Overview

This book analyzes the latest trends in suicide rates and attempts around the world using data from the WHO's Mortality Database. It covers the whole life span from childhood (under 15 years) through to late adulthood (65 years and over). This comprehensive examination of international trends provides a uniquely clear picture of suicide mortality in the last half century, with an emphasis on recent and emerging trends. Controversially, the book then goes on to examine the impact of national suicide prevention strategies, national mental health plans, substance use policies, and the use of antidepressant medications on suicide mortality, providing some astounding initial data on the efficacy - or lack of efficacy - of these activities in the prevention of suicide.

Full Product Details

9780889372887

Table of Contents

Reviews

This book ... reviews the data on suicide mortality by age groups and, more importantly, critically reviews the evidence regarding the impact of some public health and clinical interventions on suicide mortality, at population levels. Given some of its surprising findings, it surely will stir some debate and discussion. J. M. Bertolote (Coordinator, Management of Mental and Brain Disorders, WHO) ...this book contains useful and interesting information easily accessible by referring to the table of contents. ...this study is a valiant attempt to identify and prioritize information possibly useful for the development of more sophisticated and effective prevention strategies for suicidal behavior. Steven T. Herron, MD (University of Arizona Health Sciences Center)in Doody's Book Review In this era, the world has been reduced to a global village by advances in information and communication technology. As a result of this, more books with international perspective are required rather than books focusing on little segments of the global village. Besides, writing a book that discusses a subject across cultural and national boundaries enables effective comparison to be made in different groups of people. This type of cross-cultural comparison is very pertinent in subjects of public and mental health concern, which must be discussed within the context of international health to be meaningful. The present book entitled International Suicide Rates and Preventive Strategies in many ways fulfils the above criteria. The yearning of the contemporary readers must have been borne in mind by the authors of this book throughout the stages of its conception and production. The present book focuses on specific aspects of suicidology namely rates and prevention. This is desirable, as information in the subject-matter of suicidology has exploded in recent times. Attempting to cover the subject in a book will certainly result in a huge single voluminous text book or will need to be split into numerous volumes. With the specific nature of this book, an interested reader can focus on materials that are relevant with minimal distraction from unwanted information. The division of this book into four major sections; data, suicide trends, suicide prevention and facts impacting on suicidal behaviour; is a highly organised approach and it enhances readability. With this arrangement the reader can selectively focus on specific sections of interest. This 150-paged book contains succinct and straight-forward account in each chapter. The book is written in short sentences and the vocabulary is kept simple. This style of presentation of material enables readers from diverse backgrounds to comprehend the information with minimal efforts. The facts are presented in a way that easy reference is possible. By this arrangement a reader could see at a glance the rate of suicide and its preventive strategies in different parts of the world. Throughout this book information is presented in both text form and in graphical/tabular form. The combination of data in narrative and illustrative manner makes comprehension easy. In fact, using different colours for the graphs and tables will not improve its readability and comprehensibility to any significant extent. The provision of brief conclusion at the end of each chapter is innovative. It enables a cursory reader to benefit from the facts contained in each chapter without having to read the whole length of the chapter. This approach also helps retention of facts by those who read through the entire chapter, in that the conclusion serves as succinct summary. This book covers extensive geographic and cultural areas. Only developing cultures are not adequately covered. This is possibly because of dearth of data on rates and preventive strategies from those parts of the world. Hopefully, by the time the next edition is due ample information from the developing world may be available for inclusion. Typographical errors are minimal. They are unlikely to have any significant impact on the flow and understanding of the message conveyed by the text. On the whole, this is a well written book, designed to meet the needs of general readers and those of professionals, working in the area of suicide and attempted suicide. Medical students and students of psychology, sociology and social anthropology, as well as psychiatrists, psychologists, epidemiologists and policy-makers will find it useful. Researchers in behavioural sciences and related disciplines will find this book an important tool in pursuing their specific scientific enquiries. I recommend it for individual and institutional libraries. Journal of the National Medical Association, December issue 2006

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Countries Available