Konrad Michel

"Proposed book takes a new look at suicide and its treatment. He contends that suicide is not a symptom of a mental disorder, but an action taken by an individual who is in an acute state of extreme emotional pain and distress. This shift in perspective has led to the creation of a new treatment modality that has had extraordinary outcomes: dramatic reductions in the number of suicides in patients who treated with this methodology. The Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) uses just three sessions to address the very personal experiences and needs of people experiencing suicidal ideation or urges. A central tenet of Michel's program and book is that under high levels of emotional stress and psychological pain, our brain functions are dramatically altered and our ability to make rational decisions is severely impaired. Michel believes that most who die by suicide would later regret the decision, but of course they are unable to correct the decision. Inspired by a revolutionary 1998 paper by Eric Kandel, Michel takes the reader through the evolving techniques of functional brain research and describes the first studies that demonstrated how brain function relates to suicide. He explores questions about what happens in the brain when we make decisions - including fatal ones like suicide"--