The incidence of adolescent suicide has
increased dramatically over the past 20 years. In fact, suicide is now the third leading
cause of death for teenagers in the United States. What has caused this teenage suicide
epidemic? Why is it that so many young people want to end their lives?
In this book, eminent suicidologist
David Lester offers a startling look at what we currently know about
adolescent suicide and what we can do to prevent it, providing
information useful to theory, research, practice and intervention.
Through case studies and a detailed review of the literature, Lester
opens the doors to understanding this tragedy and gives us the
knowledge necessary for successful intervention.
This important book provides clinicians,
crisis workers and parents with new insight that will enable them to initiate successful
prevention strategies, on both a professional level and at home, and to have a reasonable
chance to reverse this tragic trend.
David Lester, PhD has achieved worldwide
recognition as a leading authority on suicide. The author of more than 60 books and 1500
scholarly articles, Dr. Lester is currently Executive Director of the Center for the Study
of Suicide and Professor of Psychology at Richard Stockton State College, both or which
are in Pomona, New Jersey. Dr. Lester's research, involving nearly every facet of
suicidology, has contributed greatly to the progress in this field.
CONTENTS
Introduction
1.Two Cases of Youth Suicide
2. The Incidence of Adolescent Suicide
3. Youth Suicide Around the World
4. The Suicidal Act
5. Psychiatric Illness and Adolescent
Suicide
6. Perinatal Influences on Adolescent
Suicide
7. Childhood Experiences and Suicide
8. Suicide Clusters and Subcultures
9. Double Suicides and Suicide Pacts
10. A Deviant Theory of Adolescent
Suicide
11. Assessing Suicidality: A Chapter for
the Professional
12. Treatment and Therapy
13. Helping Your Suicidal Child: A
Chapter for Parents
14. Suicide Prevention in Schools
15. Coping with the Suicide of an
Adolescent
REVIEWS
From
Library Journal
Suicide is the third leading cause of
death in the United States among persons under the age of 24. Noted suicidologist,
lecturer, and author David Lester addresses this growing phenomenon in the latest of his
many works on the subject of suicide. All facets of adolescent suicide are covered,
including a statistical overview; a review of possible causes and predictors of the
suicidal impulse in young persons; suggestions for prevention, assessment, and treatment;
and advice for survivors. Theoretical analysis is skillfully blended with case histories,
and the unique aspects of adolescent suicide are stressed throughout. Thorough and current
references conclude each chapter. An important contribution to the study of suicide,
recommended for school, public, and academic libraries.
From
Adolescence (Vol. 28, No. 110)
The incidence of adolescent suicide has
increased dramatically over the past twenty years. In fact, suicide is now the third
leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. What are caused this teenage
suicide epidemic? Why is it that so many young people want to end their lives? In this
book, suicidologist David Lester presents a broad overview of current knowledge about the
growing phenomenon of adolescent suicide and provides information useful to theory,
research, practice, and intervention. Through the use of case studies and a comprehensive
examination of the societal and peer pressures that plague young people, Lester improves
our understanding of this enigma and provides tools for intervention.
Chapters include: two cases of youth
suicide; the incidence of adolescent suicide; youth suicide around the world; the suicidal
act; psychiatric illness and adolescent suicide; perinatal influences on adolescent
suicide; childhood experiences; suicide clusters and subcultures; double suicides and
suicide pacts; a deviant theory of adolescent suicide; assessing suicidality: a chapter
for the professional; treatment and therapy; helping your suicidal child: a chapter for
parents (by Antoon A. Leenaars); suicide prevention in schools; and coping with the
suicide of an adolescent.
From
Thanatos
Adolescent suicide remains an enigma
today, despite advances in our understanding of adult suicidal behavior. In The Cruelest
Death, Lester focuses on the unique qualities that characterize the adolescent suicide
through the use of case studies and a comprehensive examination of the societal and peer
pressures that plague young people. In this way, he opens the door to understanding this
enigma and gives a better approach to intervention. This book provides clinicians, crisis
workers and parents with new insight that will enable them to initiate prevention
strategies, on both professional level and at home, and to have a reasonable chance to
reverse this tragic trend.
The Charles
Press, Publishers
