Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, 1997. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-180).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Thomas E. Joiner, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains x, 92 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.) -- National Defense University, 2007. / AD-A468 858. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Suicide is a major health concern worldwide. Nurse practitioners must possess suicide assessment skills and treatment knowledge to ensure appropriate identification of persons with suicidal ideation. The purpose of this project was to assess psychiatric nurse practitioners' knowledge of suicide prevention in rural Kentucky. The conceptual framework was Orlando's nursing process theory, which emphasizes the importance of nurse-patient interaction. A 13-item survey of suicide-related knowledge and skills was administered to 10 psychiatric nurse practitioners in rural Kentucky. Only 3 participants responded correctly to a question related to suicidality in persons with borderline personality disorder. Regarding competency and support for assessing suicide, 100% of participants reported that they were comfortable asking direct and open-ended questions regarding suicide. Nine of the 10 respondents assessed their knowledge and skills as sufficient to engage effectively with patients contemplating suicide, which indicates that psychiatric nurse practitioners may overestimate their ability to identify and treat persons with suicidal ideation. Healthcare providers in all specialties can benefit from this project by improving competencies and guiding continuing education to bridge any gaps in knowledge for adequately assessing suicide. Further education is needed for psychiatric nurse practitioners to promote positive social change for suicidal persons, their families, and their communities.

While research studies have investigated suicide prevention and intervention in secondary schools, there is very limited research that explores this support specifically at the elementary school level. This paper reviews the prevalence and associated risk factors of youth and adolescent suicide in the United States and best practices of school counselors providing suicide prevention and intervention in schools. The theory of adolescent suicide and social cognitive theory's self-efficacy will frame the discussion of the literature to provide a holistic picture of the elementary schools' needs of implementing suicide prevention and intervention. This research study is designed to fill a gap in the reviewed literature that shows the need for providing prevention and intervention in elementary school and the education that is currently being provided, as well as the level of self-efficacy among elementary school counselors providing suicide intervention to students at-risk. The following research questions guide the study: 1. What percentage of elementary education school counselors in the surveyed districts report having implemented suicide education as prevention in their elementary school with 4th and 5th graders, and what do these programs entail? 2. What are the perceptions of school counselors regarding the necessity of suicide education programs in elementary school? 3. What is the level of self-efficacy reported by school counselors regarding managing a crisis event of suicidality, such as a suicide attempt or student who died by suicide, as measured by the King Instrument? 4. To what extent are (a) years of experience in the field, (b) suicide education training in graduate school, (c) participation in professional development activities and/or in services, and (d) previous experience with a student expressing suicidal thoughts predictive of a counselor's self-efficacy for providing suicide education in the elementary school? Responses from 98 elementary school counselors employed within three school districts in the mid-Atlantic region were surveyed to examine the current suicide prevention programs in place and explore counselor self-efficacy related to providing suicide intervention for at-risk students. The King Instrument (King, 1999) was adapted for elementary school counselors and used to answer the research questions. A total of 7 of participants reported providing suicide prevention to the upper elementary grades. A much larger number of this sample, 83 (84.7%), perceived that it is the role of the school counselor to identify students at risk of suicide. Participants reported high overall self-efficacy for providing suicide interventions. Only one variable, graduate school training (B=0.249, p<.01), was found to significantly predict self-efficacy. A review of the current study will discuss implications for school counselors and counselor educators, and provide suggestions for future research. / Ph. D. / While research studies have investigated suicide prevention and intervention in secondary schools, there is very limited research that explores this support specifically at the elementary school level. This paper reviews the prevalence and associated risk factors of youth and adolescent suicide in the United States and best practices of school counselors providing suicide prevention and intervention in schools. The theory of adolescent suicide and social cognitive theory’s self-efficacy will frame the discussion of the literature to provide a holistic picture of the elementary schools’ needs of implementing suicide prevention and intervention. This research study is designed to fill a gap in the reviewed literature that shows the need for providing prevention and intervention in elementary school and the education that is currently being provided, as well as the level of self-efficacy among elementary school counselors providing suicide intervention to students at-risk. A review of the current study will discuss implications for school counselors and counselor educators, and provide suggestions for future research.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Suicid är en avsiktlig, självdestruktiv handling som leder till döden. Varje år begås närmare 800 000 suicid runt om i världen och av dessa uppskattas cirka 1100 suicid begås i Sverige. I genomsnitt sörjer sex personer för varje fullbordat suicid, vilket innebär att sjuksköterskor i stor utsträckning kommer att möta dessa anhöriga inom vården. Syftet med studien var således att belysa anhörigas upplevelser av att mista en familjemedlem till följd av suicid. Föreliggande studie är en litteraturbaserad studie baserat på kvalitativa artiklar. Studien behandlade begrepp som hälsa och lidande, vilket vidare relaterades till suicid och de efterlevandes upplevelser. En sammanställning av totalt nio vetenskapliga artiklar användes som grund i utformningen av resultatet. Resultatet redovisade att de efterlevande i hög omfattning upplevde känslor av skuld och skam, relaterat till att bli dömd av andra och att döma sig själv. Att bli dömd av omgivningen framgick bero på att denna sortens handling inte var accepterat i samhället, det beskrevs vara ett tabubelagt ämne. Stöd beskrevs upplevas som antingen tillfredsställt eller bristande. Att genomgå sorg innefattade ett känslomässigt kaos och de efterlevande hade ett stort behov av att få sörja. Att därefter gå vidare i livet gjordes med hjälp av olika metoder, bland annat ritualer för att bevara minnen av den avlidne men även att uppnå acceptans för att förmå att leva vidare. Dessa efterlevande upplevde ofta både psykiskt och fysiskt lidande, genomgående i kris- och sorgeprocessen. Det beskrevs att de efterlevande upplevde stort behov av stöd, men att flertalet inte erhöll tillgodosedda stödinsatser. Sjuksköterskors förmåga till utveckling av vårdkvaliteten för att förmå att minska lidande och förebygga ohälsa hos dessa anhöriga beskrevs därför som viktig. Sjuksköterskor bör således även ha en grund i vårdvetenskap för att kunna bidra till kunskapsutveckling inom detta område. / Background: Suicide is defined as a deliberate and self-destructive act that leads to death. It’s considered as a extensive health problem and each year, nearly 800 000 people die as a result of suicide around the world. Six people in each case estimates to be affected about the suicide. Sufficient support is considered important for these people. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate relative’s experience of losing a family member as a result of suicide. Method: A literature-based study including qualitative studies was chosen, according to Friberg (2006), in order to illuminate the relative’s experience of losing a family member as a result of suicide. The results of a total of nine scientific articles were compiled. Results: The results are presented in four themes, and a total of eight subthemes. The presented themes where grief, to be judged by others and to judge themselves, need of support and to continue living. Conclusion: The relatives often experience great suffering, but the results in this study shows that most suicide survivors don’t receive sufficient support. The care of these survivors thus requires a big commitment from the nurses. A guidance to relevant support measures is therefore of great importance, because sufficient support relieve illness, suffering and depression. The nurse should have a reflective approach and a scientific base in the care of these suicide survivors.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.