Resource Tag: UNITED STATES. NEW JERSEY

Single-cell and segregated housing are established risk factors for suicide in prison. The importance of these factors together may represent a disproportionate risk and are both modifiable. All single-cell housing in the New Jersey Department of Correcitons (whether segregated or general population) represented a higher risk of suicide than double-cell housing in the general population. […]

In October 2008, the Governor of New Jersey formed a task force to study police suicide in that state. The Task Force shared expertise, reviewed material on police suicide, & invited guest speakers to make presentations. Law enforcement supervisors were surveyed on their utilization of mental health services for their officers. 4 recommendations were made: […]

This study examined whether the 5-HTTLPR gene alone, or interacting with childhood trauma, was predictive of suicidal behaviour in substance-dependent patients. 306 abstinent male African-American substance-dependent patients were asked whether they had ever attempted suicide & administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The distribution of 5-HTTLPR genotypes did not differ between patients & a control group […]

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To ascertain the usefulness of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation in assessing the severity of suicide ideation in patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorders, 142 inpatients in New Jersey were asked to complete the scale. The total scores on the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation were positively correlated with having […]

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This article discusses the factors that contribute to the high rate of stress-related disorders in first responders. It covers the rationale for COP-2-COP, a crisis intervention hotline in New Jersey designed to address the mental health needs of a high-risk population. The program provides peer support, clinical assessment, referrals to mental health practitioners, & critical […]

Suicidal behavior is a common and important problem among alcohol dependent patients. The study was designed to examine risk factors for attempting suicide in 499 alcohol dependent patients. Those who had attempted suicide (N = 198) were more likely to be female, report a family history of suicidal behavior, report more childhood trauma, report greater levels of […]

Data from 1,889 abstinent, substance-dependent patients who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire & who were interviewed about suicide attempts were examined in order to compare the 2 theories of why there are higher rates of attempted suicide in women than in men. The data supports the first hypothesis that the greater frequency of suicide attempts […]

This study examined whether a family history of suicide is associated with suicide attempts among alcoholics. A consecutive series of 333 alcoholics were interviewed about whether they had ever attempted suicide & about their family history of suicide. Significantly more of the alcoholics who had attempted suicide (compared to those who had not) reported that […]

This paper analyzes civil court records relating to the mental illness (including suicidality) of New Jersey residents from 1790 to 1867. The records demonstrate that the social contexts out of which mad behaviour emerged at a given period, & the social responses to that behaviour, could influence the incidence & prevalence of mental illness. The […]

The authors examined whether childhood traumas may be a determinant of impulsivity, a personality dimension often associated with suicidal behaviour. 268 abstinent drug dependent patients completed both the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) & the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). The results showed that there were significant relationships, albeit small, between CTQ scores & BIS impulsivity scores, […]

This review highlights documented interventions that have shown the most promise for school programs, communities, & health care partners. In addition to an in-depth examination of New JerseyÕs policies & practices targeting teen suicide, a literature review of effective suicide prevention strategies nationwide is included. (LC) (35 refs)

This paper describes the nature of suicide in New Jersey. Information on rates, gender, age & ethnic differences, means, geographical distribution, & links to firearm ownership is presented. (23 refs)

The authors examine whether childhood trauma might be related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) as an adult. A study of 29 withdrawn cocaine-dependent patients found that patients with childhood emotional neglect scores above the median had significantly lower CSF 5-HIAA & HVA levels than patients with low scores, […]

The aim of this study was to compare African American & Caucasian substance dependent suicide attempters for risk factors for suicidal behavior. 158 African American & 95 Caucasian substance dependent patients who had attempted suicide were interviewed & their family history of suicidal behavior recorded. The African American attempters had significantly lower childhood emotional neglect […]

292 recently abstinent opiate or cocaine dependent patients were asked to complete the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). Those who had attempted suicide were compared with those who had never attempted suicide for their scores on the BIS. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the drug dependent patients who had attempted suicide […]

This article describes the characteristics of opiate dependent patients who attempt suicide. Significantly more opiate dependent patients who had attempted suicide were female & unemployed. Patients who had attempted suicide reported significantly more family history of suicide & more childhood trauma; scored significantly higher for introversion, hostility, & neuroticism; & had experienced significantly more comorbidity […]

This article discusses the use of peer counselling to take advantage of the strengths of the peer group influence in a high school. The training of the peer counselors & the basic components of the program are described as well as the use of peer counselling in crisis cases such as suicide prevention. (3 refs)