SAHET: Suicide Awareness Health Education and Training KickOff Event

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SAHET Suicide Awareness Health Education and
TrainingKick-Off Event

• Panel Discussion on Depression and Suicide
• November 14, 2007
• Sponsored by The University Health Center

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Overview of SAHET and University of Maryland

• Marta J. Hopkinson, M.D.
• University Health Center
• Director of Mental Health

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Suicide

• 2nd leading cause of death among college students
• 75 90 of all people who die by suicide are
  clinically depressed
• 70 of all suicides give some warning of their
  intentions to a friend or family member
• Males are 3-5x more likely to commit suicide than
  females, although females are 3x more likely to
  attempt suicide

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Depression at UMCPSource NCHA Survey 2007

• In the past year
• 74.9 of students reported that they felt very
  sad at least on one occasion
• 92.6 of students reported feeling overwhelmed by
  all they had to do at least once
• 56.9 of students reported feeling that things
  were hopeless on at least one occasion.
• 6.8 of students reported seriously considering
  attempting suicide at least once.
• 0.8 of students reported attempting suicide at
  least once.

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National Recommendations for College Student
Suicide Prevention

• Screening programs
• Education for faculty, coaches, clergy, res life
  and academic advisors
• Campus-wide public education
• Educational programs for families
• Stress-reduction programs

• Student support network
• Emergency services
• Postvention programs
• Medical leave policies
• On-site
• Counseling
• Psychiatric services
• Medical services

JED Foundation Safeguarding Your Students
Against Suicide, 2002
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SAHET Suicide Prevention Grant

• Funded by the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act,
  administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental
  Health Services Administration
• UMCP grant activities
• Raising awareness of depression, suicide, and how
  to get help
• Educating students, parents, faculty and staff on
  suicide and how to help someone in distress
• Specialized gatekeeper training on assessing
  suicide risk
• Campus Advisory Board to assess campus services,
  procedures, and policies and recommend changes
• Assessing success through surveys and outcome
  measures

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Other Activities at UMCP

• Counseling Center provides ongoing student
  services and consultation to faculty and staff
• Health Center Mental Health Service provides
  ongoing student services and consultation,
  depression screening events and online screening
• Student Affairs evaluating post-Virginia Tech
  reports and recommendations
• Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment Group
  (BETA)

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Depression and SuicideSigns and SymptomsHow to
Help

• Michael Torres, M.D.
• University Health Center
• Staff Psychiatrist

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Know the Facts

• More than 90 of people who commit suicide are
  suffering from one or more psychiatric disorders
• A recent college health survey indicates that
  most students diagnosed with depression are not
  in treatment
• However, most people give some warning or
  indication of their intent to commit
  suicidemaking your observations incredibly
  important!

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Stress Unique to College Students

• New unfamiliar environment
• Social pressures
• Changes to support system
• Difficulties adjusting to new demands different
  workloads
• Issues of identity
• Relationship issues

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Signs / Symptoms of Depression

• Low or irritable mood
• Changes in sleep habits
• Appetite changes
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
• Trouble concentrating
• Lack of motivation
• Loss of energy / feeling slowed down
• Decreased sex drive
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Thoughts of death / suicide

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Risk Factors of Suicide

• Previous suicide attempt
• Alcohol / substance use
• Impulsive / aggressive tendencies
• Experience of trauma
• Family history of suicide
• Access to means

• Hopelessness
• Sense of failure
• Recent loss
• Lack of social support sense of isolation
• Stigma associated with help-seeking behavior

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Protective Factors

• Effective treatment
• Strong connections to family and community
  support
• Problem solving and coping skills
• Avoidance of alcohol / drug use
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage
  suicide and support self-preservation

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Warning Signs of Suicide

• A sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad
  to being very calm or appearing to be happy
• Increase in alcohol / drug use
• Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking
  risks that could lead to death, like driving fast
  or through red lights
• Giving things away, tying up loose ends
• Isolation staying in room, shutting down
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
• Seeking information or methods to commit suicide
• Talking about wanting to leave or die

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How to Help

• Ask. Listen. Tell.
• Ask specific questions
• Listen without judgment
• Tell someone
• Encourage mental health treatment
• Seek support for yourself

• Do not leave the person alone
• Remove firearms, drugs or objects that could be
  used for suicide
• Take person to the Health Center or nearest
  emergency room
• Call 911

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Resources

• Therapy (Individual Group)
• Mental Health Service
• Counseling Center
• Psychology Clinic
• Family Service Center
• Community Providers
• Medication
• Mental Health Service
• Community Providers
• 24 Hour Resources
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  1-800-273-TALK
• Nurse Line 301-314-9386
• Campus Police
• Hospital Emergency Rooms

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Using Students to Reach Students Active Minds
University of Maryland November 14, 2007

• Amy Tannenbaum
• Chapters Coordinator
• amy_at_activeminds.org
• 1875 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 418
• Washington, DC 20009
• (in the NASPA offices)
• 202-719-1177
• www.activeminds.org

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What is Active Minds?

