A critical look at our adolescence: notes on turning 18 (and 75)

Within the contexts of both the American Association of Suicidology's (AAS's) history and the history of associating suicidologists, an integrative identity based on the tenets of science is urged for the AAS. Two propositions are made: first, that we must promote and adopt more discriminative, standardized terminology; second, that we must promote and implement standards of informational competency for professionals and paraprofessionals alike.     

Suicide and the Standard of Care: Optimal vs. Acceptable

ABSTRACT: The accepted standard of care in the treatment of suicidal patients is discussed from the perspectives of the law, malpractice insurance claims, the mental health professions, and the ideal. A review of decisions of professional liability in suits for wrongful death provides guidelines for what the court considers to be adequate care. Out of court settlements further connote accepted standards of reasonable care. Although attention to potential malpractice issues is necessary and appropriate, what appear to result are an acceptance of minimal standards and the practice of defensive care. It is argued that by demanding more optimal standards the consequent quality of care not only serves the patient best but provides the best legal protection as well.     

Dyadic death: murder-suicide.

Twenty homicide-suicides, drawn from death records of three major eastern United States cities, were analyzed in comparison to prior studies and samples of homicide offenders and suicide victims. Results indicated a lower incidence for this event than reported previously and several distinguishing characteristics of the murderer who subsequently commits suicide. Two primary types, from the perspective of ego fusion, are discussed.     

The Epidemiology of Life-Threatening Events*

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the epidemiology and impact (both short- and long-term) of acute life-threatening experiences among a youthful population. Interviews were conducted with 649 individuals between the ages of 13 and 30. Thirty-four percent of these respondents reported a total of 290 analyzable, subjectively perceived death confrontation experiences. An estimate of over 2 1/2 million living ex-suicide attempters, under age 30, was derived, and suicide was found to be a significantly unique form of death confrontation. In contrast to earlier work, panic and fear were found significantly to describe the majority of impacts reported, while avoidance appears to be the modal long-term effect. Differential impacts and effects are reported by mode of event, and results are discussed in relation to their impact for crisis counseling.