Suicide prevention in schools: the art, the issues, and the pitfalls.

Abstract

Suicide is a major mental health problem and public health problem worldwide. Schools and their communities must respond in a comprehensive fashion. Caplan's model of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention--or prevention, intervention, and postvention--is proposed as a comprehensive response to suicide in youths. Current myths and facts about these fabrications are discussed for each mode of response. Research, clinical suggestions, and a call for further discussion are presented.