Social Determinants of Suicide

In this course, psychiatrist Dr. Jon Jureidini (Professor, School of Medicine and Director, Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit, University of Adelaide) explains why trying to respond to suicide with interventions for identified psychiatric problems is a flawed process. He offers examples of how problems at the social level are individualised, with distress being medicalised, when interventions aimed at increasing social capital would be a more effective use of available resources. Dr. Jureidini decries both dismissive and restrictive responses to suicidal behaviour and suggests other ways of responding, such as the Alternatives to Suicide program.