1. Suicide Prevention
Meg Tyler

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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…?”

12. Referral
Last step
Make a referral to a mental health professional

13. 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

14. Want More Information

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

16. ACT
A - Acknowledge
C - Care
T - Tell

17. 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

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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Want this for your school