Scope

This Research Guide includes sources dealing with suicide prevention, suicide statistics, and sociological and ethical issues concerning suicide. For sources dealing with suicide as an alternative to death from illness, see the research guide Euthanasia.

Overview

The Encyclopedia of Suicide
College Library Reference Collection: HV 6545 E87 2003

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics
College Library Reference Collection: BJ 63 A66 1998
Refer to "Suicide," pages 259-273

Encyclopedia of Bioethics
College Library Reference Collection: QH 332 E52 2004
Refer to "Suicide" in volume 5, pages 2444-2450

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears, and Anxieties
College Library Reference Collection: RC535 D63 2000
Refer to "Suicide, Fear of," pages 4801-484

Encyclopedia of Psychology
College Library Reference Collection: BF 31 E52 2000
Refer to "Suicide" in volume 7, pages 509-512

Encyclopedia of Sociology
College Library Reference Collection: HM 425 E5 2000
Refer to "Suicide" in volume 5, pages 3077-3087

Encyclopedia of Social Issues
College Library Reference Collection: HN 57 E59 1997
Refer to "Suicide," pages 1528-1531

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

suicide and ethic*
suicide and (teen* or adolescen*)
suicide and (aged or elder*)
suicide and right to die
suicide and african american*
suicide and prevent*

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

Ethnic NewsWatch 1960 - to date (updated monthly)
A full-text collection of more than 200 newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press. Basic instructions for Ethnic Newswatch

GenderWatch 1980 - to date (updated quarterly)
A women's and gender issues database with full-text coverage of most journals. Basic instructions for GenderWatch

Health and Wellness Resource Center 1994 - to date (updated daily)
Provides health information for nursing and allied health students, as well as consumer health research. It offers full text for more than 150 periodicals, six reference books, and over 500 pamphlets.

Health Source: Consumer Edition 1984 - to date (updated daily)
Provides the full text since 1990 from approximately 280 periodicals covering nutrition, exercize, medical self-care, drugs and alcohol, and much more. Basic instructions for Health Source: Consumer Edition

Humanities Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 400 scholarly journals on archaeology, classical studies, art, film, folklore, history, journalism, linguistics, literature, music, performing arts, philosophy and religion. Basic instructions for Humanities Full Text

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

PsycINFO 1872 - to date (updated weekly)
Indexes 1,300 scholarly journals along with books and book chapters in psychology, educational psychology, and behavioral sciences. Basic instructions for PsycINFO

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on suicide can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

suicide and prevent?
suicide and adolescen?
suicide and psychology

Internet Sites

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
http://www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention/
This governmental site represents the combined work of suicide prevention advocates, clinicians, researchers and survivors around the nation.

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/topics/suicide.asp
This site included facts, statistics, and resources on youth suicide prevention.

NIMH Suicide Prevention
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/suicideprevention/index.cfm
This site created by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) includes fact sheets, statistics, and other resources on suicide.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
http://www.save.org/
This site compiled by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) includes suicide fact sheets, news items, and statistics, as well as information on suicide prevention and coping with loss.

Suicide in the United States
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/suicide/
This site is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It includes facts, statistics, and governmental publications on suicide.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center
http://www.sprc.org/
This site seeks to promote suicide prevention at every level of society by providing technical assistance, training, and informational materials.

Statistics

Suicide Facts and Statistics
Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health

Statistical Universe 1973 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains the full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications. Lexis-Nexis Statistical Universe is available to UW-Madison registered users.

Videos

The Kevorkian File [videorecording]
College Library Main Collection: R726 K486 1994

Organizations

American Association of Suicidology
http://www.suicidology.org/
This organization's mission is to promote research, public awareness programs, and public education about suicide prevention. In addition, it serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
http://www.afsp.org/
This organization is dedicated to advancing knowledge about suicide and its prevention.

Suicide Prevention Action Network, USA
http://www.spanusa.org/
This is a non-profit national organization that links those bereaved or touched by suicide with the expertise of leaders in science, health, business, government, and public service to reduce the national rate of suicide.

Suicide Information & Education Centre
http://www.siec.ca/
This Canadian organization provides research, information, and training on suicide prevention.

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
http://www.yellowribbon.org/
This a community-based organization that focuses on suicide awareness and prevention.