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Tracy L. Cross writes new book on suicide

Book explores the phenomenon of suicide among students with gifts and talents

Dr. Tracy L. CrossDr. Tracy L. Cross, Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Psychology and Gifted Education and Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education, has recently published a book on suicide.

Suicide Among Gifted Children and Adolescents: Understanding the Suicidal Mind explores the phenomenon of suicide among students with gifts and talents. It provides readers with a coherent picture of what suicidal behavior is, clarifies what is known and what is unknown about it, shares two major theories of suicide with explanatory power, and offers an emerging model of the suicidal behavior of students with gifts and talents. In addition, the book offers insight into the personal experience of students with gifts and talents, details what schools can do to help prevent suicide among gifted students, and shares a variety of resources available to help.

The book is based on empirical research, direct observation, a review of the literature, other researchers’ findings and arguments, and a theory emerging from years of study. In writing this book, Cross hopes that a greater awareness of the suicidal behavior of students with gifts and talents will be had and that additional efforts to prevent suicides among this population—and all children—will be put in place. The book is now available from Prufrock Press.