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Suicide and Violence Prevention and Control: A Public Health Approach

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On-Call Geriatric Psychiatry

Abstract

Violence, whether directed toward others or toward oneself, is a multifaceted and complex issue for public health and prevention. Age is a well-known risk factor for suicide. As well, community referrals for psychiatric services for geriatric patients frequently involve the patient exhibiting physical aggression. Public health approaches to geriatric suicide and violence are highly challenging but are increasingly receiving more general public awareness and political attention. Innovative health-care delivery models and collaborative models which better integrate psychiatric care and primary care are emerging strategies to foster better care for the at-risk older adults. Policy goals must respond to the unique needs of the older person and unite community organizations, mental health services, and resources to prevent death by suicide. Understanding current and upcoming public health issues will improve the delivery and practice of mental health care during the on-call experience due to a better understanding of violence, knowledge of current issues, and an understanding of policy areas which require ongoing attention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, 2230 Stockton Blvd, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Jason G. Roof MD

  2. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Medical Center, 2775 18th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95818, USA

    Glen L. Xiong MD, CMD

  3. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, West 5th Campus, 100 West 5th Street, Room B356, Hamilton, L8N 3K7, ON, Canada

    Sidney R. Stacey MHSc, FCCHL, FACHE

Authors
  1. Jason G. Roof MD
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  2. Glen L. Xiong MD, CMD
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  3. Sidney R. Stacey MHSc, FCCHL, FACHE
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason G. Roof MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neuros, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Ana Hategan

  2. Dept. of Psychiatry/Langley Porter Psych, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, New York, USA

    James A. Bourgeois

  3. Dept.of Internal Med.,Div of General Med, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA

    Calvin H. Hirsch

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Roof, J.G., Xiong, G.L., Stacey, S.R. (2016). Suicide and Violence Prevention and Control: A Public Health Approach. In: Hategan, A., Bourgeois, J., Hirsch, C. (eds) On-Call Geriatric Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30346-8_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30346-8_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30344-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30346-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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