Year: 1992 Source: Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Criminology, 1992. p.129-138 SIEC No: 20010394

This paper focuses on three different phases of the clinical encounter with a suicidal young person. First, there is the assessment phase & the stress which arises for the family & therapist when it is realized a child or adolescent has a life-threatening condition. Second, some of the psychotherapeutic processes involved in the treatment of suicidal adolescents are detailed. Third, by detailing the impact on hospital staff of an adolescent suicide, certain management principles directed at reducing the risk for suicide clusters are highlighted. There are considerable stresses associated with clinical work with young people; however, the author states there is also an unparalleled sense of reward & achievement when a young person survives. (36 refs.)