Pennsylvania's response to adolescent suicide is its Student Assistance Program (SAP). SAP has been funded for 27 years although no statewide outcome studies using case-level data have been conducted. This study used logistic regression to examine drug-/alcohol-related behaviors and suspensions of suicidal students who participated in SAP. Of the…

The Virtues Project[TM] was founded in Canada in 1991 by Linda Kavelin Popov, Dan Popov, and John Kavelin who were concerned about the level of violence among families and youth. In studying sacred traditions and cultures around the world, they identified a set of common virtues. These were used to develop a pedagogical model that has applications…

Over 400 educators and youth professionals have completed Life Space Crisis Intervention training offered by the Charlevoix-Emmett Intermediate School District in rural northern Michigan. In this article, participants describe how significant changes in their own perceptions, mindsets, and actions translate into direct benefits for themselves and…

Historically, the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) in Palm Springs, California, has made it a priority to provide preventive services to students and their families. It was this priority that motivated the district's administration to pursue additional training in crisis prevention and response. It was, and is, their belief that the…

Describes techniques helpful for telephone counselors dealing with suicide intervention, including reinstating control, reducing anxiety through problem clarification, and providing hope by active listening and tolerance of dispositions. The use of time-outs and detective work is also discussed. (JAC)

Describes conception and implementation of a statewide 24-hour toll-free crisis line funded by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to assist farmers and their families in coping with stress generated by the deepening farm crisis. Reports over 2,665 calls in a 13-month period regarding depression, psychosomatic symptoms, marital/family problems,…

Presents illustrative calls received at a metropolitan telephone counseling center. Discusses the advantages of this technique including accessibility, and anonymity. Also discusses limitations of the method. (RC)

Describes problems and needs of sexual assault victims in rural areas; discusses impediments to apprehension and conviction of rapists; and outlines a successful model for sexual assault services that has provided health, mental health, and supportive services to victims and assisted in the rural justice system. (DS)

Describes the results of a survey on characteristics of Youthliners, adolescent peer counselors who staff a hotline service in New Zealand. (SS)

Those who work with children of trauma need to nurture their own well-being. The factors that make individuals resilient and able to take positive action in the face of adversity can be categorized into three areas: support provided by others, strength from within, and skills in interpersonal relationships and problem-solving. In this article, the…

Describes therapist-structured marital separation for distressed couples during their critical period of deciding whether to divorce or remain married. Discusses characteristics of marital distress appropriate for structured marital separation, potential benefits, and design of the separation contract. Issues addressed include duration, frequency…

The alarming number of children killed and seriously injured as a result of child maltreatment and neglect has led to increased calls for action. In response, interdisciplinary and multiagency child death review teams have emerged as an important component of child protection. Paradoxically, child death review teams are among the least visible and…

Discusses the emotional impact of a stillbirth on a family. The Perinatal Mortality Counseling Program (PMCP) at Shands Teaching Hospital, Gainesville, Florida, provides crisis intervention and support for these families, as well as serving a research function. Outlines the program, including its history, composition, procedures, and research.…

A mental health program in the schools is described which uses a nurse trained in mental health, with the support of a psychiatrist, to coordinate a mental health team and act as a liaison between the school and the health professionals, to assess referrals and arrange team meetings to plan interventions. (JMF)

Evaluated effectiveness of LYFE (Living for the Young Family through Education), which helps teenage mothers continue schooling while learning to take care of their babies. Found that two-thirds of pilot participants graduated high school, there was greater likelihood of graduating the longer one was in the program, and women without a repeat…