DMFT 5037 - Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention - Mejia: Class Readings

Week 1: Introduction and Foundations

• Required Textbook: Myths about suicide, pp. 1 – 11

• Required Reading (Electronic Reader): https://libguides.nova.edu/friendly.php?s=sftm5037

• Jobes, D. A., & Nelson, K. N. (2006). Shneidman’s contributions to the understanding of suicidal thinking. In T. E. Ellis (Ed.), Cognition and Suicide (pp. 29-49). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Required Online Video: ABC 20/20 Season 31, Episode 50: “Accident or Suicide?”: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xknje6

• Required Canvas Video (to be watched after you have completed watching the ABC 20/20 program): Drs. Poland & Flemons introduce the course and talk about the 20/20 case. Required Website: Familiarize yourself with the following website, click on “publications” on the left side of the page, go to “SVP Newsletters,” and look through some of the issues in preparation for your first Discussion Board posting:
  • http://www.nova.edu/suicideprevention
  • http://www.nova.edu/suicideprevention/newsletter.html

• Suggested Website: Familiarize yourself with the following website and review the most recent data on the incidence of suicide across the lifespan:
  • http://www.suicidology.org/home

Week 2: The Suicidal Mind

• Required Textbook: Myths about suicide, pp. 12 – 110

• Required Website: Familiarize yourself with the following website and review the content within the five subheadings under “Suicide Prevention Basics”:
  • http://www.sprc.org

Week 3: Suicidal Behavior

• Required Textbook: Myths about suicide, pp. 111 – 202

• Required Canvas Video: Drs. Flemons and Poland discuss Joiner’s Myths about Suicide
• Suggested Website: Review the content under “Library and Resources” at
  • http://www.sprc.org

Week 4: Causes, Consequences and Lethal Means

• Required Textbook: Myths about suicide, pp. 203 – 269

• Required Online Reading: Interview with Dr. Anestis about his book, Guns and Suicide in the SVP Fall, 2019 Newsletter:https://www.nova.edu/suicideprevention/forms/newsletter-fall-20191.pdf

• Required Online Video: Steel, E. (2006). The Bridge. Koch Lorber Films. Running time: 94 minutes.

• Required Canvas Video: Drs. Poland and Flemons talk about The Bridge and lethality.

• Suggested Website: Go to the following website and explore information about suicide and bridges, as well as suicide and guns:
  • http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/

Week 5: Suicide Risk and Prevention Across the Life Span (Schools, Colleges, the Elderly)

• Required Readings (Electronic Reader): https://libguides.nova.edu/friendly.php?s=sftm5037

• Lieberman, R., Poland, S., & Kornfeld, C. (2014). Suicide intervention in the schools. In A. Thomas & P. Harrison (Eds.), Best practices in school psychology VI (pp. 273-288). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.

• Spencer-Thomas, S., & Jahn, D. R. (2012). Tracking a movement: U.S. milestones in suicide prevention. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(1), 78-85.
• Lieberman, R., Poland, S. & Cassel. R (2008) Best Practices in Suicide Intervention. In Thomas, A. E., & Grimes, J. E. (2002). Best practices in school psychology V,  (pp.1457-1473) Bethesda, MD:. National Association of School Psychologists.

• Required Website and Online Video: Familiarize yourself with the following website and view the “Staff Awareness Video” featuring Drs. Poland and Flemons:
  • http://nova.edu/suicideprevention/

Suggested Readings:

• Klomek, A. B., Kleinman, M., Altschuler, E., Marrocco, F., Amakawa, L., & Gould, M. (2011). High school bullying as a risk for later depression and suicidality. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 41(5), 501-516.

• Poland, S., & Poland, D. (2017). Crisis Action School Tool Kit on Suicide (CASTS): https://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/suicideprevention/CAST-S2017.pdf

Suggested Website Article: SPRC Brief on Suicide and Bullying:

• http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/Suicide_Bullying_Issue_Brief.pdf

Week 6: Suicide Risk and Prevention in the Military and Prisons

Required Readings:

• Gradus, J. L., Shipherd, J. C., Suvak, M. K., Giasson, H. L., & Miller, M. (2013). Suicide attempts and suicide among marines: A decade of follow-up. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 43(1), 39-49.

• Metzner, J. L., & Hayes, L. M. (2006). Suicide prevention in jails and prisons. In R. I. Simon & R. Generated: 1/6/2020 Page 3 of 21 E. Hales (Eds.), Textbook of Suicide Assessment and Management (pp. 139-155). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Required Online Video:

• 60 Minutes profile of Clay Hunt, a former Marines combat veteran (13 minutes)

Required Canvas Video:

• Drs. Poland and Flemons discuss the 60 Minutes profile of Clay Hunt and the factors contributing to suicide in the military and in prisons.

Suggested Reading:

• Rabe, K. (2012). Prison structure, inmate mortality and suicide risk in Europe. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 35, 222-230.

Suggested Website Articles:

• http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/CorrectionOfficers.pdf

• http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57563857/u.s-military-suicides-exceed-combat-deaths/

Week 7: February 14-20

• Review and Midterm Exam Posted

Week 8: Suicide, Self Harming, & Harming Others

Required Readings (Canvas)

• Flynn, S., Winson, N., While, D., Hunt, I. M. Roscoe, A., Rodway, C., Windfuhr, K., Kapur, N., Appleby, L., & Shaw, J. (2009). Homicide followed by suicide: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 20(2), 306-321.

• Selekman, M. D. (2009). Collaborative strengths-based brief family therapy with self-harming young adults and adolescents. First pages from a chapter in M. D. Selekman, The adolescent and young adult self-harming treatment manual (pp. 94-105). New York: Norton.

