Introduction 1. Attitudes about suicide over the ages 2. Suicide and Mental Illness 3. Psychoanalytic Interest in Suicide 4. The core complex 5. Suicide Fantasies and the Pre-suicide State of Mind 6. How Learning from the Patient Generates Theory 7. The Role of the Father in a Pre-suicide State 8. Pre-suicide States in Adolescence 9. Implications for the professional 10. Self-mutilation 11. A patient’s account Conclusion
Donald Campbell is a qualified child, adolescent and adult psychoanalyst and a Training Analyst and Supervisor at the British Psychoanalytical Society. He has worked for thirty years as Principal Child and Adult Psychotherapist at the Portman Clinic. Campbell has lectured, taught widely and published papers and chapters on the subjects of suicide, violence, child sexual abuse, adolescence, shame and horror films.
Rob Hale trained originally in psychiatry and psychoanalysis and held a research post at St Mary’s Hospital in London where, for five years, he worked closely with people who had attempted suicide. Hale has treated suicidal patients in long-term psychotherapy, and for thirty-five years worked at the Portman Clinic with those who act out in a violent or sexually deviant way.
‘Its subject notwithstanding – what a brilliant, much-needed, and
ultimately hopeful-helpful book this is! The experience, if not the
facts, of suicide remain taboo. The authors, based on nearly a
century of combined clinical experience, expound its psychic
meaning, developmental origins, and therapeutic implications in
ways relevant and accessible to all mental health practitioners.
Robustly yet flexibly psychoanalytic, they demonstrate the paradox
of suicide as ‘an attempt to live at the cost of life itself’;
outline the ‘10 danger signals’ of suicide for professionals; and
illuminate the underlying phantasies inherent in the suicidal act.
Heeded, this book will be a life-saver!’ – Professor Jeremy Holmes,
MD, FRCPych, University of Exeter, UK'The authors’ unrivalled
knowledge and experience garnered over many years is distilled to
present a rich and compelling approach to suicide and therapeutic
practice with suicidal people. The exploration of the influential
concept of the pre-suicide state makes sense of suicidal
motivations, explains the strong, and often seemingly strange
counter-transference responses encountered in this work, and why
working with suicidal people can draw negative reactions from
professionals. Challenging conventional wisdom, Working in the Dark
demonstrates that understanding unconscious suicide fantasies
underpinning suicidal behaviour is essential to prevent the dangers
of repeated suicide attempts.' - Professor Stephen Briggs,
University of East London
‘Its subject notwithstanding – what a brilliant, much-needed, and
ultimately hopeful-helpful book this is! The experience, if not the
facts, of suicide remain taboo. The authors, based on nearly a
century of combined clinical experience, expound its psychic
meaning, developmental origins, and therapeutic implications in
ways relevant and accessible to all mental health practitioners.
Robustly yet flexibly psychoanalytic, they demonstrate the paradox
of suicide as ‘an attempt to live at the cost of life itself’;
outline the ‘10 danger signals’ of suicide for professionals; and
illuminate the underlying phantasies inherent in the suicidal act.
Heeded, this book will be a life-saver!’ – Professor Jeremy Holmes,
MD, FRCPych, University of Exeter, UK'The authors’ unrivalled
knowledge and experience garnered over many years is distilled to
present a rich and compelling approach to suicide and therapeutic
practice with suicidal people. The exploration of the influential
concept of the pre-suicide state makes sense of suicidal
motivations, explains the strong, and often seemingly strange
counter-transference responses encountered in this work, and why
working with suicidal people can draw negative reactions from
professionals. Challenging conventional wisdom, Working in the Dark
demonstrates that understanding unconscious suicide fantasies
underpinning suicidal behaviour is essential to prevent the dangers
of repeated suicide attempts.' - Professor Stephen Briggs,
University of East London'Given the exceptional combination of
clinical experience in dealing with suicide and self-harm, and the
theoretical sophistication that Don Campbell and Rob Hale bring to
the understanding of deeply disturbed people, I was prepared for a
very significant contribution and I was not disappointed. The
reason that you really do need to read this book from beginning to
end , is because of the help it brings to all of us who in our
daily professional lives need to survive the trauma of working with
people in the extremes of crises of mind and relationships. This is
not just a book for the young inexperienced staff who are usually,
and often inappropriately, left to deal with the emotional
complexities of those who have tried to harm themselves. No matter
how long you have been in the field you will time and again find
help, insight and support in this very valuable book.' John, Lord
Alderdice FRCPsych, University of Maryland, Baltimore USA
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