Suicide : theory, practice and investigation / Ronald M. Holmes, Stephen T. Holmes.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Acknowledgments--1. Suicide in the United States--What is Suicide?--Basic definitions--The extent of Suicide--Suicide Attempts--Marital status and suicide--Occupation and suicide--Regional differences and suicide--Correctional inmates--Suicide and the survivors--Conclusion--2. History and suicide--Selected historical analysis of suicide--Suicide in ancient Greece--Ancient Roman Society and suicide--Christianity and suicide--Emerging ideas on suicide--Conclusion--3. Theories and types of suicide--Emile Durkheim--Durkheim\'s suicide typology--Types of suicide: Anomic suicide-Altrustic suicide-Egoistic suicide-Fatalistic suicide--Selected theories of suicide-: Biology and suicide-Psychology and suicide-Religion and suicide--Conclusion--4. Youth and suicide--Statistics on suicide--Family stability and suicide--Mental health and youth suicide--Youth suicide and corretional facilities--Youth suicide and substance abuse--Previous attempted suicides and completed suicides--Youth suicide and sexual and physical abuse--Screening programs and youth suicide--Conclusion--5. Suicide and the elderly:--Suicide and the elderly--Types of elderly suicide--Elderly suicide and statistics--Elderly suicide and physical health--Elderly suicide and psychological health--Conclusion--6. Suicide and violence among intimates--Violence among intimates--Battered partners, violence and partner homicide/suicide--What to look for in Older adults and homicide/suicide--Family viollence and suicide among adolescents--Conclusion--7. Suicide letters: A typology and analysis--Suicide notes and letters--Categories of suicide notes and letters--Financial-Love scorned - Physical health - Mental Health -- Implications of suicide notes for suicide investigation-- Conclusion--8. Selected Atypical suicides:- Physician-assisted suicide--Who are the patients in physician-assisted suicides?--Cults and mass suicide--Case Study: Jonestown, Guvana--Case Study: The Heaven\'s Gate Cult--Terrorism--Conclusion--9. Suicide Investigation:--Suicide investigation--Self-inflicted gunshot wounds-Searing-Trace evidence-Position-Entry and exit wounds-Postmortem activity of the body--Hanging--Poisons: Chemicals-Plants-Pills-Illegal drugs-Carbon monoxide--Self-Smothering--Self-inflicted knife wounds--Jumping--Drowning--Pedestrian traffic suicides--Intentional traffic crashes--Fire--Railroad accidents--Conclusion--10. Depression, drugs, alcohol and suicide--Suicide: The role of depression, alcohol and drugs--Depression and suicide--Drugs and suicide--Alcohol and suicide--Conclusion.--11. Suicide and the future--What we have learned--History of trauma and abuse--Mental disorders--Previous suicide attempts--Alcohol and substance abuse--Financial losses--Personal or relationship losses--Health issues--Religious beliefs--Difficulty in work or occupational settings--Verbal hints--Loss of pleasure in Previously pleasurable Activities--Neglect of personal appearance--Change in eating or sleeping habits--Persistant state of boredom--Placing personal items in order--Giving away personal possessions Withdrawal from primary group members--How to get better--Organizations for help--Conclusion.

An accessible overview of suicide in the United States written by two of the foremost authors of murder & violent crime books in the world.