Youth Suicide-Prevention and Intervention

1. Youth Suicide-Prevention and Intervention The following slides include statistical data regarding suicide, common myths, reasons for suicide, behavioral warning signs, and appropriate ways to intervene.

2. True or False ? • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 19. • True • People who talk about or threaten suicide rarely commit suicide. • False • Approximately one young person dies from suicide every 1 hour and 45 minutes. • True • Talking to a person about suicidal feelings may cause him/her to commit suicide. • False • Suicide is the number-one preventable cause of death. • True • People who are contemplating suicide almost always indicate their intentions to someone beforehand. • True

3. Youth Suicide Statistical Data • There has been a 300% increase in youth suicides in the past 40 years. •   There has been a 128% increase in suicides for 10 to 14-year-olds since 1980. • 100+ young people lose their lives to suicide each week. • More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. • Suicide is a thought common to 62% of U.S. adolescents (Opelewski & Robertson, 1998). • One in ten students actually plans his or her own death (Johnson, 1999). • Only about 1/3 of adolescent suicide victims appear to satisfy clinical criteria for depression or other treatable mental illnesses (Johnson, 1999).

4. MYTH VS. FACT • The subject of suicide is a very fearful one indeed. The best way to deal with this fear is to separate fact from myths. The following is a list of facts and myths about suicide compiled by Sol Gordon in his book “When Living Hurts” (Opelewski & Robertson, 1998). • Myth: Youth who talk about suicide rarely attempt it. • Fact: Most youth that attempt or commit suicide have given verbal clues. • Myth: Talking about suicide will make it happen. • Fact: Talking about suicide does not place ideas into young people’s heads that were not already there. There is evidence that once a suicide occurs, others may follow as a contagious reaction to hopelessness. • Myth: The tendency towards suicide is inherited. • Fact: There is no evidence of a genetic link. However, a previous suicide in the family may establish a destructive model for dealing with stress and depression. • Myth: Teenage suicides happen in the night. • Fact: Most teenagers’ suicides occur between 3:00 and 6:00 in the evening, presumably when the suicidal person can be seen and stopped.

5. MYTH VS. FACT • Myth: Suicidal people leave notes. • Fact: Only a small percentage, about 15% leaves notes. • Myth: If a person wants to commit suicide nothing can stop him/her. • Fact: Suicidal people have mixed feelings about death. They send out messages and clues that ask others to save or help them. No one is suicidal all the time. Many suicides can be prevented. • Myth: Youths who want to commit suicide are mentally ill. • Fact: Mental illness increases the risk of suicide but most young people who attempt or commit suicide would not be diagnosed as mentally ill. Youth suicide is often a sudden and urgent reaction to accumulative events and stresses. • Myth: Once a teenager has been suicidal, he/she is never out of danger. • Fact: Many youths that have been depressed recover and lead normal healthy lives. They learn constructive rather than destructive ways to cope and handle feelings and disappointments.

6. WHY SUICIDE? • Suicide is usually not a result of one or a few isolated events in an individual’s life, but the end of a series of extremely frustrating events. • Some Causes of Suicide Include: • Substance abuse-alcohol or other drugs • The break-up of the family • Depression • Feelings of insecurity • Illness • Broken love affairs • Economic conditions-poverty/excessive wealth • Disfiguring injuries or disease • (Opelewski & Robertson, 1998).

7. Behavioral Clues That a Person May Exhibit Include: • Previous threats or attempts of suicide • Support for suicide by important role model • Close friend or family member who attempts/completes suicide • Feelings of failure-“I can’t do anything right.” • Radical personality changes-persistent sadness, loss of interest in usual activities • Withdrawal from family, friends, and regular activities • Noticeable changes in eating or sleeping habits • Neglect of personal appearance • A decline in the quality of school work • Violent or rebellious behavior • Alcohol or other drug abuse • Verbal Hints, “I won’t be around much longer.” • Giving away prized possessions • Suddenly becoming cheerful after a prolonged depression-the final decision may have been made, which is in itself a form of relief (Opelewski & Robertson, 1998)

8. A suicidal person may be trying to communicate any of the following: • I am angry and I am going to punish you in the worst way possible. You will feel guilty long after I kill myself. • You never paid attention to me. No one has ever paid attention to me. But if I kill myself, you will have to pay attention to me. • I need help but I am not able to ask for help. I don’t know how to ask for help. This is a way to ask for help. • The pain in my life is too great. I can’t stand it any longer. Either someone has to help me out of this pain or I will help myself out of it by dying. • I want to control you; I can do that by attempting suicide. I will be the victim and you will be the rescuer.(Opelewski & Robertson, 1998).

9. Significant Warning Signs • Previous suicide attempts-Four out of five successful suicides are NOT the first attempt. • Scratching or superficial cuts on wrists-Physical mutilation is a sign of wanting to hurt oneself…that can result in suicide. Even if the attempt seems to be only for attention, take it seriously. • Themes of death in writing, art work or conversation • Depression- Feeling the “blues” for long periods of time. Feelings of being alone or of no one caring. Sleeplessness or wanting to sleep an abnormal amount of time. Eating disorders-eating too much or not enough. • A recent significant loss • Discord in the home which may stir up fears of abuse • Sudden decline in academic performance • Acute personality changes • Making final arrangement or funeral plans-Giving away prized possessions. • Statements like “I’d be better off dead”, “Nothing matters”, “I won’t be a bother to you much longer” etc. • Feelings of helplessness and rejection

10. Can you think of others?

11. How to Help • Talk • Listen • Respond

12. The Life Model • L Represents the very first thing you must do…LISTEN. • I Represents the second thing you can do to help… INSIST ON HONESTY. • F Stands for the third thing you can do to help your friend; talk about FEELINGS, yours and your friends. • E Is for EXTEND A HELPING HAND. Offer to go with your friend to get help.

13. Some Possible Places for Help… • Favorite teacher • Preacher/Clergy • Guidance Counselor • Parent • Medical Doctor • Other Trusted Adult • Local Crisis Hot Line • Local Mental Health Center