Crisis
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Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescence. Due to the risk of contagion and maladaptive coping responses in the aftermath of suicide, clinicians have responded by developing postvention services. ⋯ These groups include school administrators, staff, students, families, and community members at large. In addition, it has become clear that the local media response to suicide is of critical importance, and that school administrators and local mental health officials should work effectively with reporters so that news stories do not contribute to suicide contagion.
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In this article, general characteristics of suicide in the elderly are discussed. They have the highest suicide rate of any age group, are more determined to die, use "harder" methods, and seem less prone to communicate their suicidal intentions. ⋯ The particular factors affecting suicide in old age, such as retirement, relocation, social support, bereavement, depression, hopelessness, mental disorders, and alcohol abuse are described. Physical illness, especially attendant on depression and feelings of hopelessness, also plays an important role.
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The state variations in suicide by different methods were found to have different social correlates. Only suicide rates by firearms/explosives and by solids/liquids were found to correlate with indices of low social integration/regulation as Durkheim predicted. The results indicate the need for additional explanatory concepts to account for regional variations in suicide rates.