Suicide Prevention Meg Tyler

Objectives I will present 2 suicide prevention programs to use in middle school. QPR SOS I will provide strategies for presenting suicide programs. I will provide handouts to use with middle school students.

QPR Ask a question, save a live. For use with teachers. Q - question P - persuade R - refer

QPR Not intended to be a form of counseling or treatment Intended to offer hope through positive action Intended to teach those who are in a position to recognize the warning signs, clues, and suicidal communications.

Signs of Suicide Often the great majority of those planning on suicide give some warning signs By recognizing those signs, the suicide can be prevented by offering a positive action

When to use QPR Once you recognize the warning signs of suicide Direct verbal clues Indirect verbal clues Behavioral clues Situational clues

Question Ask if the person is planning on committing suicide. Indirectly Directly Asking the suicide question does not increase risk

Guidelines for Questioning Plan a time and place to ask the suicide question Try to get the person alone or in a private setting The QPR intervention may take up to an hour, allow for plently of time

Persuade Persuade the person not to end their life begins with listening. Listen first Persuade second

Guideline for Listening Give your full attention Don’t interrupt No rushing to judgment Focus on the person Calm your fears

Persuasion Goal Get the person to agree to get some help “Will you go with me to see a counselor?” Will you le me help you make an appointment with…?”

Referral Last step Make a referral to a mental health professional

Guidelines for Referrals Best: Personally take the person to the mental health provider Better: Get the person to agree to see a professional and help make the appointment Good: Getting the person to agree to accept help, even in the future

Want More Information http://www.qprinstitute.com/

Signs of Suicide - SOS For use with middle school students 50 minute video teaching ACT

ACT A - Acknowledge C - Care T - Tell

Group Guidance with SOS The school counselor uses a educational video and a discussion guide Program teach students that depression is a treatable illness and that suicide is not a normal response to stress

Group Guidance with SOS Students are given the specific action steps, ACT Encouraged to engage in a discussion with their parents

Group Guidance with SOS The education video presents scenarios of teens in emotional situations using and not using ACT

Group Guidance with SOS At the end of SOS, a school may decide to survey the students for concerns about themselves or their friends confidentially. If a student responds yes, they are pulled that day to discuss their concerns

SOS Booster Booster Program is available as a refresher course for students entering and beyond high school ACT is changed to make it more relevant Acknowledge, Care, and Treatment

Want this for your school http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/programs/youth-prevention-programs/sos/