@article{ author = {Rezaeian, M.}, title = {Covid-19 Pandemic, Suicidal Behavior and the International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration (ICSPRC)}, abstract ={An unknown infection, started in Wuhan, China in December 2019, was labeled three months later a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Since then, COVID-19 has affected almost all countries around the world, causing substantial excess mortality and morbidity and radical changes to the way people live their lives, resulting from government infection control counter-measures. ‘Lockdowns’, in which non-essential businesses, universities, schools, places of worship and meeting places have been closed, leading to social isolation, loneliness and social disconnectedness, have had a major impact on the mental health and well-being of the population. Under such circumstances, an increase in different types of violence and suicidal behavior might be expected, although the timing of their occurrence is uncertain. Scientists should therefore be prepared to undertake studies, both short- and long-term, of suicidal behavior during the different stages of the pandemic. As early as April 2020, a group of researchers, originally from around 30 countries, developed a new initiative, the International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration (ICSPRC) [1], to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on suicidal behaviors. The ICSPRC rapidly produced a commentary in Lancet Psychiatry [2] and an editorial in Crisis [3]. Up to now, the ICSPRC has worked hard to share relevant research and information by increasing its membership to cover as many countries as possible, conducting webinars and publishing regular newsletters. I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the closeness and inter-dependence of people: a small outbreak in one community can destroy the lives and livelihoods of people all over the world. I also believe that initiatives such as the ICSPRC have revealed the fundamental importance of global collaboration between suicidologists working in all disciplines for combating the impact of COVID-19 and similar threats on mental health and suicidal behavior. References 1. International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration. https://www.iasp.info/COVID-19_suicide_research.php. Last accessed December 2020. 2. Gunnell D, Appleby L, Arensman E, Hawton K, John A, Kapur N, et al. Suicide risk and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry 2020; 7: 468–71. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30171-1. 3. Niederkrotenthaler T, Gunnell D, Arensman E, Pirkis J, Appleby L, Hawton K, et al. Suicide research, prevention, and COVID-19. Crisis 2020; 14: 321–30. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000731.    }, Keywords = {}, volume = {2}, Number = {1}, pages = {1-2}, publisher = {Iran University of Medical Sciences}, url = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-33-en.html}, eprint = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-33-en.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Suicide Prevention}, issn = {9}, eissn = {10}, year = {2020} } @article{ author = {Malakouti, Kazem and Nojomi, Marzieh and Ghanbari, Behrooz and Karimi, Hassan and Rasouli, Nafee and Fathi, Marjan and Abbasinejad, Maryam and Hajebi, Ahmad and Asadi, Ali and GhaemmaghamFarahani, I}, title = {Scaling up the Health System at Provincial Level to Conduct Telephone Follow -Up Program for Suicide Reattempters in West Azerbaijan, Iran, 2017-2018}, abstract ={Background and Objectives: History of suicide attempt is the most important predictor of subsequent suicides. Therefore, implementation of aftercare prevention programs for those who have previously attempted suicide can help to reduce suicide reattempt. The present study was conducted to scale up the health system along with intersectoral collaboration approach for preventing suicide reattempt by provision of brief consultation and telephone follow-up in services. Materials and Methods: Health system included the health and treatment departments in collaboration with Welfare Organization were scaled up in order to register the attempters and implement the telephone follow-up interventions at provincial level between May 2017 and April 2018 in 17 districts of West Azerbaijan Province with 3.5 million people. Each referred patient received 3 sessions of brief intervention of Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). Follow-ups were made for 12 months after discharge. Paired t-test was used to analyze the mean of suicide and suicide attempt before and after intervention. Results: Fifteen districts with a population of 3139603 people entered the final analysis. Of those who referred to CHC, 1631 (36.6%) attached to program for 12 months. At the end of the intervention, 68 (1.5%) individuals had reattempted suicide. The number of suicide reduced to 1.8 per 100000 population among 15 districts (p=0.07). The rate of attempted suicide had increased to 1.4 per 100000 population after intervention. Conclusion: The aftercare services have the capacity to decrease suicide reattempt. Although in our study interventions generally reduced suicide, suicide attempt showed a slight increase at the end of follow-up, this increase could be considered as an improvement in the potency of health system to identify and register the suicidal cases}, Keywords = {Attempted suicide, Telephone follow-up, Brief intervention, Reattempt, Aftercare, Suicide prevention}, volume = {2}, Number = {1}, pages = {3-14}, publisher = {Iran University of Medical Sciences}, url = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-30-en.html}, eprint = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-30-en.