MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION 101

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MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION 101
Dr. Dan Reidenberg, PsyD Executive Director
SAVE
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The Mental Health Continuum
Mental Illness
Emotional Wellness
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Mental Health Disorders

• Brain diseases are just like other medical
  diseases
• Affect everyone - no one is a specific target
• Can come on at any time
• Most common
• Mood disorders depression, bipolar disorder
• Substance abuse disorders abuse, dependency
• Anxiety disorders many types
• Thought disorders schizophrenia

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Brain P.E.T. Scan
Depression
Normal
Transaxial
Sagittal
Red indicates greater brain activity blue
indicates lesser
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Educate Yourself on Depression

• Chemical imbalance in the brain which affects the
  whole body

• Thoughts
• Feelings
• Behaviors
• Physical health

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Know the Symptoms of Depression
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• Persistently feeling sad, empty or numb crying
  easily
• Sleeping more or less than usual trouble
  sleeping
• Loss of energy, fatigued
• Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless or
  guilty pessimism
• Feeling angry, irritable or moody fighting and
  arguing a lot
• Avoiding friends, withdrawal
• Loss of interest in things that used to be fun
  isolating

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Know the Symptoms of Depression
?

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making
  decisions
• Thinking about and/or planning or attempting
  suicide
• Eating disturbances more of less than usual
• Recurring headaches, backaches, or stomachaches
• Alcohol or drug use to escape or mask feelings
• Feeling alienated or outcast alone even when
  with friends

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Depression is Treatable

• Depression is a treatable physical illness
• Over 90 of cases can be successfully treated
• Need to see a doctor or psychiatrist for
  diagnosis and treatment

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Depression Can Be Fatal

• Most people who die by suicide have a brain
  illness (e.g., depression, schizophrenia,
  substance abuse) at the time of death.

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But there is hope

• However, most people with a brain illness do not
  die by suicide.

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20-25 million people in the U.S. suffer from
depression each year.
36,000 people in the U.S. die from suicide each
year.
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Suicide Factors

• Key Risk Factors
• Mental Health Problems (family history of
  depression, substance abuse and/or suicide)
• Sexual orientation and/or identity issues
• Abuse being teased, bullied, excluded or
  discriminated against
• Relationship Problems (school, work or the law)
• Stress of a new situation (beginning a new
  school, job or college, relocating to a new
  community)
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Loss of a loved one, relationship, home or
  security
• Easy access to lethal means
• Chronic or terminal physical illness
• Brain illnesses, particularly depression,
  schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and certain
  personality disorders
• Previous attempts

• Protective Factors
• Social Support
• Belonging caring
• Effective Coping Skills
• Policies Culture that
• Approve/encourage help seeking behavior
• Protect those who seek help

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Suicide
FACTS
MYTHS

• No one can stop suicide, it is inevitable

• Most suicidal people do not want to die, they
  want to stop the pain

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Suicide
FACTS
MYTHS

• Talking about suicide will plant ideas in a
  persons head.

• Talking about suicide openly lowers anxiety,
  opens up communication and increases the chance
  that people will use help seeking behaviors.

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Suicide
FACTS
MYTHS

• Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves.

• Most suicidal people communicate their intent
  sometime during the week preceding their attempt.

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Know the Warning Signs of Suicide

• Suicidal people give Warning Signs to various
  people in their lives

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Warning Signs of Suicide

• Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself.
• Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as
  searching online or buying a gun.
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no
  reason to live. Talking about feeling trapped or
  in unbearable pain.
• Talking about being a burden to others.

• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Acting anxious or agitated behaving recklessly.
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
• Displaying extreme mood swings.

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Direct Verbal Warning Signs
Im thinking about suicide.
Im going to kill myself.
Im going to end it all.
If (such and such) doesnt happen, Ill kill
myself.
I wish I were dead.
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Indirect Verbal Warning Signs
I just want out!
I shouldnt have been born.
I wish I were dead.
I wont be around much longer.
My family would be better off without me.
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Find Someone Who Can Help

• Parents, guardian, or other family member
• School psychologist, social worker, counselor, or
  nurse
• Teacher
• Personal physician or nurse
• Personal clergy
• Your local hospital
• 1-800-273-TALK (8255)