CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

Gatekeepers

Yet, throughout the life of a person, there are people around who have the potential to impact one's direction in life for the better. Such individuals are sometimes known as community gatekeepers, those people who are in positions to help, due to their professional responsibilities and/or place in the community. Module 5 describes who some of these gatekeepers could be in a community and how their positive impact might help to prevent suicide. In conjunction with gatekeepers, this course lists a number of protective factors, which are areas of help, strength, and resilience.

Protective factors can exist within a person at-risk for suicide, within the strength and abilities of families impacted by suicide risks, and within the larger community and society. An example of a protective factor is reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.

This course presents fictitious scenarios and vignettes showing individuals facing suicidal tendencies. These scenarios and vignettes are based on real-life composites of people who have been at risk for suicide and on research into the complex reality of what it means to be at risk for suicide. There are also quotes at the beginning of most modules from actual suicide attempt survivors.