PDCP 10 Suicide Prevention

Outline of Presentation Quiz – What do You Know? Warning Signs of Suicide Causes of Suicide How to Help

Quiz – Suicide Myths and Facts

True What is the first? Accidents 1. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. True What is the first? Accidents

2. More teenage boys commit suicide than teenage girls. True Why would this be? Boys choose more violent methods of suicide such as guns or hanging.

3. Personally getting involved is always the right response to a potential suicide. True You wouldn't dream of standing by if someone were hurting your friend, so you wouldn't’t stand by if they were trying to hurt themselves. You should always be willing to help a friend in need, but you probably will need to go in search of help from others as well.

4. A person who is prevented from committing suicide can eventually lead a happy and productive life. True People who are suicidal will need to seek help, therapy and have a strong support system in order to become a confident member of society.

5. A person who accidentally overdoses on a drug may be subconsciously attempting suicide. True When overdose victims were interviewed after, it was discovered that 30% of overdose victims had been attempting suicide.

6. Talking about suicide may give someone the idea. False Talking about suicide does not create or increase risk. The best way to identify the intention of suicide is to ask directly.

7. A person who attempts suicide is only looking for attention. False For some, these behaviors are serious invitations to others to help them live. If help is not available, they may feel it will never come.

8. Those who attempted suicide in the past won’t try it again. False 4 out of 5 people who have died by suicide have made at least one previous attempt.

9. Most suicides are caused by one sudden traumatic event. False A sudden traumatic event may hasten decisions towards suicide, but most often many feelings and events have occurred for previously.

10. A suicidal person clearly wants to die. False What they most often want is a way to handle circumstances in their life that are difficult and impossible to bare. Escape from the pain of these events may be their intention.

11. Suicide is generally carried out without warning. False 80% of suicides have been preceded with some sort of warning sign. (We will discuss these signs in a minute…)

12. Males are more likely to attempt suicide than females. False Males die by suicide approximately 4 times more often than females, yet females attempt suicide approx. 4 times more often than males. Females have the highest RATE of suicidal behavior.

Warning Signs of Suicide Please follow along on your handout

Causes In your binder, brainstorm what might cause a teen to consider or attempt suicide. Please be prepared to share your responses with the class. Possible Responses (please add these to the list that you have): - A relationship ends - Depression - Anxiety - Stress (from a variety of sources) - A loss (of a person, job, etc.) - Rejection Be sure that students have the following in their list – addiction, depression and stress/anxiety.

How to Help a Suicidal Friend Remember, you cannot do it alone – ask for help. Where and who?   Local Helpline Mental Health Office Hospital Emergency Local Police (911) Family Physicians Canadian Mental Health Association Clergy Guidance Counselor Teachers  Teen Mental Health website

What should you say to a suicidal friend?

I want you to promise me something: Don’t do anything terrible to yourself until we get a chance to get you some help.

I will work with you to get you feeling better

Let them know that you care (there is no right or wrong way to say this).

Don’t say anything: Just listen as they vent their feelings of despair, anger and loneliness

Have you thought about how you would do it?

Avoid trying to offer quick solutions or belittling the person’s feelings. Offer empathy.

What can I do to help you?

Grateful List Make a list and/or visual representation of all those things you are grateful for– big or small. Brainstorm all the things that bring you happiness Use color and illustrations as well

Paraphrase the following: Copy the following in your notes: “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” What does this mean? Explain it in your own words.