Risk and Prevention of Suicide in Residential Treatment of Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 85298
• Journal: Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1982) Pages: 11-16
• Author(s): R L Jenkins; P H Heidemann; S Powell
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This paper presented at the Annual Meeting of The American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children, November 18, 1980

Annotation

A discussion of the risk of suicide among adolescents is followed by a description of the program for preventing suicides at the Iowa Training School for Boys, now called the Eldora Training School.

Abstract

Suicide among adolescents is a growing problem and ranks from second to fourth as the cause of death among adolescents. Adolescent suicide is thought to be the culmination of a process beginning with a longstanding history of problems, including a period of escalation and a final stage characterized by a chain-reaction dissolution of the adolescent's few remaining primary associations. A case of a suicide of a 12-year old boy in residential treatment illustrates suicide based on anger rather than on depression. The Eldora Training School experiences about 70 cases of actual suicide threats or attempts each year. The institution's preventive program begins when a student enters the school; it includes a history of the student, an evaluation of the present mental state, and psychological testing. Individualized treatment programs are designed for youths with extensive past histories of suicidal gesturing. Students who have threatened or attempted suicide are usually placed in the hospital or detention facility with at least one stable student. The students are physically checked at 3-to-5 minute intervals. Most suicide attempts take place within 24 hours after a student has been admitted to the detention unit for disciplinary reasons. The most recent death in 1975 resulted in additional preventive measures, including evaluation of all students admitted to the detention unit. Among risk factors are a low IQ, disorganized family, and obvious depression or anger. The institution also has many routines and policies, such as a grievance hearing system, designed to keep most students from becoming so angry or despondent that they want to end their lives. Students threatening or attempting suicide at the school are more likely to be angry than to be despondent. The program has been effective to date. Notes and six references are provided.