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.

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?

STAGES OF A CRISIS PRE-CRISISCRISISPOST-CRISIS Normal level of coping of coping Greater strength than Pre-Crisis than Pre-Crisis level level SHOCK Adjustments RECOVERY Days Weeks Months

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.

Yearning Intense preoccupation with thoughts of the lost one. Intense preoccupation with thoughts of the lost one. Variety of physiological disturbances may appear (difficulty sleeping, eating, etc.). Variety of physiological disturbances may appear (difficulty sleeping, eating, etc.). Psychological defenses become apparent (difficulty maintaining relationships, over commitment to friends, etc.). Psychological defenses become apparent (difficulty maintaining relationships, over commitment to friends, etc.).

Disorganization and Despair Apathy and aimlessness. Apathy and aimlessness. No interest in future or future seems unpleasant. No interest in future or future seems unpleasant.

Reorganization Diminished symptomatology. Diminished symptomatology. Opening up toward future. Opening up toward future. Spontaneity and creativity return. Spontaneity and creativity return. Happiness returns to former level or better. Happiness returns to former level or better.

Tasks of Mourning Accept the reality of the loss Accept the reality of the loss Experience the pain of the loss Experience the pain of the loss Adjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing Adjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing Withdraw emotional energy from the deceased and reinvest that energy into other relationships and activities Withdraw emotional energy from the deceased and reinvest that energy into other relationships and activities

Questions?