Intervening on Suicide: Skills, education, and resources for helping a young person in need Presented by Christian D Haase, MA, NCC

Before we begin…  The skills we learn here today are in effort to support youth who are in need  These skills are not intended to replace professional help or to teach you how to treat someone who is depressed and or suicidal  Always consult with a medical or mental health professional if you encounter someone who is suicidal  The skills we learn here today are in effort to support youth who are in need  These skills are not intended to replace professional help or to teach you how to treat someone who is depressed and or suicidal  Always consult with a medical or mental health professional if you encounter someone who is suicidal

Professionals That Can Help  Medical doctors, pediatricians, and neurologists  Psychiatrists  Psychologists  School or community based social workers, counselors, and therapists  Nurse practitioners  Peer support providers or specialists  Medical doctors, pediatricians, and neurologists  Psychiatrists  Psychologists  School or community based social workers, counselors, and therapists  Nurse practitioners  Peer support providers or specialists

Identifying Supports  Hotlines  Crisis services  Supporting websites  Community mental health clinics  Their primary doctor  Familiarize yourself with your surrounding supports  Hotlines  Crisis services  Supporting websites  Community mental health clinics  Their primary doctor  Familiarize yourself with your surrounding supports *Slides at the conclusion of the presentation provide specific supports

Prevalence  Nearly 1 in 6 youth between the ages of have seriously considered suicide; and 1 in 12 have attempted it.  Youth suicides outnumber youth homicides.  Boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide. About 4 in 5 completed suicides are males. Girls, however, are more likely to report attempting suicide than boys.  Up to 80 percent of Arlington teens who are depressed do not receive the needed treatment.  Nearly 1 in 6 youth between the ages of have seriously considered suicide; and 1 in 12 have attempted it.  Youth suicides outnumber youth homicides.  Boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide. About 4 in 5 completed suicides are males. Girls, however, are more likely to report attempting suicide than boys.  Up to 80 percent of Arlington teens who are depressed do not receive the needed treatment.

Causes for Teen Depression and Suicide  Why do young people become depressed and or suicidal?  School performance and or grades  Social status with peers  Sexual orientation  Family life  Bullying  Trauma (Ex: abuse, death in family, witness to violence, ect)  Relationship or break-up issues  Why do young people become depressed and or suicidal?  School performance and or grades  Social status with peers  Sexual orientation  Family life  Bullying  Trauma (Ex: abuse, death in family, witness to violence, ect)  Relationship or break-up issues

Signs & Symptoms of Depression  Apathy  Difficulty concentrating and making decisions  Excessive or inappropriate guilt  Irresponsible behavior -- for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, skipping school  Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain  Apathy  Difficulty concentrating and making decisions  Excessive or inappropriate guilt  Irresponsible behavior -- for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, skipping school  Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain  Preoccupation with death and dying  Rebellious behavior  Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness  Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day  Sudden drop in grades  Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity  Withdrawal from friends

Signs & Symptoms of Suicide  Making suicidal statements.  Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.  Giving away belongings.  Withdrawing from friends and family.  Having aggressive or hostile behavior.  Making suicidal statements.  Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.  Giving away belongings.  Withdrawing from friends and family.  Having aggressive or hostile behavior.  Neglecting personal appearance.  Running away from home.  Risk-taking behavior, such as reckless driving or being sexually promiscuous.  A change in personality (such as from upbeat to quiet).

How to help  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support

Support  How to offer support: 1.Make a connection 2.Be kind, calm, and compassionate 3.Find out what’s going on 4.Listen reflectively 5.Let them know that you’re there for them 6.Hold back from asking a lot of questions or figuring out a solution  Pair up! Time to practice – CASE EXAMPLES  How to offer support: 1.Make a connection 2.Be kind, calm, and compassionate 3.Find out what’s going on 4.Listen reflectively 5.Let them know that you’re there for them 6.Hold back from asking a lot of questions or figuring out a solution  Pair up! Time to practice – CASE EXAMPLES

How to help  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide

Ask About Suicide  How to ask about suicide:  Make sure you have established a connection before moving forward  Summarize what you have heard  Ask directly about suicide  Don’t give up if the youth shuts you out  Talking about depression and suicide can be very tough for teens  Common fear: Talking about suicide will give youth “ideas”  Be respectful of your of the youths comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES  How to ask about suicide:  Make sure you have established a connection before moving forward  Summarize what you have heard  Ask directly about suicide  Don’t give up if the youth shuts you out  Talking about depression and suicide can be very tough for teens  Common fear: Talking about suicide will give youth “ideas”  Be respectful of your of the youths comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

How to help  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide  Step 3: Validate feelings  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide  Step 3: Validate feelings

Validate Feelings  How to validate:  Don’t try to talk your teen out of his or her feelings, even if his or her feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you.  Acknowledge the pain and sadness he or she is feeling.  Don’t attempt to “fix” the situation.  Provide validation for the courage it took to talk.  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES  How to validate:  Don’t try to talk your teen out of his or her feelings, even if his or her feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you.  Acknowledge the pain and sadness he or she is feeling.  Don’t attempt to “fix” the situation.  Provide validation for the courage it took to talk.  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

How to help  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide  Step 3: Validate feelings  Step 4: Connect  If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help:  Step 1: Support  Step 2: Ask about suicide  Step 3: Validate feelings  Step 4: Connect

Connecting  How to connect:  Inform the youth that together you will come up with a plan to seek help  The plan should include:  Telling parents or caregivers about their thoughts of suicide  Identifying at least one professional resource to reach out to  To call 911 or crisis services if the feelings of suicide intensify (don’t forget to give them that information)  How to connect:  Inform the youth that together you will come up with a plan to seek help  The plan should include:  Telling parents or caregivers about their thoughts of suicide  Identifying at least one professional resource to reach out to  To call 911 or crisis services if the feelings of suicide intensify (don’t forget to give them that information)

Connecting Continued  As the helper remember to:  Follow up with a professional  Follow up with the youth within 24 to 48 hours if possible  Take care of yourself!  IMPORTANT! If the youth does NOT demonstrate commitment to safety, contact crisis or emergency services immediately.  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES  As the helper remember to:  Follow up with a professional  Follow up with the youth within 24 to 48 hours if possible  Take care of yourself!  IMPORTANT! If the youth does NOT demonstrate commitment to safety, contact crisis or emergency services immediately.  Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

Resources  Arlington’s 24/7 Emergency Mental Health Services:  (703)  Crisis Link 24/7 Suicide Hotline:  1 (800) or (703)  Children's Regional Crisis Response (mobile crisis services)  (844)  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline   Youth Suicide Prevention Program   Arlington’s 24/7 Emergency Mental Health Services:  (703)  Crisis Link 24/7 Suicide Hotline:  1 (800) or (703)  Children's Regional Crisis Response (mobile crisis services)  (844)  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline   Youth Suicide Prevention Program 

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