Suicide

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(No Transcript)
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Michigan Merit Curriculum

• Strand 4 Social and Emotional Health
• 4.2 Describe the warning signs, risk factors,
  and protective factors for depression and
  suicide.
• 4.3 Identify and locate valid resources in ones
  community and on the internet for information and
  services regarding depression and suicide
  prevention.
• 4.4 Demonstrate how to seek help for self or
  others when suicide may be a risk.

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Suicide Definition The intention of taking
ones own life

• Approximately 25 of high school students
  seriously consider suicide each year
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death from
  ages 15-24

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Suicidal Tendencies

• People who are risk for attempting suicide tend
  to have one or more of the following
  characteristics
• Aggressive behavior
• Perfectionist behavior
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Low self-esteem
• Inadequate social skills
• Mental disorders
• Depression
• Hidden anger

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People are more likely to attempt suicide if they

• Abuse alcohol or other drugs
• Have experienced the death of a parent, parental
  separation, or parental divorce
• Feel alienated from family friends
• Are teased or rejected by peers
• Have difficulty coping w/body changes sexuality

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• Cluster Suicides
• Sometimes within a teen population, cluster
  suicides occur.
• These are several series of suicides occurring
  within a short period of time and involving
  several people in the same school or community.
• They account for 5 of all suicides in a year.
• Some are the result of pacts or agreements
  between two or more people to take part in
  suicide.
• Others result when individuals commit suicide in
  response to the suicide of a friend or a suicide
  that has been sensationalized in the media.

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Suicide

• Adolescent boys have higher rate of completion
• Adolescent girls have higher rate of attempts
• Most in spring (March, April, May) (Monday)
• Least in summer (June, July, August) (Saturday)
• Use of firearms is increasing at higher rate than
  other methods
• Account for dramatic increase in adolescent
  suicide rate
• Most in home

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Breakdown of Suicidal Warning signs

• Verbal
• Take seriously any direct or indirect statement
• One of myths is that if they talk about it, they
  will not do it
• Behavioral
• Previous attempt is most serious predictive
  signs
• Any changes in behavior should be questioned
• Setting ones affairs in order
• Making arrangement to be a donor
• Giving away prize possessions

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• Situational
• Loss of job
• Loss of boyfriend or girlfriend
• Fight w/ peers, especially best friend
• Fight or serious disagreement w/parent
• Chronic illness
• Survival of illness w/ a disability
• Move to new city
• Academic failure
• Being caught for a crime

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4 out of 5 teens who attempt suicide have given
clear warnings signs

• Suicide threats, direct indirect
• Obsession w/ death
• Poems, essays, drawings that refer to death
• Dramatic change in personality or appearance
• Irrational, bizarre behavior
• Overwhelming sense of guilt, shame or rejection
• Changed eating or sleeping patterns
• Severe drop in school performance
• Giving away belongings
• Sudden change in mood sad to happy all of
  sudden
• Self-Injury

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Suicide Prevention Strategies

• Know suicide hotline numbers National Youth
  Suicide Hotline [phone]
• Know what to do when a person feels depressed
• Help the person build a network of support
• Get the person involved in rewarding activities
• Know what to do if someone shows warning signs

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What to do?

• Do not ignore any warning signs or treat them
  lightly
• Ask a responsible adult for help
• Let the person know you care be concerned
  show respect
• Listen try not to be shocked by what the person
  says
• Ask the person directly if she/he is considering
  suicide
• Help the person think of better ways to solve
  problems
• Identify other supportive people w/ whom the
  person can talk
• Get professional help. Call a suicide hotline or
  school officials, the persons parents
  physician, clergy or police
• Do not leave the person alone

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Remember

• Do not attempt to deal with the suicidal person
  alone
• Do not allow yourself to be sworn to secrecy by
  the suicidal person
• ..if someone is hurting you or if you plan to
  hurt yourself or others, I cannot promise..

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A.C.T.

• A Acknowledge the signs of suicide (SOS) that
  others display take the signs seriously.
• C Care show that you care about what
• happens to them want to help
• T Tell you need to tell a trusted adult

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Dealing With A Suicide

• When somebody you know commits suicide, it can be
  one of the hardest things to deal with.
• Not only are you trying to cope with the loss of
  a friend, but you are also trying to cope with
  the fact that it was their choice.
• Also, very few people leave letters, explaining
  the reasons for their actions, so chances are you
  are asking the worst question of all. Why?