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Suicide Prevention}, issn = {9}, eissn = {10}, year = {2020} } @article{ author = {Macdonald-Hart, Steven and Colucci, Ermini}, title = {An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the Experiential Perspectives of Volunteer Befrienders, Pertaining to Causes of Suicidality and Prevention}, abstract ={Background and Objectives: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people age 15 to 29 and is estimated to be responsible for 800,000 deaths, annually. With each death by suicide, there are approximately 20 attempted suicides. In the United Kingdom, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 20 to 35 and for women aged 35 to 49. The dominant research and preventative initiatives exist through a medical lens; a perspective that often receives criticism for not incorporating social and culturally relevant variables. To date, research into alternative methods of support for the suicidal is scarce. This study seeks to obtain information pertaining to suicidality from the perspective of volunteer befrienders at MayTree Respite Centre, a London-based charity known for offering non-medical support for the suicidal. The objectives of the study were to explore the common causal themes of suicidality, perspectives of the medical model approach to suicide, as well as the limitations and advantages of the MayTree model. Materials and Methods: Data was collected through 8 semi-structured individual interviews with MayTree Volunteers. The interviews were audio-recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Results: A total of 4 superordinate themes emerged: suicide as a means through which to escape one’s problems; causal attributions of suicidality, which contained adverse life experiences, low self-concept, as well as isolation and not being heard; perceptions of the medical model, which included a reductionist correlation between biology and suicide, as well as stigma; limitations to the MayTree model, encapsulating their drug and alcohol policy, as well as duration of stay/follow-ups; and advantages to the MayTree model, reported as the benefits of be-friending and of a non-judgmental atmosphere. Conclusion: It was highlighted neither model could be deemed superior to the other, rather that these approaches would be more effective if greater collaboration was evident. Collaborative efforts do appear to be demonstrated by MayTree, through its recognition of the complexity of certain cases of suicidality, and professional care needed when this arises. Background and Objectives: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people age 15 to 29 and is estimated to be responsible for 800,000 deaths, annually. With each death by suicide, there are approximately 20 attempted suicides. In the United Kingdom, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 20 to 35 and for women aged 35 to 49. The dominant research and preventative initiatives exist through a medical lens; a perspective that often receives criticism for not incorporating social and culturally relevant variables. To date, research into alternative methods of support for the suicidal is scarce. This study seeks to obtain information pertaining to suicidality from the perspective of volunteer befrienders at MayTree Respite Centre, a London-based charity known for offering non-medical support for the suicidal. The objectives of the study were to explore the common causal themes of suicidality, perspectives of the medical model approach to suicide, as well as the limitations and advantages of the MayTree model. Materials and Methods: Data was collected through 8 semi-structured individual interviews with MayTree Volunteers. The interviews were audio-recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Results: A total of 4 superordinate themes emerged: suicide as a means through which to escape one’s problems; causal attributions of suicidality, which contained adverse life experiences, low self-concept, as well as isolation and not being heard; perceptions of the medical model, which included a reductionist correlation between biology and suicide, as well as stigma; limitations to the MayTree model, encapsulating their drug and alcohol policy, as well as duration of stay/follow-ups; and advantages to the MayTree model, reported as the benefits of be-friending and of a non-judgmental atmosphere. Conclusion: It was highlighted neither model could be deemed superior to the other, rather that these approaches would be more effective if greater collaboration was evident. Collaborative efforts do appear to be demonstrated by MayTree, through its recognition of the complexity of certain cases of suicidality, and professional care needed when this arises. Background and Objectives: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people age 15 to 29 and is estimated to be responsible