U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Self-Directed Violence: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Suicidal Behaviour

NCJ Number
217057
Journal
Acta Criminologica Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 89-101
Author(s)
D. L. Kgosimore; M.D.M. Makofane
Date Published
2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
After a review of the literature, this paper explores the possible collaboration between criminology and social work and the prevention of adolescent suicide in South Africa, known as a multidisciplinary approach in the study of the prevention and management of adolescent suicide.
Abstract
The first step towards a multidisciplinary approach to adolescent suicidal behavior is a criminological explanation of suicide as a category of violence and a crime prevention approach that is based on the public health model of disease prevention and supported by a social work postvention method of supporting the direct and indirect victims of suicidal behavior. Research indicates that suicidal behavior is more prevalent in adolescents than in adults. This prevalence calls for a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the phenomenon of adolescent suicide as a form of self-directed violence. A multidisciplinary approach enhances the knowledge and understanding of adolescent suicide, as well as a wide range of strategies targeted at the prevention and management of adolescent suicide. The primary objective of this paper is to explore the possible collaboration between criminology and social work in the development of a better knowledge and understanding of adolescent suicide, as well as its prevention and management. It assesses the level of incorporation of criminological aspects in the literature on adolescent suicide, accentuates the interface between criminology and social work in the prevention of adolescent suicide, and identifies areas for future research. Figure, references