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Dealing With A Suicide

• One of the things you have to know is that you
  are not alone.
• There are probably other people who are dealing
  with the loss as well.
• The best thing you can do for yourself, and other
  friends, it to TALK ABOUT IT!

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Dealing With A Suicide

• Talking is probably the best therapy, especially
  if it is with someone who is going through the
  same thing.
• If you are having trouble coping, you should find
  someone to talk to.
• The worst thing you could do is keep it all
  bottled up.

4.4 Demonstrate how to seek help for self or
others when suicide may be a risk.
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Suicide Depression
WORKBOOK

1. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for
   people ages of 15 to 24 years of age.
2. Suicide rate has quadrupled in the last 40 50
   years

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Statistics

• 3. The risk of suicide may have increased
  dramatically from the access to more firearms at
  home. Nearly 60 of all suicides in the U.S. are
  committed with a gun.
• 4. Suicide with a firearm has a 78 90 chance
  of fatality.
• 5. Approximately 1/3 of all teens who commit
  suicide have made a previous attempt.

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Statistics
Which State has highest rate? Which Season?

• 6. It is uncertain how many suicide attempts
  there are for each suicide death. Different
  studies estimate a number between 10 and 20.
• 7. Research shows that around 80 of attempted
  suicides are preceded by clear warning signs.

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Statistics

• Boys vs. girls
• Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice
  as often as boys.
• Girls who attempt tend to overdose on drugs or
  cut themselves.
• Boys are 3 to 4 times more likely to succeed in
  their attempts.
• Boys die by suicide more often than girls because
  they tend to use more lethal methods.

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Statistics

• Boys tend to use more lethal methods such as
  firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights.
• In a recent survey
• Almost 1 in 5 high school students had seriously
  considered attempting suicide.
• More than 1 in 6 had made plans to attempt
  suicide and
• More than 1 in 12 had made a suicide attempt in
  the past year.

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Stress Factors

1. Hormones
2. Peer Pressure
3. Self-esteem
4. Expectations
5. Academic responsibility

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• YouTube - Teen Depression Suicide

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Who is affected?

• 21. When a teen commits suicide, everyone is
  affected. Family members, friends, teammates,
  neighbors, and sometimes even those who did not
  know the person well may experience feeling of
  grief, confusion, guilt and the sense that if
  only they had done something differently, the
  suicide could have been prevented.

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Risk Factors?

• Previous suicide attempts.
• Drugs and/or alcohol/substance abuse.
• Family history of suicide, substance abuse or
  mental disorders, abuse / violence.
• Stressful situation or a loss. (death, breakup)
• Easy access to firearms (most in own home)
• Exposure to other teens who have committed
  suicide.

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Risk Factors?

1. Socially isolated
2. Teens who talk about suicide. Four out of five
   people give warning signs.
3. Depression. Over 90 of teen suicide victims
   have a mental disorder, such as depression,
   and/or history of alcohol or drug abuse.
4. Teens that are homosexual, bisexual, or
   transgender.

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• YouTube - committing suicide

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Warning Signs
4.2 Describe the warning signs, risk factors,
and protective factors for depression and
suicide.
Page 31 in workbook

1. Withdrawal from family/friends
2. Shows an inability to concentrate.
3. Sleeps too much or too little or changes in
   eating habits.
4. Talks of suicide.
5. Has dramatic changes in personal appearance.
6. Loses interest in their favorite activities.

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Warning Signs

1. Expresses hopelessness or excessive guilt.
2. Exhibits self destructive behavior.
3. Seems preoccupied with death.
4. Gives away his/her favorite possessions.
5. A breakup with a boy/friend or girlfriend.

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Warning Signs

• A divorce or separation in the family.
• A major family or friendship conflict.
• A stressful life event such as a perceived
  failure in/at school.
• They talk about going away.

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If you are worried about a friend

• Ask directly if he/she is considering suicide.
• Ask if he/she has made a plan and has done
  anything to carry it out. (how detailed, time,
  place)
• Listen openly and tell your friend that you care.
• Tell your friend that help is available.
• (page 35 in workbook more suggestions)

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If you are worried about a friend

• Do not leave your friend alone!
• Help your friend find someone trained to help.
• Talk with a trusted adult (tell someone ASAP)
• Do not minimize or discount their problems.
• In an emergency, you can call 800-SUICIDE OR 911.

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• YouTube - Suicide Signs - Don't give up