Citation

Upanne M. J. Community Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2002; 12(2): 108-123.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/casp.664

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This prospective follow-up study monitored the evolution of psychologists' conceptions of suicide prevention over the course of their participation in psychological autopsy studies that constituted the first phase of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland. Another purpose of the study was to consider the feasibility of an earlier suicide prevention model. Ideas on prevention were compared in two different situations and items were categorized using descriptive and conceptual criteria of prevention. They could be classified into a typology of four categories: care approach, cultural-educational approach, conditions approach, and critical approach. The follow-up suggested that the model is a feasible method for analysing conceptions of suicide prevention, and that it was possible to interpret conceptions in a theoretically adequate manner. In addition, ideas could be compared with certain known theoretical models of prevention. The model could thus be used in further research and for practical purposes. Experiences of psychological autopsy studies definitely had an impact on the psychologists' views: conceptions altered towards emphasizing the care approach and individual risk factors. Nonetheless, the overall structure of the prevention paradigm remained multifactorial, stressing multistage influencing. Surprisingly, the priority of acute suicide risk as a preventive target did not increase. Promotive aims remained the most important aim category.