• A student-run mental health awareness,
  education, and advocacy organization
• on the college campus

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Mental Health and College Students

• 22.1 of all Americans 18 suffer from a
  diagnosable mental disorder in any given year
  (NIMH)
• Young adults aged 18-24 have the highest
  prevalence at 27
• Schizophrenia 75 of people experience onset
  between the ages of 15-25
• Depression ½of all people with depression report
  onset before the age of 20 etc.
• Nearly ½ of all college students reported feeling
  so depressed they could not function, and almost
  10 have seriously contemplated suicide (ACHA,
  2005)

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Mental Illness, College Students, and Campus
Resources

• 95 of CCDs report an increase in students coming
  to them already in psychiatric care, but 36 of
  Centers have no direct access to psychiatrists
• 70 of CC budgets decreased or remained the
  same in 2005
• 90.3 of Centers believe that the number of
  students with severe psychological problems on
  campus has increased in recent years
• 1 administrative concern of CCs is a growing
  demand for services without an appropriate
  increase in resources
• 2005 National Survey of Counseling Center
  Directors

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Stigma

• 1999 Surgeon Generals Report on Mental Health
  and Suicide 2002 Presidents New Freedom
  Commission
• Stigma surrounding mental illness is a primary
  reason people do not seek the mental health
  services they need
• Leading stigma researchers
• have found that most effective way to lessen
  stigma is through contact with everyday people
  who suffer from mental health disorders (Corrigan
  et al, 2004)

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Active Minds Mission

• To utilize peer outreach (the student voice) to
  increase students awareness of issues of mental
  health, symptoms of mental illness, and available
  resources for seeking help
• To serve as liaison between students and the
  administration/mental health community, and
  become the major point of reference for mental
  illness and promotion of good mental health

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Active Minds on CampusWhat Chapters Do
Utilize Peer Advocacy to

• Discuss
• Encourage discussion about mental health issues
• Educate
• Educate students about signs, symptoms and
  prevalence of mental illness and available
  resources
• Expose
• Expose students to other people who have
  experienced mental illness
• Especially young adults who have been successful
  while living with a mental illness
• Plan campus-friendly events
• that reach as many members of the campus
  community as possible!

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Active Minds Chapters Sample Events

• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Speakers, Panels, brown bag lunch sessions, movie
  screenings
• Silver Ribbon/Wristband for the Brain Campaign
• Basic educational campaigns
• Flyering, handing out brochures from NIMH,
  Counseling Center

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Active Minds Chapters Sample Events (cont.)

• Charity Coffeehouse, Vigils
• Stress Relief Activities during Final Exams
• Journal Publications
• Stomp out Stigma Run

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Fact Sheets
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Active Minds Role within the University and
Mental Health Community

• Student-run, volunteer, organization
• Part of Student Activities Council
• Staff/Faculty Advisor (in Counseling Center or
  elsewhere)
• With support from, and affiliation with,
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
• Other Student Affairs Administrators

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Active Minds Role within the University and
Mental Health Community (cont.)

• Work with you to promote depression/eating
  disorders/alcohol/etc. screenings
• Advertise on-campus and online resources
• Work with local mental health agencies (MHA,
  DBSA)
• Present to local high schools

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Who is in Active Minds?

• Generally
• Students with diagnosed mental health disorders
• Students with family members/friends who live
  with mental illness
• Suicide Survivors
• Psychology majors, Nursing students, Social Work
  students
• Students simply interested in learning more
• Spans the range of college majors!

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Why Peer Advocacy?

• Non-threatening
• Empowers students into being proactive against
  stigma they have encountered
• Free labor!
• Students are the best ones to know how, and when,
  to most effectively reach other students
• First defenders vs. First responders
• When it comes to mental health, students are the
  main line of defense, but often the last to be
  heard (University of Pennsylvania
  President Judith Rodin)
• Capitalizes on the energy of young adults, and
  ensures a future generation of mental health
  advocates

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Why Active Minds?

• 2006 study by Masters Student Kathleen McKinney,
  School of Social Work, Colorado State University
• Indicated significant decrease in levels of
  stigma of students involved in Active Minds in
  just eight weeks

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Active Minds, Inc. Expressing the Voice, and
Fostering a Movement, of Young Adult Mental
Health Advocates

• Comprehensive website www.activeminds.org
• National Partnerships
• National Mental Health on Campus Conference
• Recognition
• Media

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Silver Wristband for the Brain Campaign

• In conjunction with the National Silver Ribbon
  for the Brain (www.silverribbon.org)

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Active Minds, Inc.s Vision

• To destigmatize mental illness by promoting an
  open, enlightened discussion of mental health
  issues, and to create a better life for all who
  suffer
• To capitalize on the energy and dedication of
  young adults in the fight against the stigma that
  surrounds mental illness and,
• To educate, enlighten, and empower all young
  adults to ensure their own mental health before
  it ever reaches a tragic stage.

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Active Minds at UMD

• Visit www.activeminds.org for a full list of
  chapters
• Email amy_at_activeminds.org if you are interested
  in being involved with Active Minds at University
  of Maryland or sign-up on the paper on the
  resource table!

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Good Starter Events (to Get Students Involved)

• Hold a first meeting!
• Basic educational campaign
• Flyering, handing out brochures from NIMH, NAMI,
  NMHA
• Silver Ribbon/Wristband for the Brain Campaign
• Bring a speaker to campus
• Stress-relief activities during Finals
• Make a short presentation to the Psychology
  classes

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A college degree is not a sign that one is a
finished product but an indication a person is
prepared for life. - Reverend Edward A.
Malloy, Monk's Reflections