UNDERSTANDING SUICIDE

Facts counteract stigma and ignorance in this guide.

Seemingly designed for adults and teenagers to read together, this work offers up dozens of facts and stories about the difficult-to-discuss topic of suicide. Goldsmith efficiently ushers readers through the facts. More than 41,000 Americans take their lives every year, and many more attempt suicide. Teenage girls attempt suicide nearly twice as often as boys, yet teenage boys are four times more likely to actually die due to the different methods used for their attempts. While there are multiple risk factors for suicide, such as depression and/or substance abuse, stressors such as isolation or bullying, and access to lethal means, there are also multiple options to help anyone contemplating suicide: counseling, medication, long-term treatment, and support from family and friends. These options can help anyone suffering from suicidal thoughts, whether teenager, adult, or veteran. While naturally not a page-turner, this work does present an array of important facts and figures, made intimate with personal stories of people who have attempted suicide or been affected by suicide. Frequent boxed inserts provide tangential material without distracting from the overall flow. The inclusion of quotes from several authors for teens is a welcome touch.

An effective, compassionate guide to a subject that needs one.