MAKING EDUCATORS PARTNERS IN SUICIDE PREVENTION Lifelines: A School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative Midland ISD Counselors

Educational Objectives Review benefits Correct myths Present accurate data Risk factors Outline roles Discuss interaction with students Provide additional resources

Why Suicide Prevention is Important Second leading cause of death for teens 15-24 Second leading cause of death in colleges For every completion, there are between 50-200 attempts CDC Youth Risk Survey: 7.8% grades 9-12 reported attempt in past year 15.8% high school students report suicide ideation Attempt rate increasing for 10-14 year olds Same risk and protective factors for suicide as other problem behaviors such as drugs, violence, risky sexual activities

Importance of teaching suicide- related content 38,364 people died by suicide in 2010 (105 a day) Almost 80% of individuals who die by suicide saw a health care professional in the year prior to their death Most health care professionals receive no training in suicide assessment and treatment

Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS Felt sad or hopeless  (almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities during the 12 months before the survey) Youth Risk Behaviors Survey results from the CDC

Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS Seriously considered attempting suicide  (during the 12 months before the survey)

Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS Made a plan about how they would attempt suicide  (during the 12 months before the survey)

Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS Attempted suicide  (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey)

Youth suicide in Dallas-2013 YRBS Attempted suicide that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse  (during the 12 months before the survey)

EVERY… EVERY Year EVERY Day EVERY 1 Hour and 54 Minutes - there are approximately 10.45 youth suicides for every 100,000 youth EVERY Day - there are approximately 12 youth suicides EVERY 1 Hour and 54 Minutes - a person under the age of 25 completes suicide

Why Educator Training is Important: According to the Carnegie Task Force on Education: School systems are not responsible for meeting every need of their students, but when the need directly affects learning, the school must meet the challenge.

“Competent School Community” THE CONTEXT FOR PREVENTION All members of the school community are concerned about the welfare of each other They know how to obtain help for those who need it

Your Role Simplified Learning signs of risk in students Identifying at-risk students Referring to appropriate resources

Role of Parents Understand school’s policies and procedures Recognize signs of trouble in their children Know what to do and where to go for resources Understand how to respond to other at-risk youth

Role of Students Awareness of warning signs Strategies for getting help personally Knowledge of ways to help peers Awareness of school and community resources Identification of ‘caring’ adults Students learn this through the SOS curriculum given to all 7th and 9th grade students

Your First Step Assessing Attitudes About Suicide

Questions to Consider: 1. I think suicide is a rational choice. sometimes --------------------------------------------- Always Never

Questions to Consider: 2. I think suicide should be prevented no matter what. sometimes --------------------------------------------- Always Never

Questions to Consider: I would do everything I could to prevent my teenager from dating someone who had attempted suicide. ----------------------------------------------- I would respect my child’s choice.

----------------------+----------------------- Talking About Suicide On a 1 to 10 scale, rank how comfortable you are talking about suicide. ----------------------+----------------------- 1 5 10 Very Uncomfortable Very Comfortable

Are School Programs That Address Suicide Safe? Answering Common Questions Are School Programs That Address Suicide Safe? YES

Answering Common Questions Can Talking about Suicide Plant the Idea in the Minds of Vulnerable Teens? NO

Is Talking about Suicide Just a Way for Someone to Get Attention? Answering Common Questions Is Talking about Suicide Just a Way for Someone to Get Attention? NO

Do You Need to Address Suicide in Middle and Elementary School? Answering Common Questions Do You Need to Address Suicide in Middle and Elementary School?

Suicide in Middle & Elementary School Deaths by suicide infrequent under age 10 Attempts increasing dramatically in 10-14 yr olds Risk factors may be seen in young children Impact of suicide on elementary school children primarily through suicide of parent, peer or other adult figure Protective factors can be encouraged in young children There ARE ways to respond that are more helpful than others

Where does developing competence in a school community begin? Answering Common Questions Where does developing competence in a school community begin? Knowledge 26

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE Defining the Problem SUICIDE is a potentially self-injurious act Completed with at least some intent to die as a result of the act SUICIDE is an attempt to solve a problem of intense emotional pain with impaired problem-solving skills

Characteristics of Suicide 1. Alternative to problem perceived as unsolvable by any other means 2. Crisis thinking colors problem solving 3. Person is often ambivalent 4. Suicidal solution has an irrational component 5. Suicide is a form of communication

Risk Factors / Warning Signs Red - Warning Signs Yellow - Risk Factors Green - Protective Factors

Risk Factors for Youth Suicide Demographic Clinical ‘Stressors’ Access to Means Personality Factors Family

Risk Factors DEMOGRAPHIC Age Sex Gender Identity Race CLINICAL Psychiatric diagnosis Drug / alcohol use Previous attempt Age- 15-19 highest risk Sex and Race- White Males highest risk

Risk Factors FAMILY History of suicide EXPOSURE To suicide (personally or in media) Death of peer under any circumstance RECENT, SEVERE STRESSORS Loss Trouble Change – transition

THE PERFECT STORM Changing just one factor can advert the perfect storm

Warning Signs F eelings A ctions C hanges T hreats S ituations

Students at Higher Risk Threatening suicide Looking for access to means Talking or writing about death, dying, suicide Previous attempt serious enough to require hospitalization

Talking with At-Risk Students LISTEN Acknowledge feelings in student’s terms Clarify Summarize Validate Know Your Limits To ask about suicide directly? Know Your Resources Act Follow-up

Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors

Protective Factors Contact with a caring adult Sense of connection or participation in school Positive self-esteem and coping skills Access to and care for mental / physical / substance disorders

Fostering Protective Factors Teach students it is okay to ask for help Give students permission to talk about traumatic events like suicide Help students identify trusted adults Encourage participation in school & community activities Acknowledge student efforts Be a good listener, as often as you can

Remember: Your Role Simplified Learning signs of risk in students Identifying at-risk students Referring to appropriate resources

Web Resources www.sptsusa.org Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide Sponsor of this program, focuses on resources for the competent school community, including Lifelines, an evidence-based suicide prevention program for schools. Free on-line educator training! www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Free confidential, 24-hour hotline, free materials www.sprc.org Suicide Prevention Resource Center Resources for states, on-line library, best practices registry www.suicidology.org American Association of Suicidology Data, resources, links, journal, national conference www.thetrevorproject.org/ The Trevor Project Specific information for LGBTQ youth www.afsp.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Survivor resources, research, and awareness

It’s in the Shelter of Each Other… ...THAT WE LIVE

Revisit This Question: On a 1 to 10 scale, rank how comfortable you are talking about suicide, now? ----------------------+----------------------- 1 5 10 Very Uncomfortable Very Comfortable

Questions?