◎contents 1. introduction 2. suicide in history and literature : social and cultural variations 3. defining suicide 1 : psychiatric and substance abuse factors 4. defining suicide 2 : other contributory psycho-social factors 5. deliberate self-harm and suicidal behaviour in young adults and adolescents 6. the sociology of mental health and suicide 7. an integrated needs-led intervention and treatment model 8. family 'survivors' of suicide : hidden casualties? 9. euthanasia : an epilogue to chronic mental illness? 10.synthesis and conclusion bibliography index