Suicide Attempts and Completion During Adolescence: a Biopsychosocial Perspective (IN: Handbook of Pediatric and Adolescent Health Psychology, edited by A J Goreczny et al)

This chapter reviews many factors that contribute to adolescent suicidal behaviour. The goal is to sensitize pediatric psychologists to factors that may interact to contribute to vulnerability in a particular adolescent. The biopsychosocial model may be of value in helping clinicians determine who is at risk for developing suicidal behaviour, whether suicidal ideation or attempts are most likely seen, & develop a comprehensive understanding & synthesis of the many potential factors affecting outcome. At the same time, a multifactor, multilevel model helps determine treatment plans & assists clinicians in understanding how different treatments interact with each other &, with factors from the adolescent’s environment, how to best promote behaviour change. (121 refs.)