Youth Suicide Prevention: A Survey and Analysis of Policies and Efforts in the 50 States

State-level initiatives directed at youth suicide prevention since 1980 were analyzed. During 1992 and 1996, each governor was surveyed regarding his or her state's efforts in youth suicide prevention. Questions pertained to legislation, a mandated or recommended school-based suicide prevention curriculum, funding, a special advisory council, a state plan, the development and dissemination of materials, and assessment. Several states sent examples of their prevention activities, which were reviewed to determine the extent to which they represent conceptually and/or empirically grounded preventive intervention strategies. The number of suicides, suicide rates, and percentage change in rate for youth 15–19 years old were reported by state for the periods 1979–1981 and 1992–1994. The results of a repeated measures 2 × 5 ANOVA revealed that while changes in suicide rates over time were statistically significant, there was no relation between these changes and any of the variables studied. Suggestions for future research on state-level initiatives are presented.     

Before and after suicide: a preventive outreach program for colleges

Based on a literature review and a survey of existing programs, this preventive outreach program emphasizes staff training in order to prepare college staff to implement a variety of outreach efforts following the suicide attempt or death of a student on campus. Specific guidelines are offered for the management of the suicide crisis, with special attention focused on the friends of the suicide victim.     

UNWANTED INTERCOURSE: THE DIFFICULTY OF SAYING NO

Unwanted intercourse occurs when a reluctant partner is induced to acquiesce against her (his) will by psychological pressure from the would-be lover, but without the use of or the threat of force. An earlier study found that 30% of a representative probability sample of senior women in a liberal arts college had experienced unwanted intercourse. College women's ( N = 76 ) perceptions of the unwanted intercourse situation were assessed by projective and by questionnaire methods, using a videotaped stimulus cue. Results indicate that highly negative feelings are attributed to the man in the refuse situation, and to the majority of the women in both the accept and refuse situations. A hedonic calculus analysis based on the ratio of negative to positive feelings in the stories demonstrates the cost-benefit superiority of accepting unwanted intercourse in spite of the fact that the women's feelings are predominantly negative. A theory of unwanted intercourse is proposed that attributes the high rate of unwanted intercourse to four societal norms: (a) current remnants of the ideology of male supremacy, (b) the norm of male initiative, (c) the lack of positive sexual experience norms for women, and (d) the "stroking norm" for women.