The Algebra of Suicide—by Inving Berent, M.D.; Human Sciences Press, New York City, 1981, 205 pages, $19.95

Comparison of Journals of Suicidology

“…SLTB began publication in 1971 under the editorship of Edwin Shneidman, who cast a wide net and emphasized the broad reach of the subject of suicidology. In his vision it encompassed not only sociology, but also psychology and all the phenomena belonging to “mind.” Shneidman was a strong advocate of what he called the idiographic method – roughly speaking, the detailed study of the individual case (Shneidman, 1981, 1990).…”

Negative Effects of a School Suicide Postvention Program — A Case Example

“…Since most of this literature was an outgrowth of suicide prevention activities, it specifically focused on managing the impact of a completed suicide (as opposed to other deaths or crises). These activities and interventions were defined by Shneidman [1981] as “postvention” — after the suicide — in contrast to suicide prevention and intervention. Postvention was thought to be particularly important because the impact of a suicide death can overwhelm family and close friends, causing them to become increasingly vulnerable to a variety of mental disorders, and even to suicide.…”