Warm-Up 1/25 Write three sentences in your warm-up section telling me what you think this person is going through. “…My life is over My death must occur There is no hope My heart is torn apart My tears overflowing How can I live? How can I die? How can I leave? Will I know that I’ve hurt them? Will I know how they feel? I feel sorrow for them I feel sorrow for me…”

Suicide Prevention

Research shows that during our lifetime: 20% of us will have a suicide within our immediate family. 60% of us will personally know someone who dies by suicide.

Suicide in the U.S. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Approximately 36,000 people in the United States died by suicide. A suicide occurs every 15 minutes in the US 73% of all suicides are committed by white males Women attempt suicide more often than men, but men are more successful. (Men are four times more likely to kill themselves than women. Women attempt suicide three times more often than men do. ) An estimated 11 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death From , 901,180 people died by suicide, whereas 463,942 died from AIDS and HIV-related diseases.

90% of people who die by suicide are suffering from one or more psychiatric disorders:  Major Depressive Disorder  Bipolar Disorder, Depressive phase  Alcohol or Substance Abuse*  Schizophrenia  Personality Disorders

What group of people has the highest incidence of suicide?

Sociodemographic Risk Factors Male Over age 65 White Separated, widowed or divorced Living alone Being unemployed or retired Occupation: health-related occupations higher (dentists, doctors, nurses, social workers) especially high in women physicians

Most suicidal people don't really want to die – they just want their pain to end About 80% of the time people who kill themselves have given definite signals or talked about suicide

Myths about Suicide

Suicide Myths People who talk about wanting to die by suicide do not try to kill themselves. People who talk about suicide are just trying to get attention. People who are suicidal definitely want to die. Suicide always occurs without any warning signs. Once people decide to die by suicide, there is nothing you can do to stop them. Sometimes a bad event can push a person to complete suicide. People who attempt suicide and survive will not attempt suicide again. When people become suicidal, they will always be suicidal. You should never ask people who are suicidal if they are thinking about suicide or if they have thought about a method, because just talking about it will give them the idea. People who are suicidal do not seek help.

Individuals of all races, creeds, incomes and educational levels die by suicide. There is no typical suicide victim.

Teen Suicide

Teen suicide is a very real issue today in the United States. It is important to recognize the fact that the suicide rate amongst teenagers is on the rise. In order to prevent teen suicide, it is vital to recognize what leads to it, and then treat the causes. 3 rd leading cause of death of people aged 15 to 24 4 th leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 14.

malesfemales firearms5630 suffocation2421 poisoning1340 Male are more ”successful” at suicide because they use more violent means

Causes of teen suicide There are several different factors that may lead a teenager to take his or her life, but the most common is depression. In some cases, teenagers believe that suicide is the only way to solve their problems. The pressures of life seem too much to cope with, and some teenager look at suicide as a welcome escape. Things that may contribute to teen suicide include: Divorce of parents. Violence in the home. Inability to find success at school. Feelings of worthlessness. Rejection by friends or peers. Substance abuse. Death of someone close to the teenager. The suicide of a friend or someone he or she "knows" online.

Major physical illness, especially recent Chronic physical pain History of childhood trauma or abuse, or of being bullied Family history of death by suicide Drinking/Drug use Being a smoker

Signs that a teenager may attempt suicide The teenage years are a trying time, and sometimes normal behavior looks a lot like possibly destructive behavior. But it doesn't hurt to look into the following warning signs of teen suicide: Talks about death and/or suicide (maybe even with a joking manner). Plans ways to kill him or herself. Expresses worries that nobody cares about him or her. Has attempted suicide in the past. Dramatic changes in personality and behavior. Withdraws from interacting with friends and family. Shows signs of depression. Shows signs of a substance abuse problem. Begins to act recklessly and engage in risk-taking behaviors. Begins to give away sentimental possessions. Spends time online interacting with people who glamorize suicide and maybe even form suicide pacts.

Preventing teen suicide Often, preventing teen suicide means treating teen depression. Since 75% of the people who commit suicide are depressed, it is a good start to begin by treating the symptoms of teen depression. Counseling Residential treatment Medication

What can I do to help??

Intervention Three Basic Steps: 1. Show you care 2. Ask about suicide 3. Get help

Intervention: Step One Show you care Take ALL talk of suicide seriously  If you are concerned that someone may take their life, trust your judgment! Listen Carefully  Reflect what you hear  Use language appropriate for age of person involved  Do not worry about doing or saying exactly the "right" thing. Your genuine interest is what is most important. Be Genuine- Let the person know you really care. Talk about your feelings and ask about his or hers.  "I'm concerned about you… how do you feel?"  "Tell me about your pain."  "You mean a lot to me and I want to help."  "I'm on your side…we'll get through this."

Intervention: Step Two Ask About Suicide Talking with people about suicide won't put the idea in their heads. Chances are, if you've observed any of the warning signs, they're already thinking about it. Be direct in a caring, non- confrontational way. Get the conversation started.  Be direct but non-confrontational You do not need to solve all of the person's problems – just engage them. Questions to ask: – Are you thinking about suicide? – What thoughts or plans do you have? – Are you thinking about harming yourself, ending your life? – How long have you been thinking about suicide? – Have you thought about how you would do it? – Do you have __? (Insert the lethal means they have mentioned) – Do you really want to die? Or do you want the pain to go away?

Intervention: Step Three Get help, but do NOT leave the person alone  Know referral resources  Reassure the person  Encourage the person to participate in helping process  Outline safety plan

toll-free number available 24 hours a day, every day: TALK (8255).