A revised edition of the text reviewing the current literature on suicide in Western culture, approaching the topic from a historical as well as a clinical perspective and covering the life span from childhood to old age. Each life passage is discussed with an eye to understanding and empathizing with its particular stresses and discussing therapies which might prevent suicide. Case studies are provided to aid the student in seeing both the cause and effect of treatment cycles. This edition features new chapters on prevention and postvention, and physician-assisted suicide issues. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR