Issues of urban problems & suicide prevention have a common lack of commitment by physicians except when they are stimulated by social pressures. Factors such as social class & status, poverty, race, & religion are variables under examination. Death by suicide has been grossly underreported & the programs set in place to prevent it are not relevant to the troubled resident. More innovative ways of designing crisis intervention programs are being investigated such as the services being located within, involving segments of the population they would serve, & being accessible. (LC)