for 800,000 deaths, annually. With each death by suicide, there are approximately 20 attempted suicides. In the United Kingdom, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 20 to 35 and for women aged 35 to 49. The dominant research and preventative initiatives exist through a medical lens; a perspective that often receives criticism for not incorporating social and culturally relevant variables. To date, research into alternative methods of support for the suicidal is scarce. This study seeks to obtain information pertaining to suicidality from the perspective of volunteer befrienders at MayTree Respite Centre, a London-based charity known for offering non-medical support for the suicidal. The objectives of the study were to explore the common causal themes of suicidality, perspectives of the medical model approach to suicide, as well as the limitations and advantages of the MayTree model. Materials and Methods: Data was collected through 8 semi-structured individual interviews with MayTree Volunteers. The interviews were audio-recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Results: A total of 4 superordinate themes emerged: suicide as a means through which to escape one’s problems; causal attributions of suicidality, which contained adverse life experiences, low self-concept, as well as isolation and not being heard; perceptions of the medical model, which included a reductionist correlation between biology and suicide, as well as stigma; limitations to the MayTree model, encapsulating their drug and alcohol policy, as well as duration of stay/follow-ups; and advantages to the MayTree model, reported as the benefits of be-friending and of a non-judgmental atmosphere. Conclusion: It was highlighted neither model could be deemed superior to the other, rather that these approaches would be more effective if greater collaboration was evident. Collaborative efforts do appear to be demonstrated by MayTree, through its recognition of the complexity of certain cases of suicidality, and professional care needed when this arises.}, Keywords = {Suicide, Prevention, Medical Model, Psychosocial, MayTree Respite Centre, Be-frienders, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Qualitative exploration}, volume = {2}, Number = {1}, pages = {15-30}, publisher = {Iran University of Medical Sciences}, url = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-32-en.html}, eprint = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-32-en.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Suicide Prevention}, issn = {9}, eissn = {10}, year = {2020} } @article{ author = {Rezaeian, M. and Rezaeian, M.}, title = {Civil Engineers and Architects Need to Consider Suicide Prevention When Designing New Structures}, abstract ={                     JSP                      Journal of Suicide Prevention                                                                                      https://isssp.ir                                                                                               Vol. 2. 2020. Article ID: e2020004   Commentary                                                   Civil Engineers and Architects Need to Consider Suicide Prevention When Designing New Structures       Mahsa Rezaeian1, Mohsen Rezaeian2   1. Master student of Construction Engineering and Management, Iran University of Science and Technology. Tehran, Iran. 2. Professor. Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Occupational Environmental Research Center, Rafsanjan Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Tel: 03434331315, E-mail: moeygmr2@yahoo.co.uk       Civil engineers and architects design buildings, bridges, railway stations, shopping centers, recreational centers, schools, universities, etc. Some of these structures may later turn into a suicide location of concern. One of the most famous is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which considered to be the most used location for suicide in the world. The deck is about 75 meter high and, after a fall of four seconds, jumpers hit the water at nearly 120 km/h. Ninety five percent of jumpers die immediately from trauma and most of the rest, who survive the trauma, drown or die of hypothermia [1]. Very few people who eventually survive the fall might go on to be advocates for suicide prevention [2]. After many years of debate and argument, suicide proofing of the Golden Gate Bridge is currently in progress but completion is delayed until 2023 [3].  What is the evidence concerning the effectiveness of interventions to reduce suicide risk at locations of concern? Some structural changes have been shown to be successful in reducing suicide cases either totally or partially. For example, Sinyor and Levitt, using a natural experimental design, showed that four years after installation of the barriers over the Bloor Street Viaduct in Toronto, Canada, there were no further suicide cases. However, suicide cases significantly increased at other bridges [4]. Perron and colleagues, using a similar research design, highlighted that, five years after setting up a barrier at Jacques-Cartier Bridge in Montréal Canada, suicide by jumping decreased at this site with slight or no shift to other jumping locations [5]. Similar results have been also reported by Bennewith and colleagues on the positive impact