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The international handbook of suicide and attempted suicide
Book Reviews
It is a well-presented referred book, packed with information, which includes case studies and conclusions at the end of each chapter. The book has a practical focus and is aimed at mental health professionals working predominantly outside hospitals. Assertive outreach and community care is a rapidly changing area of practice and it is difficult to keep up to date. Although definitely of interest to the mental health liaison nurse working in A&E who occasionally encounters an ‘assertive outreach patient’, its downfall is that it is too specialized in a different area of practice; most general nurses in A&E would find it of little value. Hilary Ladley SRN RMN BSc (Hons) A&E Mental Health Liaison Nurse, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00159-5
The psychology of happiness Michael Argyle Psychology Press ISBN 0-415-22664-3 £45.00 HBK ISBN 0-415-22665-1 £11.50 PBK There was much to hold my interest in this book which, on the face of it, is not clearly focussed on nurses working in Accident and Emergency. The chapter on humour and laughter (a very necessary part of the work for staff in A&E) describes how one of its central features is incongruity. This is necessary for humour and that what is expected or normally happens and what actually happens produces the ingredients for humour. You will have numerous examples of this. The role of humour as a buffer to stress is explored and how humour in groups reflects the tension and frustrations of the work involved. It also reminds us how the use of humour, sensitively used, will reduce tension and embarrassment for patients. It has been suggested that psychiatrists be trained in the use of humour. To return to the main focus of the book on the psychology of happiness, it discusses how this is measured and how there are national differences in how it is expressed. Happiness associated with work and how this is measured against job satisfaction will be of interest. Interestingly pay is a minor factor in studies around happiness at work when it is widely believed to be very important. The effects of positive mood on health and happiness will again be of interest. It describes in more academic terms what many of you will know about the results of unhappiness in our work in A&E. Worth a read. Bob Wright Hon MSc RGN RMN
Fellow of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Clinical Nurse Specialist – Crisis Care Accident & Emergency Leeds General Infirmary Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00165-0
The international handbook of suicide and attempted suicide Keith Hawton and Kees Van Heeringen (eds.), John Wiley and Sons Ltd, ISBN 0470 849592 £34.95 PBK This book is outstanding in its account of world literature on suicidal behaviour. It is the most authoritative and up-to-date and comprehensive handbook of current knowledge around the subject that I have encountered. It covers biological, genetic, psychological and sociological processes related to suicidal behaviour. The assessment and treatment and risk factors will be of special interest to A&E nurses as interventions in the acute stage. Interventions for prevention at local and national levels are reviewed in one of the four parts the book is divided into. It contains 41 chapters from internationally respected experts in this field and will, I believe, define much of this work for years to come. Work around attempted suicide and suicide is a major component of most A&E departments. The care of patients and relatives and the difficulties and perplexity of staff with this problem have needed more enlightenment. Dare I say it? Every department should have a copy of this book. It cannot fail to be of interest to most A&E nurses. Bob Wright Hon MSc RGN RMN, Fellow of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Clinical Nurse Specialist-Crisis Care, Accident & Emergency, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00166-2
Partners in learning Ian Welsh and Caron Swann Radcliffe 2002, ISBN 1 85775 555 3 £19.95 PBK Partners in learning sets out to develop a practical text to assist support the teaching and assessing commitments of nurses in the clinical environs; the authors ultimately achieve this. The presentation is grounded in the context of the United Kingdom culture of nursing and, whilst early in the text there are references to New Zealand and Australian reports influencing change in nursing education, the authors quickly situate their
Accident and Emergency Nursing (2 0 0 3 ) 11, 1 8 6 – 1 9 2
187
It is a well-presented referred book, packed with information, which includes case studies and conclusions at the end of each chapter. The book has a practical focus and is aimed at mental health professionals working predominantly outside hospitals. Assertive outreach and community care is a rapidly changing area of practice and it is difficult to keep up to date. Although definitely of interest to the mental health liaison nurse working in A&E who occasionally encounters an ‘assertive outreach patient’, its downfall is that it is too specialized in a different area of practice; most general nurses in A&E would find it of little value. Hilary Ladley SRN RMN BSc (Hons) A&E Mental Health Liaison Nurse, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00159-5
The psychology of happiness Michael Argyle Psychology Press ISBN 0-415-22664-3 £45.00 HBK ISBN 0-415-22665-1 £11.50 PBK There was much to hold my interest in this book which, on the face of it, is not clearly focussed on nurses working in Accident and Emergency. The chapter on humour and laughter (a very necessary part of the work for staff in A&E) describes how one of its central features is incongruity. This is necessary for humour and that what is expected or normally happens and what actually happens produces the ingredients for humour. You will have numerous examples of this. The role of humour as a buffer to stress is explored and how humour in groups reflects the tension and frustrations of the work involved. It also reminds us how the use of humour, sensitively used, will reduce tension and embarrassment for patients. It has been suggested that psychiatrists be trained in the use of humour. To return to the main focus of the book on the psychology of happiness, it discusses how this is measured and how there are national differences in how it is expressed. Happiness associated with work and how this is measured against job satisfaction will be of interest. Interestingly pay is a minor factor in studies around happiness at work when it is widely believed to be very important. The effects of positive mood on health and happiness will again be of interest. It describes in more academic terms what many of you will know about the results of unhappiness in our work in A&E. Worth a read. Bob Wright Hon MSc RGN RMN
Fellow of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Clinical Nurse Specialist – Crisis Care Accident & Emergency Leeds General Infirmary Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00165-0
The international handbook of suicide and attempted suicide Keith Hawton and Kees Van Heeringen (eds.), John Wiley and Sons Ltd, ISBN 0470 849592 £34.95 PBK This book is outstanding in its account of world literature on suicidal behaviour. It is the most authoritative and up-to-date and comprehensive handbook of current knowledge around the subject that I have encountered. It covers biological, genetic, psychological and sociological processes related to suicidal behaviour. The assessment and treatment and risk factors will be of special interest to A&E nurses as interventions in the acute stage. Interventions for prevention at local and national levels are reviewed in one of the four parts the book is divided into. It contains 41 chapters from internationally respected experts in this field and will, I believe, define much of this work for years to come. Work around attempted suicide and suicide is a major component of most A&E departments. The care of patients and relatives and the difficulties and perplexity of staff with this problem have needed more enlightenment. Dare I say it? Every department should have a copy of this book. It cannot fail to be of interest to most A&E nurses. Bob Wright Hon MSc RGN RMN, Fellow of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Clinical Nurse Specialist-Crisis Care, Accident & Emergency, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK doi:10.1016/S0965-2302(02)00166-2
Partners in learning Ian Welsh and Caron Swann Radcliffe 2002, ISBN 1 85775 555 3 £19.95 PBK Partners in learning sets out to develop a practical text to assist support the teaching and assessing commitments of nurses in the clinical environs; the authors ultimately achieve this. The presentation is grounded in the context of the United Kingdom culture of nursing and, whilst early in the text there are references to New Zealand and Australian reports influencing change in nursing education, the authors quickly situate their
Accident and Emergency Nursing (2 0 0 3 ) 11, 1 8 6 – 1 9 2
187