No abstract

Social support was found to have a slight to moderate role in mediating the impact of stress on these mothers.

Following a brief review of studies devoted specifically to the self-concept of the child with a physical handicap and the non-handicapped sibling, 20 pre-adolescent physically handicapped children attending normal schools and their siblings nearest in age were administered the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children. Their responses were then compared with those of 13 physically handicapped children attending special schools and their siblings, and with 18 non-handicapped children and their siblings. It was found that mean total scores were lower for both groups of physically handicapped children when compared to mean scores for the non-handicapped controls, with similar results amongst the groups of siblings, the mean scores for siblings of handicapped children being generally lower than those of the controls. The same results were found when the handicapped children's groups were pooled and analysed according to diagnosis. It was also found that there were few significant differences between pairs of target children and siblings, irrespective of their groupings.

No abstract

Members of the Australian Psychological Society's Colleges of Clinical and Counselling Psychologists were surveyed to ascertain the incidence and impact on them of client suicidal behaviour. Also sought were their opinions about preferred interventions in managing high‐risk clients, and coping strategies in the event of a client suicide. Four hundred and thirty‐seven responded, a return rate of 29%. Just over half (n = 244) were members of the College of Clinical Psychology, 187 were members of the College of Counselling Psychologists and 5 were members of both colleges. More than one third (n = 170) had experienced one or more completed client suicide, 332 had experienced attempted suicide, 377 noted threats or suicidal gestures, and 396 suicide ideation. Clinical psychologists rated hospitalisation, referral to a GP or psychiatrist, and restricting access to means of suicide as more effective interventions than counselling psychologists, who rated verbal “no suicide” contracts as the more effective intervention. Psychologists who had experienced a client suicide ranked recognising that they were not responsible, talking with their colleagues, an increased acceptance of suicide as a possible outcome, and talking with their supervisors as the most helpful strategies following the event. Less than half could recall any aspect of pre‐registration training in dealing with suicidal clients, although most had undertaken some professional development since. The authors conclude that further research is needed to determine the effective intervention strategies for working with suicidal clients.