Every day in the United States, over half a million social workers provide services to people with health, mental health, and substance abuse problems in a fragmented system that emphasizes disease treatment over prevention. Powerful issues--including health inequities, population aging, globalization, natural disaster, war, and economic…

Studied 33 community mental health centers to determine what types of organizational variables and ideological factors might affect whether a community health center conducted prevention programs. Results indicated organizational support and ideological support of mental health professionals were critical variables for prevention programs.…

This article highlights some of the concerns about and benefits of curriculum-based suicide prevention programs delivered to students in a high school setting. In addition, it presents information about a specific curriculum-based prevention program and provides evidence that the program changed unwanted attitudes about suicide in all the areas…

Guidelines are given to assess the sources and types of social support people use as first and direct lines of defense in coping with life events and chronic hardships and to highlight how these ties mediate access to other supportive peer relationships. Suggests social workers organize groups and workshops to assess and strengthen network…

Presents community development as a strategy for achieving goals of prevention in small communities in Appalachia. Emphasizes the organization of social structures and collective efforts in problem and enhancing levels of physical and mental health in these vulnerable communities. (Author)