SUICIDE PREVENTION

SUICIDE PREVENTION Katrina Ross, LGSW & Natalee Solomon, MA

Definition • Suicide- is the act of an organism intentionally causing its own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair, or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse.

National facts about Suicide • Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States and the 3rd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 to 24 • People who have the highest risk of suicide are white men, however women and teens report more suicide attempts. • Individuals with a family history of suicide are becoming more vulnerable to becoming victims of suicide themselves

In the United States, one person completes suicide every 15.2 minutes • It is estimated that 4.6 million people in the United States are survivors of suicide (those who have lost a loved one to suicide) • 50.2% of people who die by suicide use a firearm, and guns stored in the house are used for suicide 40 times more often than for self-protection • Suicide rates are the highest among the divorced, separated, and widowed and lowest among the married. • Relative to those younger, rates of completed suicide are highest among the elderly (age 80 and over).

Statistics about our population • Youth (ages 15-24) suicide rates increased more than 200% from the 1950’s to the late 1970’s. From the late 1970’s to the mid 1990’s, suicide rates for youth remained stable and, since then, have slightly decreased. • Suicide ranks third as a cause of death among young (15-24) Americans behind accidents and homicides. • The most common method of suicide for all females was poisoning. In fact, poisoning has surpassed firearms for female suicides since 2001. • Caucasians (12.9 per 100,000) have higher rates of completed suicides than African Americans (4.9 per 100,000).

Statistics about our population • Caucasians (12.9 per 100,000) have higher rates of completed suicides than African Americans (4.9 per 100,000). • According to SAMHSA (2004), an estimated 712,000 young people in the U.S. ages 12-17 attempted suicide- that’s 2.9% of this country’s youth. 900,000 have formulated some kind of suicide plan while more than 1.8 million had thoughts of killing themselves at some time. • 80% of suicide attempts occur in teens ages 15-19.

Video Maggie's Story

Warning Signs for Suicide • Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself. • Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun. • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live. • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain. • Talking about being a burden to others. • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.

Warning Signs for Suicide • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly. • Sleeping too little or too much. • Withdrawing or feeling isolated. • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge. • Displaying extreme mood swings.

SAFE-T Suicide Assessment Tool (Suicide Assessment Five-step Evaluationand Triage)

Vignettes • Case #1 16-year-old African-American female recently overdosed off 12 aspirins. She could not tolerate rumors at school that she and another girl are sharing the same boyfriend. She denies being suicidal at this time (“I won’t do it again; I learned my lesson”). Reports that she has always had difficulty expressing her feelings and in order to cope with pain she is self injurious. She is a quiet, guarded, and often quite reluctant to talk.

Vignettes Cont’d • Case #2 19-year-old white male stated he planned is to steal his brother’s car and drive it off a bridge. He has history of both verbal and physical abuse from his father which was his reasons for being placed into care. After a recent home visit he states that his father punched him in the face. As a result, he feels angry and hurt, threatened to kill himself. He is also angry at his mother, who stayed with his father even after the abuse findings. When returning back to the group home he is clearly intoxicated. His current alcohol level is .15; patient is confused and repetitive. He had a previous hospitalization at age 16 when he tried to hang himself. He was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and has been regulated since being placed on medication. After sobering, sobering, patient denies further suicidal intent.

Vignettes Cont’d • Case #3 14-year-old Hispanic male. There are rumors that the Patient bought a gun 2 months ago to kill himself and claims to have the gun and four shells at his grandmother’s house. When staff reported the incident the police found the gun but no shells. Patient reports having planned time and place for suicide several times in the past. He states that he cannot live any more with his “emotional pain” due to being molested by his uncle. This pain has increased during the last week. Patient has a history of chemical dependency, but is actively in drug treatment.

Vignettes Cont’d • Case #4 16-year-old Native-American female was rushed to the Emergency Room after making fairly deep cuts on her wrists requiring nine stitches. Current stress is due to a recent breakup with her boyfriend and placement into Waxter Children’s Center following an assault charge. She has developed depressive symptoms for the last 2 months, including social withdrawal, insomnia, and decreased appetite. She blames her sister for the breakup with boyfriend and setting up the fight between her and her ex-boyfriend’s new love interest. She makes threats to the sister (“I will slice up that bitch, she is dead when I get out”). The patient is an marijuana smoker who just completed court-ordered chemical dependency treatment lasting 3 weeks. There is a history of previous suicide attempts and assaultive behavior. After being evaluated she denies intent to kill herself but admits to still being quite ambivalent about it.

Suicide Prevention • ASK, ASK, ASK- don’t be afraid you will not be giving the person new ideas. • When suicidal intent or risk is detected early, lives can be saved. • Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. If you cannot do this, find someone who can, such as a neighbor or a minister, priest, or rabbi. • Call a crisis hotline in your area or 1-800-273-TALK

Suicide Prevention • Promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable. • High self-esteem, social connectedness, problem-solving skills, supportive family and friends are all examples of factors that buffer against suicide and suicidal behaviors. • 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Hotline)

Crisis Centers http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/CrisisCenters/Locator.aspx • Baltimore Crisis ResponseBaltimore, MD 21201http://www.bcresponse.org • Grassroots Crisis Intervention CenterColumbia, MD 21044Business Phone: 410-531-6006http://www.grassrootscrisis.org/ • Frederick County HotlineFrederick, MD 21701Business Phone: 301-663-0011http://www.fcmha.org/

Crisis Centers • Community Crisis ServicesHyattsville, MD 20781-0149Business Phone: 301-864-7095http://www.communitycrisis.org • Mental Health Association of Montgomery CountyRockville, MD 20851Business Phone: 301-424-0656http://www.mhamc.org • Life Crisis CenterSalisbury, MD 21803-0387Business Phone: 410-749-0771http://www.lifecrisiscenter.org

Resources • http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/suicide_prevention/pdf/safe_t_pcktcrd_edc.pdf • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/suicide.html • www.samhsa.gov • www.suicidology.org • www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org • www.save.org • http://soeweb.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/modules/Suicide_Risk/short_term_suicide_risk_vignettes.aspx

SUICIDE PREVENTION