Understanding Suicidal Behaviour

NEW IN PAPERBACK How can suicide be prevented and treated by mental health professionals? Understanding Suicidal Behaviour offers a clinical guide to the assessment, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour, from a new and useful theoretical perspective. How can suicide be prevented and treated by mental health professionals? This book offers a clinical guide to the assessment, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour, from a new and useful theoretical perspective - a developmental process approach. The book presents the arguments and research evidence that suicidal behaviour is not just a response to current emotional crises, but is influenced by persistent characteristics that can be defined in psychological and biological terms. The authors bring together research-based evidence that establishes three key aspects of the developmental process approach: suicidal behaviour results from the interaction between stressful life events and an individual vulnerability; this individual vulnerability is itself the product of psychobiological factors, genetics and past life events; vulnerability, in this sense, influences how the individual perceives, interprets and reacts to adverse life events, perhaps leading to hopelessness and suicidal behaviour. Psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and other mental health practitioners will appreciate the conceptual and clinical value of this book based on its: Description of biological and psychological developmental processes leading to suicide, integrating evidence-based information from a broad range of disciplines Psychobiological definition of long- and short-tem risk factors for suicide, and innovative approach to psychological and biological targets for treatment and prevention Cutting-edge discussion of implications for the study and treatment of suicidal behaviour, by some of the leading authorities in the field NEW IN PAPERBACK How can suicide be prevented and treated by mental health professionals? Understanding Suicidal Behaviour offers a clinical guide to the assessment, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour, from a new and useful theoretical perspective. The book presents the arguments and research evidence that suicidal behaviour is not just a response to current emotional crises, but is influenced by persistent characteristics that can be defined in psychological and biological terms. The approach in this book accommodates and goes beyond previous aspects thought important in suicidal behaviour, like mental disorder and social stress. The key concept of vulnerability may provide new approaches to treatment to supplement the existing treatments, which are of limited efficacy. Challenges professionals to understand suicidal behaviour from a basis of vulnerability, personality, and development - and as a process that includes social, biological, and psychological interactions Offers ways in predicting suicidal behaviour and indicating earlier, effective interventions Cutting edge discussion of implications for the study and treatment of suicidal behaviour, by some of the leading authorities in the field "...warrants a place on the shelf of any suicidologist, clinician or researcher with an interest in suicidal behaviour...the editor and contributors ought to be commended on a comprehensive and lucid volume." British Journal of Clinical Psychology

The traditional view of suicide as profoundly unusual is challenged by the fact that suicide and attempted suicide are the largest causes of death an injury to young adults. Understanding Suicidal Behaviour aims to de-mystify suicide, and shows how regarding it as the product of an insane mind fails to explain why people kill themselves and how those considering suicide may be helped. Written in a jargon-free style and from a theoretically eclectic position, the book examines the social and intellectual origins of the view that suicide is profoundly abnormal and a case for medical treatment. The authors investigate the incidence and causes of suicide, review the risk factors, and examine the implications for prevention and the ethics of intervening-or failing to- intervene-in the context of the needs and rights of those who consider suicide.Through an analysis of suicide letters and conversations with those who have recently attempted suicide, they show how an understanding of suicidal communication can enlighten our thinking. Understanding Suicidal Behaviour will be a useful guide for those with a general interest in suicidal behaviour as well as psychologist and other health care professionals active in the field, in particular mental health professionals, medical practitioners, social and community workers and physiatrist. It will also be useful for prison officer, voluntary groups psychotherapists and counselors.