A concise review of current research into suicide providing a guide to understanding this disease and its increasing incidence globally.

In the wake of a suicide, the most troubling questions are invariably the most difficult to answer: How could we have known? What could we have done? And always, unremittingly: Why? Written by a clinical psychologist whose own life has been touched by suicide, this book offers the clearest account ever given of why some people choose to die. Drawing on extensive clinical and epidemiological evidence, as well as personal experience, Thomas Joiner brings a comprehensive understanding to seemingly incomprehensible behavior. Among the many people who have considered, attempted, or died by suicide, he finds three factors that mark those most at risk of death: the feeling of being a burden on loved ones; the sense of isolation; and, chillingly, the learned ability to hurt oneself. Joiner tests his theory against diverse facts taken from clinical anecdotes, history, literature, popular culture, anthropology, epidemiology, genetics, and neurobiology--facts about suicide rates among men and women; white and African-American men; anorexics, athletes, prostitutes, and physicians; members of cults, sports fans, and citizens of nations in crisis. The result is the most coherent and persuasive explanation ever given of why and how people overcome life's strongest instinct, self-preservation. Joiner's is a work that makes sense of the bewildering array of statistics and stories surrounding suicidal behavior; at the same time, it offers insight, guidance, and essential information to clinicians, scientists, and health practitioners, and to anyone whose life has been affected by suicide.

Finally, a book that explains suicide using the latest research in suicidology. A must-read for mental health professionals and the survivors of suicide who want to understand why suicide happens. The material in this book should be incorporated into the curriculum of psychology and psychiatry because suicide is such a vital topic that is hardly covered in medical schools due to the lack of a coherent theory of the brain in general and suicide in particular. This is an important book for all professionals who deal with mental disorders in general and suicide in particular. It is the author's fifth book where suicide is explained, not as a mysterious process, but as a natural consequence of the reactions of the brain under certain conditions when suffering mental disorders. The author begins with a brief summary of the statistics of the whos, the hows, and the wheres of suicide. This gives us a clear idea of the magnitude of the problem of suicide, of the cost, not only in lives, but of the emotional toll of the survivors, as well as the financial burdens on society as a whole. Then, as an important first step to understanding the medical community's standard approaches to mental disease, he reviews briefly the current psychiatric terminology and the diagnostic tools concerning mental disorders. He presents the most accepted current theories and models of suicide. He explains what a psychiatric emergency is and what to expect if one ever encounters such a situation. And he explains how suicide risk assessment is currently done, along with other important considerations. He proceeds to explain in everyday language, where possible, his theory of how the brain works, beginning with a simple explanation of how neurons communicate with each other. Later he explains how the brain controls the body and how we see with the back of our heads, how memory systems become a logical extension or expansion of our sensory and motor systems. Awareness and attention are introduced, first as an evolutionary tool that aids the senses gather more information from the environment and, ultimately, as tools that aid in thinking, reasoning, and constructing our past, our lives, and our identities. But all this would mean nothing without the introduction of emotions and how the brain constructs contexts. He explains how emotions are an integral part of memories and how these are related to contexts, how, basically, the brain has created a very concise and compact filing memory system. A clear explanation of how emotions are triggered, regulated, and dissipated is next. These lead to a learned discussion of how these various systems can go haywire causing mental disorders. A brief, but perhaps new and revolutionary approach to these mental disorders is presented next, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Delirium, Dementia, and Other Amnestic Disorders, Manic Depression and Depression, and Schizophrenia. Ultimately, it becomes clear how, under certain conditions, these disorders can lead to suicide. The difference between attempters and completers is also explained. He then presents a suicide autopsy as an exercise to show how varied the opinions of experts in the field of suicidology are and compares it to his own theories and lets the reader decide for himself who is closer to the truth. The fallacy of many expert opinions of where research needs to go is presented. The book gives a few words of advice on various therapies and the rationality of their approaches and cautions against their limitations. The book devotes a chapter to suicide prevention in the military and how these efforts are bound to fail and another chapter on suicide prevention. The author makes important suggestions of how to prevent suicide and lessen suicide rates, particularly among the young. And lastly, a chapter is devoted to the specifics of grief for suicide survivors.

This volume is a guide for the hospital workforce related to suicide prevention. Written by experts in the field, this text is the only one that also includes the revised DSM-5 guidelines. It is also the first to cover both prevention in one concise guide, offering a well-rounded approach to long- and short-term prevention. The book begins by establishing the neurobiology of suicide before discussing the populations at risk for suicide and the various environments where they may present. The book addresses the epidemiology, including groups at heightened risk; etiology, including several types of risk factors; prevention, including large-scale community-based activities; and postvention, including the few evidence-based approaches that are currently available. Unlike any other text on the market, this book does not simply focus on one particular demographic; rather, the book covers a wide range of populations and concerns, including suicide in youths, racial minorities, patients suffering from serious mental and physical illnesses, psychopharmacological treatment in special populations, and a wide array of challenging scenarios that are often not addressed in the very few up-to-date resources available. Suicide Prevention is an outstanding resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, hospitalists, primary care doctors, nurses, social workers, and all medical professionals who may interface with suicidal patients.

Examines common risk factors of suicide, including mental illness, substance abuse, and bullying, and discusses health care resources to help prevent suicide and coping strategies for those struggling in the wake of a loved one's suicide.

What causes people to take their own lives and how can we prevent it? In this elaborate study, the specific issues that relate to suicidal tendencies are addressed. Causes and consequences come to light, and comparisons are made between countries, individuals, and triggers that influence a person in a depressive state to contemplate the unthinkable. You'll read, among others: Why suicide is more prevalent in some countries than others, according to stats and factors attributed to nations' specific issues. Individual reasons for suicide. Peer pressure, bullying, relationships, financial status, pesticides, governments, substance abuse, social pressure, physical health, employment, and other contributors. Some of the most important tips about what to do when someone is getting serious about committing suicide. A discussion about medication and prevention methods. How to help yourself when you have suicidal thoughts And much more!Curious yet? Then don't wait and start reading.