Mental
Health Association in New York State, Inc. |
Community Connections, Winter 2002/2003Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative The
Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report in June of 2002 called “Reducing
Suicide: A National Imperative” The 496-page report is available
in book form or can be accessed on the web in full at http://books.nap.edu/books/0309083214/html/R1.html.
"Reducing Suicide" provides a blueprint for addressing this
tragic and costly problem: how we can build an appropriate infrastructure,
conduct needed research, and improve our ability to recognize suicide
risk and effectively intervene. The report covers topics in depth and
beyond the ability of this news letter, starting with an executive summary
and moving into a chapter on the magnitude of the problem followed by
a chapter on psychiatric and psychological factors, biological factors,
childhood trauma, society and culture. The report continues to look at
medical and psychotherapeutic interventions and programs for suicide prevention.
With Chapter 10 examining the barriers to research and promising approaches
and a final chapter of findings and recommendations. For those of you
who enjoy statistical details those are also included in the appendix.
This new volume will be of special interest to policy makers, administrators,
researchers, practitioners, and journalists working in the field of mental
health. posted 1/28/03 |