Suicide Prevention Staff Training A New Mandate in

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Suicide Prevention Staff Training A New
Mandate in

• By Tom Letson SAC

Hurry up, we are on the clock!
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• In January 2006, N.J.S.A. 18A6-111 became law,
  requiring all public school teaching staff
  members to complete at least two hours of
  instruction in suicide prevention as part of the
  required 100 clock hours of professional
  development. 

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TRAINING OBJECTIVES

• Gain an understanding of the results the of 2007
  NJ Report on Suicide.
• Gain an understanding of signs indicating a
  student may be in trouble.
• Gain an understanding of the Yellow Ribbon
  Suicide Prevention Program.
• Gain an understanding of District Pupil Suicide
  Policy and Referral Procedures.

Big Objective 1 Not put you to sleep
Big Objective 2 Everyone knows when to press the
panic button to get help for a student
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Adolescent Suicide in New JerseyData Overview

• NJ Department of Children and Families Report to
  Governor Corzine
• February 2007

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• Compared to other age groups, data suggests
  suicides among adolescents are often preceded by
  some kind of recent crisis.
• Especially in the case of males, the crisis may
  be very recent, often less than 24 hours before
  the suicide.
• Approximately 40 of adolescents in NJ who
  complete suicide have some history of mental
  illness
• Slightly over 30 are currently being treated for
  a mental health problem. (similar to suicides
  overall)

A recent crisis, especially for males should set
off our alarms to be vigilant
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• In NJ, adolescent suicides are relatively more
  common in densely populated areas
• Nearly 10 of middle and high school students in
  NJ report that they attempted suicide.
  (consistent with national data)
• As students age from 9th to 12th grade, the
  proportion who report feelings of depression
  rises, while at the same time the proportion
  reporting both suicidal plans or attempts
  declines.

Statistics can be helpful in our effort to
prevent teen suicide
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• During past 5 years there have been approximately
  65 suicides in NJ among those aged 10-24.
• NJ has a very low gun ownership rate (11 as
  compared with 35 nationally)
• This helps to prevent adolescent firearm
  suicides, where most of the time the gun used
  belongs to a family member.

Gun Ownership in NJ is very low compared to the
national average
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• The primary method of suicide for adolescents is
  suffocation, or hanging.
• Firearms are the second most frequently used
  mechanism among males, followed by poisoning
• Almost all non-fatal suicide attempts involve
  poisoning, usually an overdose of a prescription
  or non-prescription medication.

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• Adolescents differ from others in their greater
  propensity to engage in non-fatal suicidal
  behavior.
• In NJ, there are more than 10 non-fatal suicide
  attempts resulting in hospitalization for each
  completed suicide among those aged 10-24.
• Even within the ages of 10-24, the ratio of
  attempted to completed suicide declines with age.

There are a lot of young wolf criers needing
attention - and we must give it to them no
matter what!
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• The vast majority of suicide attempters do not
  ultimately complete suicide.
• This is especially true in the case of adolescent
  females.
• The ratio of non-fatal to fatal attempts is
  highest for young females, who have both the
  highest rate of non-fatal attempts and the lowest
  rate of completed suicide when compared to the
  rest of the population.

Guess which gender has the highest ratio of
non-fatal to fatal attempts?
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District PolicyHowell Township Public Schools
has developed policies to maintain a safe
learning environment for students and staff
alike. Source Board Policy 5340 Pupil
Suicide

• Referral Procedure A staff member who observes
  behaviors or warning signs that indicate a pupil
  may be at risk to engage in a suicidal act shall
• Immediately notify the building Principal or
  designee and/or a member of the Crisis Management
  Team member in the building (school psychologist,
  social worker, guidance counselor or student
  assistance coordinator)
• Insure the student is escorted to the guidance,
  nurses or principals office by a staff member
  (do not leave student alone at any time).
• Document the incident including date, time and
  circumstances.

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Signs of Potential Pupil Suicide Source Board
Policy 5340All school personnel, both teaching
staff members and support staff members, shall be
alert to any sign that a pupil may be
contemplating suicide. Such signs include, but
are not necessarily limited to, a pupil's

• Overt suggestion that he/she is considering or
  has considered suicide or has worked out the
  details of a suicide attempt
• Evidence of preparation of a will, intention to
  dispose of his/her effects and belongings, or
  otherwise get life in order
• Obsession with death or afterlife
• Possession of a weapon or other means of suicide
  or obsession with such means
• Sense of hopelessness or unrelieved sadness
• Lethargy or despondency, or, conversely, a
  tendency to become more impulsive or aggressive
  than usual

• Drop in academic achievement, slacking off of
  energy and effort, or inability to focus on
  studies
• Isolation from others by loss of friends,
  withdrawal from friends, lack of companionship,
  or family disintegration
• Preoccupation with nonexistent physical ills
• Loss of weight, appetite, and/or sleep
• Substance abuse
• Loss of economic resources
• Note These signs in isolation do not
  necessarily constitute an at risk situation
  please seek consult with appropriate staff if
  necessary.

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Warning Sign Examples

• Im going to kill myself
• I wish I were dead
• I dont want to live
• Nobody needs me.
• You wont have to be around me too much longer.
• Discussing or joking or writing about a suicide
  plan.
• Giving prized possessions away

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The Yellow Ribbon
Be-A-Link
Suicide Prevention Program
Based on the premise that it may difficult for
kids to tell others they are in serious
trouble. Its OK to Ask for Help!
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Yellow Ribbon Program History

• Began in 1994 after the suicide of 17 year old
  Mike Emme.
• Mikes parents urged his friends to always reach
  out and ask for help for problems.
• This resulted in an international suicide
  prevention program

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Why a Suicide Prevention
Program?
To Dispel Myths So at Those Risk
Can Get Help

• MYTH Talking about suicide may cause one to try
  it.
• FACT People thinking about suicide NEED to talk.
• MYTH People who talk about it dont usually do
  it.
• FACT All suicide talk MUST be taken seriously.
• MYTH A suicidal person wants to die and feels
  there is no turning back.
• FACT People often call for help right after an
  attempt. Most crisis lasts a short time.
• MYTH Suicide is about death.
• FACT People dont want to die they just want to
  the pain they are feeling to stop.

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Two Critical Myths About Suicide!

• MYTH Teens who threaten or attempt suicide are
  only looking for attention.
• FACT A threat is a desperate cry for help.
• MYTH Friends should not do anything in a suicidal
  crisis only adults should help.
• FACT Just as with First Aid CPR, assisting in a
  suicidal crisis is critical!

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Yellow Ribbon Cards Help Kids to Ask for Help if
in Trouble
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If in need, students take a card and give it to
someone.
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Cards are available in the Nurse, Guidance SAC
Offices
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If you receive a card, it tells you what to do
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Howell Middle Schools

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geocities.com/howellsac
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