Book Review – Waking up, Alive: the Descent, the Suicide Attempt, and the Return to Life by R A Heckler

This review describes Heckler’s book as an useful map for those who have attempted suicide & for the wide range of caregivers – family, friends, & professionals – who assist a suicidal person. A comment on Heckler’s construct of the suicidal person, as having unresolved early pain & unacknowledged pain, is included. The reviewer notes that Heckler’s treatment of the suicide attempt as 5 distinct stages normalizes the fear felt by people who attempt suicide & their caregivers. (2 refs) (SC)