Suicide. Useful Information on...

This booklet was written to provide information on suicide. It begins with a brief explanation of the role of suicide in history. A section describing those who commit suicide looks at various populations: elderly persons, children, adolescents and young adults, males, females, blacks, and persons of different marital status. The next section considers why people commit suicide. It distinguishes between suicide attempters and suicide completers and looks at the relationships between suicide and depression, hopelessness, alcoholism, and schizophrenia. Different theories of suicide are discussed and familial influences, biochemical clues, and other factors are considered. Warning signs of suicide are presented, including previous suicide attempts, talk about suicide, planning and making arrangements, personality or behavior changes, and clinical depression. Twelve suggestions are given to help readers prevent a suicide. Various treatments are discussed, including psychotherapy, drug therapy, hospitalization, and electroconvulsive therapy. Prevention efforts at the federal and state levels are identified, private and volunteer initiatives are described, ways of minimizing the means for self-destruction are discussed, and the role of suicide prevention centers and hotlines is explained. For further information, lists of organizations, readings, and places to find help are provided. (NB)