1 Suicide Prevention Identifying the Signs & Getting Help Getting Help

2 Essential Question How can you identify and help someone who is thinking about suicide?

3 STATISTICS! Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death for year olds and it is the sixth leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds. 9% of 12 th grade students reported attempting suicide in the past year. 24% of 12 th grade students reported considering suicide in the past year! WHOA!!!! WHOA!!!!

4 Warning Signs Marked decline in school performance, skipping classes, dropping out of activities Death themes in art or written work Giving away prized possessions Sudden changes in relationships, withdrawing from friends Apathy Risk-taking behavior Statements such as “I wish I were dead” or “No one cares” Loss or disappointment Stressful episode or chronic stressful life situation at home or with peers Signs of mental illness

5 Verbal Signs of Suicide “I can’t go on anymore “I wish I was never born” “I wish I were dead” “My parents won’t have to worry about me anymore” “Everyone would be better off if I was dead” “I won’t need this anymore” “Life sucks. Nobody cares if I live or die”

6 Students at Higher Risk Teens who have attempted suicide before. Teens with little self-esteem. Teens in trouble with the law. Teens who are suffering from depression. Teens who have been abused, molested, or neglected. Teens who abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Teens who are perfectionists. Teens who are struggling with sexual orientation. Teens who are in dysfunctional families. Teens who fail in school- potential dropouts. 6

7 Causes of Suicide Causes not clearly understood 1. Depression Model: requiring mental health interventions 2. Stress Model: requiring social interventions; causes of suicide also focus on motives such as revenge

8 GETTING HELP! Question- ask the person if he or she is thinking about suicide; this awareness in itself can have a calming effect Persuade- talk with the person about the problem, the permanency or death, or about anything to get him or her off the edge of the cliff Refer or report- Students should immediately tell a trusted adult of their suspicion; don’t ignore it!!

9 Statistics! Depression alone or in combination with aggressive behavior & substance abuse or anxiety is found in more than half of all suicides Psychiatric diagnoses are present in 90% or suicides

10 Influences of Alcohol & other drugs Alcohol & cocaine abuse are present in 2/3 or suicides among year old males; they are not commonly associated with female teens or younger males Research indicates that major depression does not cause alcohol abuse; rather, shared genes & shared family experiences cause both depression & alcohol abuse; alcohol, acting as a depressant, worsens the depression