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Ending A Deadly Silence Florida Suicide

PreventionGatekeeper Training

Insert your name and agency

What to Look For

What to Do

How to Help

Adapted with permission from the Washington State Youth Suicide Prevention Program and the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program

Prevention is often a matter of a caring person with the right knowledge being available in the right place at the right time.

Silent Epidemic Serious public health problem

Preventable

Neither random nor inevitable

Research shows that during our lifetime:20% of us will have a suicide within ourimmediate family

60% of us will personally know someone who dies by suicide

Attitudes and Beliefs: Taboo Nature of Suicide

Taboo subjects: suicide, rape, child abuse, mental illness, drug

and alcohol abuse, incest

Myths of Taboo Subjects

History of suicide – sin, crime, mental illness

Truth Or Myth

Survivors at lower risk

MH professionals only ones who can help

More common with the rich

No correlation between drugs, alcohol and suicide

As many as 2 youth attempts to every death

Most suffer from depression

More Floridians die by suicide than homicide

Most have made up their minds

More suicides during Christmas holidays

People who are suicidal tend to hide it

Need to take all talk seriously

Suicide rates for 15-24 year olds have more than doubled since the 1950s while other rates stayed about the same

Asking may encourage the idea

Elderly have the highest rate

Important not to break the trust of confidentiality

2005 National Statistics32,637 suicides (89.4 per day)

3rd leading cause of death for young Americans 15-24 years old

3.8 male deaths by suicide for each female death

3 female attempts for each male attempt

Suicide claims a life every 16.1 minutes

Source: AAS, USA Suicide: 2005 Official Final Data

Florida Statistics

3rd leading cause for 15-24 year olds (2007)

2007 YRBS: 25.7% felt sad or hopeless,11.2% seriously considered, 8.1% made plan,5.7% attempted, 2.1% made attempt requiring medical attention

Over 2,000 Floridians die by suicide each year

An average of 4 Florida youth take their own life each week

Not Just Statistics

Statistics alone don’t paint the whole picture

Suicide is devastating to family, friends, and communities

Opportunities to help

Understanding People in Crisis Why Everyone Is

Vulnerable

PressuresPressures AssetsAssets

Stressors are Stressors are infiniteinfinite

Assets are finiteAssets are finite

A Young Person May Feel They

Can’t stop the painCan’t think clearlyCan’t make decisionsCan’t sleep, eat or workCan’t make the sadness go awayCan’t see the future without painCan’t see themselves as worthwhileCan’t get someone’s attention

Source: AAS @ www.suicidology .org

Cup Full of Problems

Each cup represents a problemthat a young person may be having.

Only rule is that the cupscannot be stacked inside one another.

Depression and SuicideDepression often goes undiagnosed until a crisis occurs

Be concerned if: significant changes are noted, symptoms last 2 weeks or longer

Change in eating/sleeping, isolating, concentration problems, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, guilt, anger, vague physical complaints and suicidal thoughts

Source: NAMI, What Families Should Know about AdolescentDepression and Treatment Options, May 2005

The Reality Of It

12 million (1 in 10) suffer from mental illness 80% go without services

90% youth suicides had a diagnosable, treatable mental disorder

65% of boys and 75% of girls in juveniledetention have at least one psychiatricdiagnosis

Source: Surgeon General, 1999. IOM Report, 2002, Teplin L. Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 59, December 2002

Risk Factors Include

Previous suicide attempt – exposure to suicidal behavior/ family history of suicide

Psychiatric disorders: depression, conduct, anxiety, impulse disorders

Alcohol/substance abuse

Stressful life event or loss

Source: National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, 2000

Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse

Rejection, harassment by peers (bullying)

Loss of an important relationship

Sexual orientation

Easy access to lethal means

Change in family structure

Problems at school

Disciplinary action or incarceration

Warning Signs and CluesWhat To Look For

The red flags that something is wrong

Changes in a person’s behavior, feelings, and beliefs about oneself that are maladaptive or out-of-character

P – PurposelessnessA – AnxietyT – TrappedH – Hopelessness

W – WithdrawalA – AngerR – RecklessnessM – Mood ChangeSource: American Association of Suicidology, November 2003

I – IdeationS – Substance Abuse

Some Signs Demand Immediate Action

Talking or writing about suicide or death

Verbal clues – open talk about suicide

Isolating from friends and family

Putting affairs in order – giving away cherished possessions

Exhibiting a sudden and unexplained improvement after being depressed

Source: The Suicide Prevention Resource Center

In Summary

There is no typical suicide victim

There are no absolute reasons for suicide

There are no all-inclusive predictive lists of warning signs or a definitive method for determining if a young person is or is not suicidal

Suicide is always multi-dimensional

Most don’t want to die – they want to end their pain

Protective Factors

Positive conditions personal and social resources

Promote resiliency reduce the potential for suicide

Ability to manage or cope with adversity or stress

•Positive connections to school•Coping and problem solving skills•Academic achievement•Family cohesion/stability•Help-seeking behaviors•Good relationships with other youth•Positive self worth - confidence •Impulse control – conflict resolution abilities•Social integration/opportunities to participate•Access to care for mental/physical/substance disorders

Youth Protective Factors

What To Do Intervention - 3 Basic Steps

SHOW YOU CARE

ASK THE QUESTION

GET HELP

Adapted with permission from the Washington Youth Suicide Prevention Program http://www.yspp.org

SHOW YOU CARE

Trust your judgment

Be Genuine - show them you truly care

Share observations and concerns

Concern can counter their sense of hopelessness

Reflect what you hear

LISTEN!

Ask The Question

Don’t assume they aren’t the “suicidal type”

Be direct. “What I hear you saying is you’re in a lot of pain and you’re thinking of killing yourself … Are you thinking about suicide?”

Do they have a plan, the means to carry out the plan – more detailed the plan the greater the risk Don’t have to solve all their problems but you must get help

Suicide Paraphrase Activity

Get Help - How To Help

Your support in building hope and finding help truly can make the difference between life and death.

If you have any reason to suspect a person may attempt suicide or engage in self-harm,

DO NOT LEAVE THE PERSON ALONE

ResourcesSupportive friends Family membersClergy/youth ministerMental Health AgencyCounselor or therapistFamily physicianLocal hospital emergency roomCrisis Center – 9-1-1

1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK

Additional Resources

• Substance Abuse programs

• Community health department

• Parent HelpLine at 800-352-5683

• YOUTHLINE at 1-877-968-8454

• Wide range of local support groups- mental health, survivors, abuse

• Addiction Help Line 1-800-758-5877

• FL Abuse Hotline 1-800-96ABUSE

• Children’s Protective Services

Group Role Play

Conclusion

It doesn’t take aprofessional to save a life

We are all gatekeepers

Preventing suicide is everyone’s business –yoursand mine

Together we can end this deadly silence

Post-training Survey

Please fill out the post-training survey and the training evaluation form. Put completed forms in the box provided.