Suicide Awareness

Suicide Myths and Facts Myth: Suicide can’t be prevented. If someone is set on taking their own life, there is nothing that can be done to stop them. Fact: Suicide is preventable. The vast majority of people contemplating suicide don’t really want to die. They are seeking an end to intense mental and/or physical pain. Most have a mental illness. Interventions can save lives.

Myth: People who take their own life are selfish, cowards, weak or are just looking for “attention.” Fact: More than 90% of people who take their own life have at least one and often more than one treatable mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and/or alcohol and substance abuse. With better recognition and treatment many suicides can be prevented.

Myth: Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide will put the idea in their head and cause them to act on it. Fact: When you fear someone you know is in crisis or depressed, asking them if they are thinking about suicide can actually help. By giving a person an opportunity to open up and share their troubles you can help alleviate their pain and find solutions.

Myth: Teenagers and college students are the most at risk for suicide. Fact: The suicide rate for this age group is below the national average. Suicide risk increases with age. Currently, the age group with the highest suicide rate in the U.S. is middle-aged men and women between the ages of 45 and 64. The suicide rate is still highest among white men over the age of 65.

Myth: Barriers on bridges, safe firearm storage and other actions to reduce access to lethal methods of suicide don’t work. People will just find another way. Fact: Limiting access to lethal methods of suicide is one of the best strategies for suicide prevention. Many suicides can be impulsive and triggered by an immediate crisis. Separating someone in crisis from a lethal method (e.g., a firearm) can give them something they desperately need: time. Time to change their mind, time to resolve the crisis, time for someone to intervene.

Myth: Someone making suicidal threats won’t really do it, they are just looking for attention. Fact: Those who talk about suicide or express thoughts about wanting to die, are at risk for suicide and need your attention. Most people who die by suicide give some indication or warning. Take all threats of suicide seriously. Even if you think they are just “crying for help”—a cry for help, is a cry for help—so help.

Myth: Talk therapy and/or medications don’t work. Fact: Treatment can work. One of the best ways to prevent suicide is by getting treatment for mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar illness and/or substance abuse and learning ways to solve problems. Finding the best treatment can take some time, and the right treatment can greatly reduce risk of suicide. In fact, it can bring you back your life.

Definitions  Suicidal ideation "Thoughts of harming or killing oneself". The severity of suicidal ideation can be determined by assessing the frequency, intensity, and duration of these thoughts.  Suicide attempt A non-fatal self-directed potentially injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt may or may not result in injury.  Suicide Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior.

Statistics  Almost 35,000 people commit suicide every year.  Almost 380,000 people are hospitalized with injuries from a suicide attempt every year.  Men are 4 times more likely than women to commit suicide, however, women are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide.  Among young adults ages 15 to 24 years old, there are approximately attempts for every completed suicide.

Stats continued  Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans (CDC, 2010).  Over 33,000 people kill themselves each year, compared with roughly 18,000 homicides (CDC, 2010).  On average, over the past five years, about 392,000 people with self-inflicted injuries sought treatment in emergency departments (CDC, 2010).

Stats  The number of self-inflicted injuries that do not come to the attention of medical professionals is unknown, but it is estimated that for every one suicide there are 25 attempts (Goldsmith, et al. 2002).  Surviving family members and close friends are impacted by each suicide, and experience a range of complex grief reactions including, guilt, anger, or abandonment (Jordon, 2001).  According to one estimate, approximately 7% of the US population knew someone who died of suicide during the past 12 months. (Crosby and Sacks, 2002).

Suicide by Age  Suicide is the second leading cause of death among year olds and the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year olds.  Among 15- to 24-year olds, suicide accounts for 12.2% of all deaths annually. Approximately 14 per day.  The rate of suicide for adults aged 75 years and older was 16.0 per 100,000.

Risk Factors  Family history of suicide  Teens who have been abused, molested, neglected, or raised in a dysfunctional family. teenagers-charged-girls-suicide teenagers-charged-girls-suicide  Teens who have had previous suicide attempt(s)  Teens who are bullied. s/story?id= s/story?id=

More risk factors  Teens who are suffering from a mental disorder, particularly clinical depression.  Teens who abuse alcohol and drugs.  Teens who may be struggling with their sexual orientation. 0/10/rutgers_student_tyler_clementi_3.html 0/10/rutgers_student_tyler_clementi_3.html

Risk Factors  Teens who have low self esteem.  Teens who are perfectionists. /upenn-track-star-jumps-death- philadelphia-article /upenn-track-star-jumps-death- philadelphia-article  Teens who have had trouble with the law, or have impulsive or aggressive tendencies

Warning Signs  A recent suicide in the family or by a friend. Teens are especially vulnerable when a close family member or friend commits suicide. The grieving process and depression can interrupt normal thought processes.  Trouble coping with recent losses, death, divorce, moving, break-up, etc.  Experience with a traumatic event. Sometimes a significant traumatic event can create feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Warning Signs cont.  Making final arrangement, such as writing a eulogy, or taking care of details (closing bank account, etc).  Gathering of lethal weapons (purchasing weapons, collecting pills, etc).  Giving away prized possessions.  Preoccupation with death, such as darkly themed writing, art, music.  Sudden changes in personality or attitude, appearance, chemical use, or school behavior.

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

Protective Factors  Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders  Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking  Family and community support (connectedness)  Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships  Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent ways of handling disputes  Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support instincts for self-preservation

Case Study  /23-rutgers-webcam-spying-scandal /23-rutgers-webcam-spying-scandal  Determine on your own if you think he is innocent or guilty. Make sure that you have points to validate your stance and write up explanation.