Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention

1. Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention A Workshop for Teachers and Parents Dama Schultz, Penny Kilgore & Jennifer Lucas

2. Myth or Fact? • Teenagers who talk about attempting suicide are doing it for attention

3. True: • They NEED the attention. • There is something going on in their life that is making them feel the way that they are feeling.

4. Myth or Fact? • Talking about suicide will cause a student to attempt suicide

5. False: • It's just the opposite: not talking about it could escalate the problem. • Even thinking about the act makes the suicidal person feel worse. • Talking will help bring understanding.

6. Myth or Fact? • Once a person is suicidal, they're suicidal forever.

7. False: • After receiving help, teens who are suicidal can go on to lead useful lives. Usually the suicidal feelings are for a limited period of time

8. Mythor Fact? • If a person wants to kill himself or herself, no one has the right to stop him or her.

9. False: • We would help a person who is injured or physically ill • A person who is mentally ill, needs to be helped as well

10. Warning Signs of Suicide • A recent suicide in the family or friend. • Trouble coping with recent losses, death, divorce, moving, break-ups, etc. • Experience with a traumatic event. • Making final arrangements, such as writing a will or eulogy, or taking care of details. • Giving away prized possessions. • Preoccupation with death, such as death and/or 'dark' themes in writing, art, music lyrics, etc. • Sudden changes in personality or attitude, appearance, chemical use, or school behavior.

11. Students Who are at Higher Risk Teenagers who: • have attempted suicide previously, especially if problems and other recurring concerns were not completely resolved • with little self-esteem • in trouble with the law • are suffering from depression • have been abused, molested, or neglected • abuse drugs and/or alcohol • are perfectionists • are struggling with sexual orientation (gays and lesbians) • are in dysfunctional families • fail in school-potential dropouts

12. Verbal Warning Signs • "I can't go on anymore" • "I wish I was never born" • "I wish I were dead" • "I won't need this anymore" • "My parents won't have to worry about me anymore" • "Everyone would be better off if I was dead" • "Life sucks. Nobody cares if I live or die"

13. Michael’s Story • Michael was a 15-year-old boy who lived in the Midwest. His parents had recently divorced, which forced him to move to a new community of 3,000 people. He hated the small town atmosphere, and didn't make any new friends. His brother John, his 'only' friend, was going away to college in the fall, which made him feel even worse. Michael was having trouble sleeping, his grades were falling, and he was upset almost everyday. He tried to tell his dad and new stepmom that he was feeling terrible, but they said that things would get better if he would just give it some time. He gave his brother his baseball card collection, and said he wouldn't need them anymore.

14. Michael’s Warning Signs • At-Risk Group: Teen suffering from depression Teen who is failing in school • Warning Signs: Recent losses: moving and brother leaving Gives away prized possession (baseball cards) Can't sleep, upset a lot • Verbal Warning: "I won't need these (baseball cards) anymore"

15. Haley’s Story • Haley was sixteen and had been dealing with depression since she was 12 years old. She never felt 'quite right' in middle school, feeling like she didn't fit in. She started using alcohol on a regular basis, and then marijuana. Most of her old friends didn't do this, so she started hanging around with a different group of teenagers. She put herself at risk by having unprotected sex with friends in the group. Since school didn't seem important anymore, she started skipping classes. She was sinking lower and lower, and thinking that it was not going to get any better. She told her mom that she accidentally threw away her prescription anti-depressant drugs, and needed a new bottle. Her mom got the bottle refilled. She told her friends that "life wasn't worth living," and said she was going to run away the next weekend.

16. Haley’s Warning Signs • At-Risk Group: Teen suffering from depression Teen with little self-esteem (risky sexual behavior) Teen who abuses drugs • Warning Signs: Changes in chemical use and school behavior Gathering of weapons (pills) • Verbal Warning: "Life isn't worth living."

17. Shocking Stats FYI for Parents & Teachers

18. SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PERSONS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 14.

19. A Recent Survey of High School students showed: • 60% of the students said they had thought about killing themselves • 9% said they had tried at least once.

