In recent years, with the rising rate of suicide among Service members (SM) and Veterans, much attention has been given to factors that contribute to suicide in this population. The authors note that many returning SM experience psychological problems that are known to be associated with higher suicide risk.
Several years ago I attended a workshop taught by David Rudd on managing suicidal patients in which he discussed former Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain as an example of someone who exhibited significant risk factors and warning signs for suicide. Recently, while reviewing materials for the two-day Suicide Prevention workshop I was struck by how often Thomas Joiner also mentions Cobain to illustrate his Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. In the references of Joiner’s book, Why People Die by Suicide (2005) he cites Charles Cross’s biography of Kurt Cobain, Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain, (2001). I decided to gain a better understanding of how Rudd and Joiner’s theories might look in a real person I should read Heavier than Heaven.
In today's Staff Perspective on the CDP's blog, Dr. Regina Shillinglaw discusses the use of the modifier "Interrupted" in suicide nomenclature. She examines the correct usage and even provides a few examples.
I vividly remember when the Department of Defense (DoD) transitioned to using the DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) system. I was a young Air Force psychologist stationed in Germany at the time and I remember thinking, “Oh no, one more new system to learn”. However, I now know how valuable the DoDSER program is in helping standardize suicide surveillance across the Services.
The CDP's weekly research update contains the latest news, journal articles and useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include: