The Psychology of Suicide: From Research Understandings to Intervention and Treatment

Book excerpt: Suicide is a highly complex and multifaceted phenomenon, with many contributing and facilitating factors and variables. However, given its being one of the most severe human behaviors, an obvious focus would be to identify the underlying psychological mechanisms and processes that may lead to suicidal ideation and behavior. This eBook is dedicated to studies exploring various approaches to the psychology of suicidal behavior as well as of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The purpose of this eBook is to shed light on in-depth examinations of the current knowledge and empirical data regarding models, theories, and specific dimensions and variables that may help us increase the psychological understanding of suicidal phenomena. The specific goal is to identify particular psychological characteristics that may be used to develop prevention and intervention methods and programs. We believe that this eBook can contribute to the understanding of this behavior and help to develop specific tools, therapeutic guidelines, and programs that may help reduce the number of suicides occurring annually. This eBook is dedicated to our dearest friend, Dafni Assaf, who was one of the greatest leaders of the suicide prevention program in Israel.