20. Shocking Statistics • More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from: • CANCER • HEART DISEASE • AIDS • BIRTH DEFECTS • STROKE • PNEUMONIA & INFLUENZA • And CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE COMBINED

21. Devastating Facts: • Within every 2 hours and 15 minutesa person under the age of 25 completes suicide. • In the past 60 years, the suicide rate has quadrupled for males 15 to 24 year old, and has doubled for females.

22. Shocking statistics • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-2EkA4LgI

23. WHY THE RECENT RAISE IN SUICIDE RATES • New technology= New opportunities for bullying • Cyberbullying via Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, texting THIS IS VERY ALARMING!!!!! (MAY BE UNKNOWN TO OTHERS)

24. WHY THE RECENT RAISE IN SUICIDES? • MORE VIOLENCE IN THE NEWS • SUICIDES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS • LACK OF PARENTAL INTEREST

25. ATTENTION PARENTS: • PUT AWAY AND LOCK UP ALL PERSCRIPTION MEDICATION. • Pain relievers such as oxycotin and vicodin are the most commonly abused drugs by teens.

26. PUT WEAPONS UP & KEEP AWAY • FIREARMS REMAIN THE MOST COMMONLY USED SUICIDE METHOD AMONG YOUTH . • This nearly accounts for almost 3 of 5 completed suicides.

27. The importance of putting weapons up: *Research has shown that the access to and availability of firearms is a significant factor in the increase of youth suicide. Guns in the home are deadly to its occupants.

28. PLEASE BE AWARE: • Dangerous New Games are becoming increasingly popular among teens. • Suffocation game • Rope hanging- black out game

29. It is believed that: ~Suicide is less about seeking death than it is about seeking relief and release from overpowing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.~ ~ It feels to the subject like the only solution and is a last resort.~

30. PARENTS: SHOW THE LOVE • TALK TO YOUR TEENS • LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY AND TO WHAT THEY DON’T SAY • LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING, CAN BE OVERCOME • Say, “I LOVE YOU”

31. YOU can help change these statistics Nearly all teens give a cry for help! 4 out of 5 teens who attempt suicide have given clear warnings. Imminent signs must be taken seriously!

32. INTERVENTIONS

33. Hope Psalm 34:17-20 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

34. School Referral Process Options • A curriculum-based program for students • Faculty and Staff in-service training • School-wide screening programs to identify students at • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VWgxEFQtcE&feature=related

35. Curriculum Based Programs • Written intervention policies for all staff • Freshman and incoming new student orientation presentations by on-site school counselor to reduce barriers and stimulate self and peer referrals to the same counselor. • Awareness on mental illness and suicide to all upper grade students. • Intervention with at-risk students. • Emergency counseling to be used following any student death.

36. Goals of a Curriculum Based Program • Normalized feelings of loneliness in adolescence • Reinforce the importance of having a satisfactory relationship with parents • Help students recognize major symptoms of depression • Unsettle those who are complacent about their history of suicidal behavior or current suicidal thinking • Screen and provide one-on-one follow-up with those who maintain a pro-suicide attitude

37. Teacher Training In-Service • Frequent contact with youth • Research indicates suicide prevention has been successful • Legal obligation to provide suicide prevention

38. Counselor’s Corner: • Love Life Day-Celebrate life • Fan Club- Friends are needed club • Accountability partners in homeroom • Counselor invest time with students

39. References Cliffone, Jerry (2007). Suicide prevention: An analysis and replication of a curriculum based high school program. Social Work, 52(1), 41-49. doi:00378046 Cole, J. C. M., Cornell, D. & Sheras, B. (2006). Identification of school bullies by survey methods. Professional School Counseling, 94(4), 305-313. doi: 20547740 Friday, J.C. (1995). The psychological impact of violence in underserved communities. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 6 (4), 403-409. Gasparini, K. (n.d.). Suicide prevention. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/1992/preview/.

40. References continued… Gibbons, Melinda M.; Studer, Jeannine R.; Suicide awareness training for faculty and staff: A training model for school counselor. Professional School Counseling,11(4), 272-276. doi: 10962409/20080401 Hamilton, B. E.; Minino, A. M.; Martin, J. A.; Kochanek, K. D.; Strobino, D. M., &  Guyer, B. (2007). Annual summary of vital statistics. Pediatrics, 119, 345-360. Retrieved from www.ebscohost.com.