Millions of people are affected by the suicide or attempted suicide of a loved one every year. Eric Marcus offers honest, straightforward answers to all of the haunting questions that plague those who are left behind. Without moral judgment, Why Suicide? answers the questions readers have about this complex and painful issue.

"Battle lines have been drawn over involuntary treatment. On one side, there are those who oppose involuntary psychiatric treatments under any condition. Activists who take up this cause often don't acknowledge that psychiatric symptoms can render people dangerous to themselves or others. They also don't allow for the idea that the civil rights of an individual may be at odds with the heartbreak of a caring family. On the other side are groups pushing...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging condition with a collection of possible symptomsnightmares, relentless harmful emotions (anger, fear, guilt), hypervigilance, flashbacks, and an amplified startle response. PTSD patients are at greater risk of suicide. About 80-percent of the afflicted also suffer from other psychiatric problems (depression, alcoholism, drug abuse). Some causes of PTSD are rape, combat exposure, child abuse, accidents,...

"Aaron and Tillie do not know each other, but they both feel suicidal and arrive at the George Washington Bridge at the same time, intending to jump. Includes resources about suicide prevention and suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth." -- "Aaron is a gay misfit struggling with depression and loneliness. Tillie isn't sure what her problem is, only that she will never be good enough. They arrive at the George Washington Bridge at the same time. There...

"Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place than she was a year and a half ago: She's sober, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, and volunteering at a suicide-prevention hotline. Her own suicide attempt is in the past, and living in San Francisco with her beloved aunt has helped her see a future for herself. But when Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Del's equilibrium is shattered. She's dedicated herself to saving every...

Ittetsu Nemoto, a former punk-turned-Buddhist priest in Japan, has made a career out of helping suicidal people find reasons to live. But this work has come increasingly at the cost of his own family and health, as he refuses to draw lines between those he counsels and himself.

For young people, leading a healthy lifestyle requires education and empowerment. In Understanding Suicide, readers will explore the history and social aspects of suicide, teen suicide, and ways to help themselves and others. Sidebars challenge and expand readers' thinking while relating topics to 21st Century skills and themes--from creativity and innovation to financial literacy.

"If you have a loved one who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may feel deeply afraid--both of loss and of saying the wrong thing and making matters worse. Based on decades of clinical experience in suicidology, this compassionate guide gives readers the essential communication techniques and coping skills they need to support a loved one in crisis, while also taking care of themselves"-- "For help in dealing with a suicidal crisis right now,...

An educational program for the public. How can you know if your family member or friend may be suicidal? How do you recognize the warning signs? How can you help? This video program for the public describes the risk factors and warning signs of suicide and offers guidelines from experts in suicide prevention and treatment for getting troubled loved ones to the professional help they need. You'll also hear from three individuals who have made serious...