• Stack, S., Bowman, B., & Lester, D. (2012). Suicide by cop in film and society: Dangerousness, depression, and justice. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 42(4), 359-376.

Required Online Videos:

• Dateline Real Crime Story about Josh Powell: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/45620710/#45620710 (This is a link to the first of six videos; you need to watch all of them. The other five appear on the same site.)

• A local news interview with Josh Powell, before the tragedy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXDpQEfZm8

Suggested Reading (Electronic Reader):

• Lieberman, R. & Poland, S. (2006). Self-mutilation. In G. G. Bear & K. M. Minke (Eds.), Children’s needs III. Washington, DC: National Association of School Psychologists.

Week 9: March 1-6

Spring Break - No Assignments

Week 10: Suicide Assessment: Risks and Resources

Required Textbook:

• Relational Suicide Assessment, pp. xi – 14; 54 – 135, Available in the Press HPD Library Reserve Area

Required Canvas Video:

• Drs. Flemons and Poland talk about suicide assessment.

Suggested Online Article:

• Interview with Dr. David Jobes in the February, 2018 SVP Newsletter: Generated: 1/6/2020 Page 4 of 21
• https://www.nova.edu/suicideprevention/forms/newsletter-2018-02.pdf 

Week 11: Suicide Assessment: Safety

Required Textbook:

• Relational Suicide Assessment, pp. 136 – 216, Available in the Press HPD Library Reserve Area.

Required Canvas Video:

• NSU’s Suicide Assessment training video (44 minutes) featuring Drs. Flemons and Poland:
  • https://www.nova.edu/promo-k.html?id=samhsa?video=1_l4v8at1n&title=NSU%20Suicide%20and%20Violence%20Prevention%20Training&subtitle=Suicide%20Assessment

Week 12: Managing Suicidality: Intervention with Individuals, Families, Organizations, and Populations

Required Readings (Canvas)

• Rudd, D. M., Joiner, T., & Rajab, M. H. (2001). What do we really know about treating suicidality?: A critical review of the literature. In Treating suicidal behavior (pp. 3-14). New York: The Guilford Press.

• Schmitz, W. M., Allen, M. H., Feldman, B. N., Gutin, N. J., Jahn, D. R., Kleespies, P. M., Quinnett, P., & Simpson, S. (2012). Preventing suicide through improved training in suicide risk assessment and care: An American Association of Suicidology task force report addressing serious gaps in U.S. mental health training. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(3), 292-304.

Required Website Article:

• Suicide among racial/ethnic populations in the U.S.: American Indians/Alaska Natives: https://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/AI_AN%20Sheet%20Aug%2028%202013%20Final.pdf

Required Canvas Video:

• Drs. Flemons and Poland talk about managing suicidality.

Suggested Website Article:

• Rural Youth: http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/ruralyouth.pdf

Suggested Readings (Electronic Reader):

• Stuber, J., & Quinnett, P. (2013). Making the case for primary care and mandated suicide prevention education. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 43(2), 117-124.

Week 13: Crisis Intervention

Required Reading (Electronic Reader): https://libguides.nova.edu/friendly.php?s=sftm5037

• Hellwig-Olsen, B., Jacobsen, M., & Mian, A. (2007). Contemporary issues in campus crisis management. In E. L. Zdziarksi, N. W. Dunkel, & J. M. Rollo (Eds.), Campus crisis management (pp. 285-328). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Required Online Article:

• Interview with Sue Klebold in the August, 2017 SVP Newsletter: https://www.nova.edu/suicideprevention/forms/newsletter-2017-08.pdf

Required Online Video:

• Poland, S. (2009): Congressional Testimony on School Safety and Bullying, Prevention Joint Committee, Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittees, United States House of Representatives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRGhGbMA2F4

Suggested Website Article:

• Brymer, M., Jacobs, A., Layne, C., Pynoos, R., Ruzek, J., Steinberg, A., Vernberg, E., & Watson, P. (2006). Psychological first aid. National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD: https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/pfa_field_operations_guide.pdf

Week 14: Managing the Aftermath of Crisis and Suicide: Postvention for Survivors, Professionals, Organizations, & Populations

Required Readings (Canvas)

• Jobes, D. A., Luoma, J. B., Hustead, L. A., & Mann, R. E. (2000). In the wake of suicide: Survivorship and postvention. In R. W. Maris, A. L. Berman, & M. M. Silverman (Eds.), Comprehensive textbook of suicidology (pp. 536-561). New York: The Guilford Press.

Required Readings (Posted to Canvas):

• Poland, S. (2008, Winter). Sarpy County Nebraska knows it takes the community to stop a youth suicide cluster. AAS Newslink, 25-27.

• Poland, S. (2019). Answering students’ questions after a suicide. Unpublished manuscript.

Required Website Toolkit:

• AFSP & SPRC (2018). After a suicide: A toolkit for schools (pp. 1-48). Washington, DC: Author. Download from http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/resource-program/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools.pdf

Required Canvas Video:

• Drs. Poland and Flemons talk about postvention.

Week 15: Review

Required Canvas Video (to prepare for a portion of the Final Exam):

• Drs. Flemons and Poland talk about Thomas Joiner’s theoretical understanding of murder-suicide, using it to explore the Germanwings pilot who purposefully crashed a plane with 144 passengers and 6 crewmembers (approx. 44 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qx6QbloxqY&feature=youtu.be

Required Online Video (to prepare for a portion of the Final Exam):

• Dr. Poland interviews two young women: Self-injury: Testimony, Insight, and Critical Issues (approx. 90 minutes): http://centervideo.forest.usf.edu/confvids/cms/selfinjury/fs.html

Week 16: April 18-24

• Required Final Exam