Reviews the national and international epidemiological data on suicide mortality systematically by gender and culture and then discusses the implications these data hold for primary prevention. Suicide morality appears highest among individuals for whom such behavior is culturally sanctioned. Thus, an important target for primary prevention may be…

Explores some of the possible distinctive traits of midlife suicides, which include: loss of spouse, years of heavy drinking, reaching the age of high depression risk, and occupational problems. Midlife suicides tend to be highest among white males, although female suicide rates peak in midlife. The paper concludes with a review of assessment and…

Describes Crisis Support Plan developed by one county school system to give both psychological and physical support to a school facing a crisis such as student death. Gives background of Crisis Support Plan and uses case study to explain various aspects of crisis intervention teaming (the crisis, meeting, the day of the intervention). (NB)

Describes interventions with students perceived to be at high risk for imitative suicidal behavior in three secondary schools where there had been a completed suicide of a student. Discusses method used to gain access to the students and the form of intervention used, along with implications for the future evaluation of postvention techniques…

Presents rationale for therapy, from assessment through psychotherapy, with suicidal elderly patients. Describes process including attention to situational and family components, crisis intervention, general treatment principles, and application of these principles to individual, group, and family therapy. Emphasizes intensity and complexity of…

This article discusses strategies for preventing aggression and violence in children and youth, including understanding and applying appropriate interventions for escalating levels of aggression and violence, classroom preventative and planning measures, and systemwide policies and procedures. A student crisis plan sheet is provided as a tool for…

Describes Red Flag Carry-in Crisis in which 15-year-old girl with learning disabilities fought with another student and was actively resistant to help. Presents background information, incident itself, drainoff stage, timeline, and transcript of Red Flag intervention interview. Discusses outcome goals, describes student's return to class, offers…

Crisis intervention procedures can potentially conflict with students' right to privacy as defined by law and American School Counselor Association ethical standards. Principals are encouraged to work with their counseling staff and other pupil personnel workers to explore ethically appropriate means to serve students in crisis without violating…

Details events of six days during Salmonella outbreak at camp in North Carolina. Explains how camp handled 280 sick campers and staff, well campers, news media, and parents. Based on an epidemiologic survey of food eaten, it was suspected that the culprit of the outbreak was a meat item. Offers suggestions for crisis management in the camp…

The article describes the implementation of Immediate Strategic Intervention, a counseling strategy which utilizes trained adolescent female friends to help during the first 24 hours of an emotional crisis (e.g., potential suicide). Middle school adolescents can be taught basic psychological concepts and utilize them in supporting friends and…

Describes the services of the Appalachian Mental Health Center in Elkins, West Virginia. Services include a school for emotionally disturbed teenagers, an Adult Training Center, a preschool for developmental disabilities, a public inebriate shelter, a crisis center for teens, a small prison counseling program, and long-term counseling for drug and…

Attempts to define organizational processes necessary to operate safely technologically complex organizations. Identifies nuclear powered aircraft carriers as examples of potentially hazardous organizations with histories of excellent operations. Discusses how carriers deal with components of risk and antecedents to catastrophe cited by Perrow and…

The school business official will be involved in many referenda over the course of a career. School budgets, capital projects, equipment acquisitions, school bus purchases, and emergency construction projects are among the most common situations requiring a referendum. A time frame is needed, and most states have guidelines spelling out procedures…

As staff, students, and parents at a Long Island high school discovered, resolving the complicated issues surrounding the death of a beloved teacher and coach is not easy. In this case, there was unwavering support for a basketball coach dying of cancer and for students and staff afterward. Crisis intervention worked because responsible adults…

Explores potential benefits of incorporating concepts and interventions from experimental therapy to help clients with psychosocial difficulties in learning to live with genital herpes. Recommends experimental counseling of two-chair dialog, empty chair, and metaphor for helping clients with emotional sequelae of genital herpes. Presents case…