A Community Psychiatry Approach to Preventing Suicide (IN: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Suicide Assessment and Intervention, edited by D G Jacobs)

A general approach to the prevention of mental disorders is described & then elaborated with examples from suicide prevention literature. A detailed community psychiatry approach in which a community mental health centre provides a broad strategy for intervening with suicidal patients is discussed. 2 cases are used to illustrate the public health approach & community psychiatry strategies. The chapter ends with some general observations & principles applicable to community psychiatry programs.