Major Concepts

Question 1

What remains a topic of debate among policy makers and researchers regarding suicide prevention?

Answer 1

Whether suicide prevention is best addressed at a population level or the individual level

This debate influences the development and implementation of various strategies aimed at reducing suicide rates.

Question 2

What did the paper by the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Health Evidence Network (HEN) reveal about suicide prevention programs?

Answer 2

Mixed support for population-based and individual-based programs, with both types showing effectiveness but also limitations and methodological flaws

The paper by Guo & Harstall (2004) critically evaluated various suicide prevention strategies.

Question 3

What are some difficulties encountered in the review of suicide prevention strategies?

Answer 3

• Variations in gender, age, and ethnicity of study samples complicate generalization of results
• Difficulty in comparing interventions to determine effective elements
• Small sample sizes hinder detection of effects

These challenges highlight the complexities involved in researching effective suicide prevention methods.

Question 4

What is important to understand concerning suicide prevention initiatives?

Answer 4

The differences between targeted prevention initiatives and those that target the whole population

This understanding is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of various prevention strategies.

Question 5

What does the whole-of-population approach to suicide prevention emphasize?

Answer 5

Targeting the whole population or sub-population to shift the distribution of risk

The goal is to reduce the number of individuals above the threshold that leads to fatal suicidal behavior.

Question 6

What was Rosenmann’s argument regarding focusing on high-risk persons in suicide prevention?

Answer 6

‘Focusing on ‘high risk’ persons squanders resources and may need to be abandoned as an immediate health target’

This perspective challenges traditional approaches that prioritize high-risk individuals.

Question 7

What did Geoffrey Rose argue about mortality related to suicide?

Answer 7

‘Mortality falls more if we reduce the whole population’s exposure to factors related to suicide than if we identify and treat high risk people’

This argument supports the whole-population approach over individual-targeted strategies.

Question 8

Fill in the blank: The whole-of-population approach aims to shift the distribution of _______.

Answer 8

[risk]

This approach seeks to minimize the number of people at risk for fatal suicidal behavior.