Resources Library

Management of Depression and Suicide Attempts

Although frank reporting of symptoms has increased with increasing public acceptance of psychiatric information, depression continues to wear many masks. Insomnia, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, dryness of the mouth & vague aches & pains are its frequent disguises. Thoughts of suicide are serious warning signs & should not be considered lightly. Suicide frequently follows […]

Possibility of a Biochemical Test for Suicidal Potential

The paper suggests that urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) determinations may offer a useful indicator of suicidal intent. The paper presents serial urinary 17-OHCS levels, ratings of manifest suicidal behaviour, & clinical data obtained during hospitalization of 3 patients who subsequently committed suicide. Similar data are described for a comparison group of 33 depressed inpatients.(24 ref)

City Suicides Take Unexpected Dip

This newspaper article presents 1980 & 1981 suicide statistics for Calgary & Red Deer & 1980 stats for Edmonton & the northern rural region. According to unofficial estimates, Calgary’s suicide rate dropped to 15.5/100,000 from 18/100,000, while provincial rates reached record levels (19/100,000 from 18.3/100,000). No explanation or speculation is offered. (KM)

A Study of Suicide Pacts

This article investigates suicide pacts, including (among others) such things as frequency, age of participants & circumstances of pacts. It gathers data on 65 suicide pacts from 1955-1958 in England and Wales. In addition to statistical information, the author also provides brief case studies to illustrate unique aspects of suicide pacts, such as the influence […]

The Rorschach Records of Suicidal Patients. An Application of a Comparative Matching Technique.

The paper illustrates an application of a comparative matching technique to the problem of the relationship between suicidal tendencies & Rorschach responses. 30 suicidal & 30 non-suicidal matched group patients responded to the Rorschach cards & a cross-validation was carried out. It was suggested that it is possible to classify individual records with a reliable […]

Social Pathology and Personality in Attempted Suicide

Not Caring Has Suicide Rate Up, Says City Man Who Sought Death

“Paul” says the underlying reason for his 2 suicide attempts is his inability to trust others (to keep him from getting hurt) combined with lack of trust he finds around him, contributes to social isolation. Other factors cited by experts are: disruption of the social fabric by influx of immigrants during boom times, mobility, impersonality […]

Some Practical Procedures in the Management of Suicidal Persons

Many suicidal persons are seeking psychotherapeutic help. This paper presents and discusses a number of procedures which have been found useful in the psychotherapy and management of suicidal persons.

Suicide Centre Practical Step

This newspaper editorial supports the provincial funding of a suicide resource centre to provide anyone, including professionals & suicidal individuals, with access to all information on the subject published anywhere. (KM)

Jail Suicides Seven Times More Than Normal Rate

Books About Death for Children, Young Adults, and Parents (IN: The Child and Death, ed. by O J Z Sahler)

Analysis of the Personality Structure of 26 Actual Suicides

The Anonymous Befrienders: Volunteers in a Telephone Crisis Intervention Centre

This article not only reviews one center’s experience, but offers a wide background of information valuable to crisis lines. Volunteer motivation, ability and comfort of handling various calls, telephone interactions, and the concept of befriending are explored. Conclusions include the range of callers, need for the service, conceptual frameworks for intervention, and type of volunteer […]

The Psychotherapy of the Suicidal Patient

Global Health Care

Suicide and Attempted Suicide in Children and Adolescents

The child & adolescent suicide rate has been growing since 1930. Impulsiveness & apparent triviality of precipitating causes are noted. Most frequent causes were aggression & escape. Identification, psychoses & suggestion were also important elements. Chronic depression & superego problems were not major determinants until middle or late adolescence. The majority of the children had […]

On the Communication of Suicidal Ideas

272 cases of suicide & 104 cases of attempted suicide were analyzed on the basis of whether or not they communicated their suicidal thoughts before the act was accomplished. Various sociological & behavioural factors were investigated in an attempt to distinguish communicators from non-communicators.Also examined were age, military status, years of formal education, race, religion, […]

Observations of Children Who Threaten to Kill Themselves

A brief description is given to some general observations about 70 New York City children under 15 years of age, who threatened to kill themselves & were patients in a State Hospital. More adolescent girls threaten suicide than adolescent boys but the reverse is true below the age of puberty (age 12 for boys, 10 […]

Many Problems Face Alberta’s Indians

The Gamble With Death in Attempted Suicide

CORE – Crisis Outreach (A Program of AID Service of Edmonton)

Management of Acetaminophen Overdose With N-Acetylcysteine

Suicide is the Second Leading Cause of Death Among Teenagers in Alberta (IN: What You Should Know About Alberta Children & Their Families…The Darker Side)

Two pages of a report about Alberta children and families offer a basic introduction to the nature of suicide in Alberta, with emphasis on adolescents and native youth. Graphs & pictorials are used to illustrate the increase in rates between 1951-1976 in Alberta & adolescent suicide rates in 1976 by geographical area. Causative factors are […]