This book investigates the clinical and social management of individuals who have engaged in attempted suicide. Authors José Catalán and Keith Hawton, both established experts in clinical psychiatry and research, synthesize decades of professional experience to provide a framework for medical intervention. They argue that effective management requires a dual focus on the immediate medical stabilization of the patient and the long-term assessment of psychosocial stressors, including unemployment and social instability.

Experts in the field of psychiatry frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for clinicians and social workers managing crisis situations. Readers often note the clinical density of the prose, which prioritizes actionable medical guidance over theoretical abstraction.