Suicide Prevention Research from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for MedicalResearch

Efficacy of Suicide Prevention Programs for Children and Youth
From the introduction:

In response to the increase of youth suicide starting in the 1950s, numerous suicide prevention programs have been developed and expanded since the early 1970s. Although extensive attempts have been made to prevent youth suicide, there is a lack of published research on suicide prevention programs.

Suicide Prevention Strategies: Evidence from Systematic Reviews
From the introduction:

This report provides an overview of the evidence from systematic reviews on the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies.

Ten reviews were selected. Two reviews covered a wide range of suicide prevention strategies, three reviews focused on school-based suicide prevention programs for adolescents, four reviews assessed psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for suicidal patients, and one review examined long-term lithium treatment for patients with major affective disorders. Out of ten reviews, three reviews received a ‘good’ methodological quality rating.

Suicide, parasuicide, attempted suicide, and suicide prevention were not clearly defined in the reviews. In the future, clarifying these definitions will enable one to make comparisons among the various studies.

Thanks Bron!

Spirituality and Mental Illness

This new feature from ABC Health looks at the spiritual aspects of recovery from mental illness an psychological distress. It is an interesting follow-on from the theme of the last SPA conference.

Soul Mining - Features - Health Matters

There is a list of additional reading at the end of the article.

Treatment of Mentally Ill in Prisons and Jails

This article discusses the need for additonal followup treatment for the mentally ill who have been in jail.

"Ten percent of inmates in state institutions reported having a mental or
emotional condition."

Drug Benefit Trends 15(6) 2003, available from Medscape. Free registration may be required to access the site.