Susanne Wenckstern

THE IMPACT OF GUN CONTROL (BILL C-51) ON SUICIDE IN CANADA

Suicide is a multiply determined behavior, calling for diverse prevention efforts. Gun control has been proposed as an important component of societys response, and an opportunity for studying the effects of legislative gun control laws on suicide rates was provided by Canadas Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1977 (Bill C-51). This article reviews previous studies of the impact of this act on the total population of Canada and subpopulations by age and gender and, in addition, presents the results of 2 new studies: a different method of analysis, an interrupted time-series analysis, and the results of a multiple regression analysis that controls for some social variables. It appears that Bill C-51 may have had an impact on suicide rates, even after controls for social variables.

Controlling the environment to prevent suicide: international perspectives.

Background: Suicide and suicidal behaviour are multifaceted events requiring complex solutions. Controlling the environment is a neglected solution, despite strong support for this approach from the World Health Organization (WHO). Method To discuss this approach from a global view, this review is written by authors from various cultures: American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Cuban, Dutch, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Lithuanian, Native North American, Russian, and South African. Results We examine gun control to illustrate the environmental control approach; however, the worldwide diversity of suicide methods calls for diverse responses. Further, controlling the environment encompasses more than restricting the means of suicide, which we illustrate with examples of toned-down media reports and restricted medicine availability. Conclusions Controlling the environment may be a viable strategy for preventing suicide, although research shows that few clinicians implement such approaches.

Facts and myths of suicide in Canada

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe a series of studies that investigated the level of knowledge of suicide fables and facts among Canadians. A questionnaire devised from Shneidmans traditional list of ubiquitous clinical facts and myths was used. Three studies are reported: the prevalence of myths and facts in the largest sample reported in the literature to date; the prevalence in a number of different groups such as students versus nonstudents, university students versus high school students, male versus female, and individuals in different geographic areas; and a follow-up to evaluated memory for such information. The results are perceived to indicate “high” levels of knowledge in all sampled Canadians but subject to normal cognitive and dynamic processes of forgetting. Implications of the findings, especially regarding suicide prevention/awareness, are discussed.

Trauma and suicide in our schools

Abstract Trauma occurs in our schools; suicide is one such event. Postvention deals with the traumatic aftereffects in survivors. It involves offering mental health services to the bereaved survivors. School systems are an especially critical force in these endeavors. Strategies include consultation, crisis intervention, community linkage, assessment and counselling, education, liaison with the media, and follow-up. An outline of this type of prevention (within a framework of prevention/intervention/postvention) is provided with illustration of three cases: a suicide, a school bus accident, and a crossing-guard incident.

Comparison of suicide notes and parasuicide notes

Abstract This archival research, a comparison of suicide notes written by individuals who killed themselves and notes—called parasuicide notes—by individuals who attempted suicide, involved two studies. The first study involved a comparison of eight patterns (comprised of individual protocol sentences): unbearable pain, interpersonal relations, rejection-aggression, inability to adjust, indirect expressions, identification-egression, ego, and cognitive constriction. The second study involved a protocol analysis based on previous reviews that compared completers and attempters. Independent judges scored the notes. No differences in the eight patterns were found. However, protocol differences were noted, namely that attempters see themselves more often as too weak to cope with lifes difficulties; attempters see their attempt as a style of life; attempters express greater lack of social integration; and completers see themselves as more immature, passive/aggressive, and/or antisocial. There may be important...

Menstruation and suicide: an exploratory study.

Previous research has reported mixed findings on the effect of the menstrual cycle on suicidal behavior. The contribution of menstruation to completed suicide is also controversial, though the studies are very limited and have not been carefully designed. To explore the relationship, 217 autopsies on completed suicides were performed, matched to a control group at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The results show that 54.46% of people who died by suicide were menstruating (results excluded pregnancies), compared to 6.75% of the control group. Menstruation in those who completed suicide, compared to a control group, appeared to have an association with suicide. More research is warranted.

Altruistic suicides: are they the same or different from other suicides?

Suicidology is not alone in wrestling with the question, ‘who are the altruistic suicides?’ A review of a series of studies published in Archives of Suicide Research, suggests that maybe they are not different from other suicides. They are suicides; a case study of a “martyr” note reveals a suicide note. Emile Durkheims sociological taxonomy suggests that the difference is probably on the outside, the social world. Yet, who decides what is honorable or not? Who are the suicide bombers? Martyrs? Terrorists? It appears that society(ies) defines the event, probably not the psychological aspects of the suicide(s). More research is, however, needed, but there are many obstacles to such study.

Suicide Notes in Alcoholism

Alcoholism is associated with a vast number of suicides. The most systematic study of suicide among alcoholics is the work of Eli Robins and George Murphy. The suicide notes in these studies have remained unanalyzed to date. The present analysis suggested that these suicide notes of alcoholics did not differ from those of nonalcoholics; core themes in their deaths are unbearable psychological pain, cognitive constriction, indirect expressions, rejection-aggression, and identification-egression. Although caution is in order in accepting the null hypothesis, we can at least suggest that further study is needed.

Suicide Prevention in Schools: The Art, the Issues, and the Pitfalls

Suicide is a major mental health problem and public health problem worldwide. Schools and their communities must respond in a comprehensive fashion. Caplans model of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention--or prevention, intervention, and postvention--is proposed as a comprehensive response to suicide in youths. Current myths and facts about these fabrications are discussed for each mode of response. Research, clinical suggestions, and a call for further discussion are presented.

Suicide prevention in schools: An introduction

Abstract Both children and adolescents do commit suicide. Attempted suicide and suicidal ideation occur even more frequently. Schools offer an excellent and important opportunity to reach a large number of young people. The purpose of this special issue on primary prevention is twofold: First, models are provided in order to outline examples of prevention programs for school systems; second, actual prevention material and case illustrations are provided to assist the reader in better understanding such programs. The rationale for such programs, liability issues, and problems facing prevention programs are addressed. It is also argued that evaluation of such programs is a critical next step in assisting young people in schools.