricothyrotomy may be life-saving, but it is not without its complications. Together with tracheostomy performed too high, there are high incidences of stenosis and voice changes afterwards-often neglected because the patient has so many other problems. Jackson warned of these problems over 70 years ago-his message is still relevant.

Suicide was a crime in England and Wales until 1961. This paper compares the English legal treatment of suicide with that in other Western countries. The delayed English decriminalization of suicide is a likely result of the nature of English common law, rather than a reflection of actual public opinion ...

The prevalence of tapeworm infestations was investigated in 70 horses slaughtered in the period February 1994-July 1994. Most horses were half-breed, young (1.5-3 years), and in good condition. They were bought for slaughter by dealers on local markets, and their treatment history was therefore unknown. Tapeworm infestations were seen in ...

This paper is an update and reexamination of Yang et al. [Yang B., Lester D. and Yang C. Soc. Sci. Med. 34, 333, 1992]. Time-series analyses were carried out to explore the importance of sociological and economic determinants of suicide rates in the U.S. and in Taiwan for 1952-1992. Labor ...