Citation

Brockopp GW. Crisis Interv. 1971; 3(1): 2.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1971, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Suicide Prevention movement in the United States has barely moved into its adolescent stage. Beginning as a lusty infant in the late 1950's it has developed rapidly throughout the country and is now to be found in over 200 locations at the present time. Each of these 200 locations, however, is tied, both theoretically and practically to the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center for it was there that the basic concepts of suicide prevention were developed, clarified and perfected to the present state of the art. From the Los Angeles center has come a continuous flow of ideas regarding the condition of suicide and methods for working with suicidal individuals. Through their careful and meticulous efforts, longitudinal case files have been developed which may provide some keys to answering the questions about the suicidal condition, its treatment or amelioration. Each of the 200 centers in the United States has a stake in the continuation of the Los Angeles Center. In the same way, the country as a whole has much to gain or lose depending on whether the center is continued or is allowed to die.

I feel it is important that the Center for the Study of Suicide Prevention continue to support the program in Los Angeles. No amount of money spent for research projects anywhere else in the country could give the same return as monies spent to continue the program of education, research and clinical service at the Los Angeles Center. The experience, knowledge and information that they have gained about suicide over the past decade is invaluable. The demise of the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center would be a loss not only to Los Angeles, but also to the more than 200 Centers throughout the country.

I strongly urge that Suicide Prevention Centers throughout the United States acknowledge their debt to the Los Angeles Center, and urge the continuation of federal support for their programs. If suicide prevention is to move past its adolescent stage into a mature, adult concept, it will be because centers such as the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center have been supported both financially and psychologically in their effort to study, understand and treat this condition.

Language: en