A Recovery Workshop Presented by the APSU Counseling & Testing Center Suicide Awareness Seminar

Myths about Suicide Myth: A person who talks about suicide won’t really follow through. Myth: A person who talks about suicide won’t really follow through. FACT: Eight out of 10 people who commit suicide have spoken about their intent before killing themselves. FACT: Eight out of 10 people who commit suicide have spoken about their intent before killing themselves. Myth: Only insane people commit suicide. Myth: Only insane people commit suicide. FACT:People who commit suicide may feel hopeless and depressed, but have not necessarily lost touch with reality. Suicide is 4 times more likely for depressed people. FACT:People who commit suicide may feel hopeless and depressed, but have not necessarily lost touch with reality. Suicide is 4 times more likely for depressed people.

Myths about Suicide (cont.) Myth: Talking about suicide might prompt the person to act. Myth: Talking about suicide might prompt the person to act. FACT: Discussing the subject openly shows that you take the person seriously and that you care. It’s helpful, not harmful. FACT: Discussing the subject openly shows that you take the person seriously and that you care. It’s helpful, not harmful. Myth: Suicide is a problem among old people – not young people. Myth: Suicide is a problem among old people – not young people. FACT: Suicide is a problem among the elderly. But the suicide rate among year-olds has tripled in the past 30 years. FACT: Suicide is a problem among the elderly. But the suicide rate among year-olds has tripled in the past 30 years.

Myths about Suicide (cont.) Myth: No one I know is the type to commit suicide. Myth: No one I know is the type to commit suicide. FACT: Suicide occurs among young people of ALL types – rich and poor, athletic and non- athletic, popular and unpopular, etc.. FACT: Suicide occurs among young people of ALL types – rich and poor, athletic and non- athletic, popular and unpopular, etc.. Myth: People who attempt suicide are just trying to get attention. Myth: People who attempt suicide are just trying to get attention. FACT: Possibly, but unless someone gives them some appropriate attention, the results could be fatal. FACT: Possibly, but unless someone gives them some appropriate attention, the results could be fatal.

Myths about Suicide (cont.) Myth: Once a person decides to commit suicide, nothing can stop that person. Myth: Once a person decides to commit suicide, nothing can stop that person. FACT: On the contrary, most people want to be stopped from taking their lives. (But remember – not everyone can be stopped, though the effort of trying may save a life.) FACT: On the contrary, most people want to be stopped from taking their lives. (But remember – not everyone can be stopped, though the effort of trying may save a life.) Myth: People who attempt suicide really want to die. Myth: People who attempt suicide really want to die. FACT: Most people want to end their pain, not their lives. But they have given up hope that they or anyone else can help them. FACT: Most people want to end their pain, not their lives. But they have given up hope that they or anyone else can help them.

Every year, an estimated 700 men, women and children die by suicide in Tennessee. Nationally, one suicide occurs every 18 minutes, leading to 30,000 deaths per year. A Serious Issue

Tennessee ranks 20 th nationally for annual deaths by suicide. For every two victims of homicide in the U.S., there are three suicides. Over half of all suicides are adult men ages

Depressive Emotional Factors Contributing to Suicide Despair Despair Helplessness Helplessness Hopelessness Hopelessness Worthlessness Worthlessness

Personal Protective Factors Easy temperament. Easy temperament. Previous experience with self-mastery, problem solving, crisis resolution. Previous experience with self-mastery, problem solving, crisis resolution. Optimistic outlook. Optimistic outlook. Social/emotional competence. Social/emotional competence. High self esteem, self worth. High self esteem, self worth.

Personal Protective Factors (cont’d) Decision making, problem solving skills. Decision making, problem solving skills. Sense of personal control, self efficacy. Sense of personal control, self efficacy. Sense of belonging to a group and/or organization. Sense of belonging to a group and/or organization. High and realistic expectations. High and realistic expectations. High spiritual resiliency. High spiritual resiliency.

Environmental Protective Factors Strong family relationships. Strong family relationships. Models of healthy coping. Models of healthy coping. Encouragement of participation. Encouragement of participation. Opportunities to make significant contributions. Opportunities to make significant contributions.

Environmental Protective Factors (cont’d) Available social supports. Available social supports. Available helping resources. Available helping resources. Healthy spiritual/religious affiliation. Healthy spiritual/religious affiliation. Cultural and religious beliefs against suicide and in support of self- preservation. Cultural and religious beliefs against suicide and in support of self- preservation.

What can we do?

Grief Grief is a process involving a complex set of emotions associated with a significant loss or the threat of such a loss.

Stages of Grief Process Numbness and Denial Numbness and Denial Yearning Yearning Disorganization and Despair Disorganization and Despair Reorganization Reorganization

Numbness and Denial Numbness is relatively transient. It is initiated by an emotional shock. Numbness is relatively transient. It is initiated by an emotional shock. Denial of the full realities of loss, on the other hand, tend to persist into other phases of grieving. Denial of the full realities of loss, on the other hand, tend to persist into other phases of grieving.

Questions?