of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge. Suicide numbers significantly decreased from 8.2 per year (1994-1998) before installing the barriers to 4.0 per year (1999-2003) after their installation [6]. In another natural experimental design, Beautrais studied the negative impact of removing safety barriers from Grafton Bridge in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1996. She found that the number of suicides increased from three (four years before removal) to 15 (four years after removal) [7]. In a further study, Beautrais and colleagues showed that, after the reinstallation of safety barriers in 2003 on the same bridge, there were no further suicide cases up to 2006 [8]. Using a quasi-experimental design, Law and colleagues found that installation of platform screen doors (PSDs) was associated with a significant 60% reduction of railway suicides in Hong Kong. After the installation of PSDs no suicide cases with a psychotic illness were reported [9]. In another study, Gregor and colleagues studied the consequences of installing a corridor barrier in New South Wales, Australia. They concluded that a higher level of corridor barrier was associated with a lower overall rate of suicide by train [10]. Given this robust evidence of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce suicide at locations of concern, civil engineers and architects should consider how to improve safety and reduce suicide risk at locations which have been built without consideration of suicide risk but where there is evidence of repeated suicide and suicide attempts, such as the Golden Gate Bridge. More cogently, we suggest that civil engineers and architects should consider suicide risk and the prevention of suicide when designing a new structure. We go further, and recommend that this important issue should be included within the relevant departmental university curriculum. Civil authorities should also consider suicide risk and prevention when approving the design and funding of any such structures. Better to suicide proof a new structure than build it, let it become a suicide location and then seek to redesign it to make it safe. Our recommendations apply equally to high income countries (HICs) and low and middle income countries (LMICs). Most evidence about the effectiveness of interventions to reduce suicide at locations of concern comes, as we have seen, from HICs, where there are more resources to support action, while evidence relating to LMICs is largely absent and resources are more scarce. Nevertheless, considering suicide prevention should be given high priority in every country around the world when designing new structures.         References: 1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Golden Gate Bridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge. Last accessed December 2020. 2. Kevin Hines Survived a Jump off The Golden Gate Bridge—Now, He’s Helping Others Avoid Suicide. https://www.psycom.net/kevin-hines-survived-golden-gate-bridge-suicide/. Last accessed December 2020. 3. Golden Gate Bridge suicide nets delayed two years, as people keep jumping. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Golden-Gate-Bridge-suicide-nets-delayed-two-14900278.php. Last accessed December 2020. 4. Sinyor M, Levitt AJ. Effect of a barrier at Bloor Street Viaduct on suicide rates in Toronto: natural experiment. BMJ 2010 Jul 6; 341: c2884. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c2884 5. Perron S, Burrows S, Fournier M, Perron PA, Ouellet F. Installation of a bridge barrier as a suicide prevention strategy in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Am J Public Health 2013 Jul; 103 (7): 1235-9. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301089. Epub 2013 May 16 6. Bennewith O, Nowers M, Gunnell D. Effect of barriers on the Clifton suspension bridge, England, on local patterns of suicide: implications for prevention. Br J Psychiatry 2007 Mar; 190: 266-7. 7. Beautrais AL. Effectiveness of barriers at suicide jumping sites: a case study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry  2001 Oct; 35 (5): 557-62. 8. Beautrais AL, Gibb SJ, Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Larkin GL. Removing bridge barriers stimulates suicides: an unfortunate natural experiment. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2009 Jun; 43 (6): 495-7. doi: 10.1080/00048670902873714 9. Law CK; Yip PS; Chan WS; Fu KW; Wong PW; Law YW. Evaluating the effectiveness of barrier installation for preventing railway suicides in Hong Kong. Journal of Affective Disorders 2009 Apr; 114 (1-3): 254-62. 10. Gregor S, Beavan G, Culbert A, Kan John P, Ngo NV, Keating B, et al. Patterns of pre-crash behavior in railway suicides and the effect of corridor fencing: a natural experiment in New South Wales. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot 2019 Dec; 26 (4): 423-430. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2019.1660376. Epub 2019 Sep 4  }, Keywords = {Civil Engineers,}, volume = {2}, Number = {1}, pages = {31-33}, publisher = {Iran University of Medical Sciences}, url = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-36-en.html}, eprint = {http://isssp.ir/article-1-36-en.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Suicide Prevention}, issn = {9}, eissn = {10}, year = {2020} }