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The Power to Prevent Suicide:
A Guide for Teens Helping Teens
By Richard E. Nelson, Ph.D., and Judith Galas
Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., Minneapolis, MN:1994
Reviewed by Loi
Eberle, M.A.
This short, readable book is written by Richard Nelson,
Ph.D., the Director of Student Counseling and Psychological
Services at the University of Kansas, with freelance writer,
Judith Galas. Nelson observes that the statistics on suicide
are overwhelming, summarized in the statement: “every four
years someone in your school will commit suicide.” He also
states that most people share their suicidal thoughts with
friends. The rest of the book deals with the question, “What
would you do if a friend confided to you that he or she was
going to commit suicide?” Before answering that question,
the authors present some basic information about human behavior,
to help “you to understand why someone you know might choose
suicide.” Nelson feels this provides the groundwork for understanding
why “a concerned and caring friend can play a significant
role in reversing someone’s suicidal thoughts and stopping
his or her suicidal plans.”
This leading cause of death among teenagers they feel rarely
happens without some warning and is preventable. They assure
the reader that “talking about suicide won’t give teenagers
ideas” and in fact, allowing suicidal thoughts to be out
in the open makes them less likely to become suicidal behaviors.
They also site research stating “out of every ten teens who
attempt or complete a suicide, seven have told someone, in
some way, about their plans.” He outlines the warning signs
of suicide, and who is at risk. The second part of the book
deals with how to be a suicide preventer, how to take care
of ones’ self in what can be a stressful situation and what
resources are available for help. This seems like an essential
guild book both for adolescents and those who work with them. |
