Risk & Protective Factors For Suicide Preaching on Suicide Conference Cathedral College of Preachers November 10, 2006 Sherry Davis Molock, Ph.D., M.Div.

Introduction Every 17 minutes, someone dies by suicide Every 17 minutes, someone dies by suicide In 2003, over 31,000 persons died by suicide in US In 2003, over 31,000 persons died by suicide in US Suicide is the 11 th leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide is the 11 th leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death among Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death among 15-24

Factors Associated with Suicide Age: Age: in whites, suicide rate highest amongst elderly in whites, suicide rate highest amongst elderly In blacks, suicide rate highest among year olds In blacks, suicide rate highest among year olds Season Season More suicides occur in spring & summer More suicides occur in spring & summer Gender Gender Males have higher rates of completions; females have higher rates of attempts Males have higher rates of completions; females have higher rates of attempts

Factors Associated with Suicide SES: suicide occurs across all SES levels SES: suicide occurs across all SES levels Marital Status: suicide occurs most amongst divorced persons Marital Status: suicide occurs most amongst divorced persons Method: Method: Men are more likely to choose guns & hanging Men are more likely to choose guns & hanging Women are more likely to ingest pills Women are more likely to ingest pills

Factors Associated with Suicide Ethnicity Ethnicity Native Americans have highest suicide rate, followed by White Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Japanese Americans and Chinese Americans Native Americans have highest suicide rate, followed by White Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Japanese Americans and Chinese Americans

Cultural Issues in Suicide We know very little about suicide in other cultural/ethnic groups We know very little about suicide in other cultural/ethnic groups Often assumed that other groups did not experience depression & suicide because they were too intellectually or psychologically unsophisticated Often assumed that other groups did not experience depression & suicide because they were too intellectually or psychologically unsophisticated

Cultural Issues in Suicide Assumption that mental illness is expressed the same in all cultures Assumption that mental illness is expressed the same in all cultures Led to social scientists being unaware of the marked increase in suicidal behaviors among African Americans & Latinos from 1980 – 1995 Led to social scientists being unaware of the marked increase in suicidal behaviors among African Americans & Latinos from 1980 – 1995

Characteristics of Individuals Who Complete Suicide Mental health concerns: depression Mental health concerns: depression History of loss History of loss Problems with family relationships Problems with family relationships Problems with peer relationships Problems with peer relationships For college students: school pressures, male, slightly older, international students, better than average grades For college students: school pressures, male, slightly older, international students, better than average grades Elderly: financial concerns; health concerns Elderly: financial concerns; health concerns

Protective Factors: Individual Individual Positive self-esteem Positive self-esteem Positive racial identity (depression) Positive racial identity (depression) Religious coping Religious coping Family Family Supportive/Cohesive family Supportive/Cohesive family Community Community Collective efficacy Collective efficacy Churches Churches

Myths & Facts About Suicide Suicide attempts are seldom repeated Suicide attempts are seldom repeated Suicidal individuals want to die Suicidal individuals want to die Nothing can be done about suicide Nothing can be done about suicide Improvement in the suicidal person means the danger is over Improvement in the suicidal person means the danger is over Suicide is inherited & runs in families Suicide is inherited & runs in families

Myths & Facts About Suicide Adolescents never take their own lives Adolescents never take their own lives Adolescents & young adults are rarely depressed Adolescents & young adults are rarely depressed People who suicide have well-thought out plans People who suicide have well-thought out plans Suicide happens with no warning Suicide happens with no warning Suicides occur more among the rich Suicides occur more among the rich People who talk about suicide don’t kill themselves People who talk about suicide don’t kill themselves Once you are suicidal, you will always be suicidal Once you are suicidal, you will always be suicidal

Warning Signs Direct statements: Direct statements: “I can’t take it anymore”; “I can’t take it anymore”; “I’m thinking of killing myself” “I’m thinking of killing myself” Preoccupation with death Preoccupation with death Collecting pills, guns or other means Collecting pills, guns or other means Neglect of personal appearance Neglect of personal appearance Depression Depression Unusual fatigue, problems concentrating Unusual fatigue, problems concentrating

Warning Signs Withdrawing from friends/family Withdrawing from friends/family Problems sleeping; sudden weight loss or weight gain Problems sleeping; sudden weight loss or weight gain Change in academic performance Change in academic performance Excessive use of alcohol or other drugs Excessive use of alcohol or other drugs Increased reckless behavior Increased reckless behavior Giving away significant possessions Giving away significant possessions Sudden lift in depression after long bout with depression Sudden lift in depression after long bout with depression

What You Can Do to Help Listen: Don’t Judge Listen: Don’t Judge Take Every Complaint Seriously Take Every Complaint Seriously Trust Your Own Judgment Trust Your Own Judgment Ask Questions Ask Questions Don’t Act Shocked/Upset Don’t Act Shocked/Upset Don’t Be Misled Don’t Be Misled Be Affirming & Supportive Be Affirming & Supportive

What You Can Do to Help Evaluate Available Resources Evaluate Available Resources Be Specific & Do Something Tangible Be Specific & Do Something Tangible Get Appropriate Help & Consultation: Don’t Handle the Crisis Alone! Get Appropriate Help & Consultation: Don’t Handle the Crisis Alone! In Acute Crises, Don’t Leave the Person Alone; In Life or Death Situation, Call 911 In Acute Crises, Don’t Leave the Person Alone; In Life or Death Situation, Call 911

Potential Barriers Historical distrust between faith and mental health communities Historical distrust between faith and mental health communities Some mental health professionals not trained to consider spirituality as part of treatment Some mental health professionals not trained to consider spirituality as part of treatment Both communities use different metaphors to express the same reality Both communities use different metaphors to express the same reality Mental health – value “objective reality” Mental health – value “objective reality” Faith – value “experiential reality” Faith – value “experiential reality”

Potential Barriers Denial of the problem in churches Denial of the problem in churches Stigma associated with suicide & with seeking help from mental health professional Stigma associated with suicide & with seeking help from mental health professional “Spiritually strong” don’t need mental health interventions “Spiritually strong” don’t need mental health interventions Suicide is an unpardonable sin Suicide is an unpardonable sin

What You Can Do to Help Give church members “permission” to seek help thru Give church members “permission” to seek help thru Sermons Sermons Bible study Bible study Sunday school Sunday school

What You Can Do to Help Recognize faith community provides important protective factors: Recognize faith community provides important protective factors: Sense of belonging Sense of belonging Integrates entire family into an institution and into a community Integrates entire family into an institution and into a community Provides an outlet for emotional expressiveness Provides an outlet for emotional expressiveness Provides important mechanism for positive self- esteem & group esteem Provides important mechanism for positive self- esteem & group esteem

We Can Do This Together Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the paths to dwell in” Isaiah 58:12