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Adolescent Suicide and the Classroom Teacher
Author(s) -
McKenry Patrick C.,
Tishler Carl L.,
Christman Karen L.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1980.tb08143.x
Subject(s) - suicide prevention , psychology , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , injury prevention , adolescent suicide , occupational safety and health , developmental psychology , medical emergency , medicine , pathology
Adolescent suicide is a phenomenon of epidemic proportions, constituting the third leading cause of death in this age group. Various theories of suicide are reviewed and the attention to family variables discussed. These theoretical models indicate the multi‐disciplinary nature of the problem — that is, that adolescent suicide requires a medical, psychological, social and educational approach to the problem. Since school plays a major role in the lives of adolescents, it offers an avenue of approach to adolescent suicide. A list of behavioral changes indicative of emotional distress is provided for teachers for use in identification and referral. Teachers should also serve an educational function. Discussion of suicide dispels myths and modifies the likelihood of an attempt. Several suggestions concerning how school personnel may intervene are provided.