Suicide What are warning signs of suicide?

Suicide Suicide – the intentional taking of ones own life Suicide – the intentional taking of ones own life Parasuicide – a suicide attempt in which a person does not intend to die Parasuicide – a suicide attempt in which a person does not intend to die A cry for help A cry for help Some teens who make a suicide attempt and do not intend to die are not found in time. Their cries for help end in tragic death. Some teens who make a suicide attempt and do not intend to die are not found in time. Their cries for help end in tragic death. Without help, teens who have attempted suicide once may attempt suicide again. Without help, teens who have attempted suicide once may attempt suicide again.

Suicide Cluster Suicide - A series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving people who are connected in some way Cluster Suicide - A series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving people who are connected in some way Packs Packs Response to a friend committing suicide Response to a friend committing suicide Response to a famous person’s suicide Response to a famous person’s suicide

Suicide Girls attempt suicide more often than boys, but boys succeed more often than girls… Girls attempt suicide more often than boys, but boys succeed more often than girls… Why? Why?

MethodPercent of Total (32,439 suicides) Number of Suicides Firearms 52.10% Hanging, strangulation, suffocation 22.20%7,248 Poisons 17.60%5,744 All other methods8.10%2,643 U.S. Suicide Statistics (2005) Suicide Methods by Gender Method MenWomen Men - Percent of Total Men - Number of Suicides (25,566 total) Women - Percent of Total Women - Number of Suicides (6,873 total) Firearms57.60%14, %2,086 Hanging, strangulation, suffocation22.70%5, %1,361 Poisons12.00%3, %2,632 All other methods7.70%1, %651

What to Know About Suicidal Tendencies Teens are more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide if they encounter any of the following experiences… Teens are more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide if they encounter any of the following experiences… Abuse of alcohol and other drugs Abuse of alcohol and other drugs Death of a parent, parental separation, or parental divorce Death of a parent, parental separation, or parental divorce Feelings of alienation and rejection Feelings of alienation and rejection Difficulty coping with body changes and sexuality Difficulty coping with body changes and sexuality Depression Depression Impulsive and/or aggressive behavior Impulsive and/or aggressive behavior Mental disorders Mental disorders

How to recognize signs of suicide

Getting Help The best way to help someone who is contemplating suicide is to listen…not to council them The best way to help someone who is contemplating suicide is to listen…not to council them Listen Listen Encourage them to seek help Encourage them to seek help Tell a trusted adult Tell a trusted adult

Suicide Prevention Strategies Look for warning signs when a teen is depressed Look for warning signs when a teen is depressed Listen without giving advice Listen without giving advice Take a suicide threat seriously Take a suicide threat seriously Ask if the teen has a specific plan and means to follow through Ask if the teen has a specific plan and means to follow through Do not be sworn to secrecy Do not be sworn to secrecy Tell a trusted adult immediately Tell a trusted adult immediately Stay with the teen until help arrives Stay with the teen until help arrives

If You Need Help If you need help, if you are contemplating suicide, if you know someone who is… If you need help, if you are contemplating suicide, if you know someone who is… Talk to someone Talk to someone Get help Get help Know the number Know the number Suicide Suicide Remember that suicide touches a lot of lives… Remember that suicide touches a lot of lives… People who often talk about suicide are crying out for help People who often talk about suicide are crying out for help

Suicide Raft Role of the Writer Who are you as the writer? Are you Abraham Lincoln? A warrior? A homeless person? Role of the Writer Who are you as the writer? Are you Abraham Lincoln? A warrior? A homeless person? Audience To whom are you writing? Is your audience the American people? A friend? Your teacher? Audience To whom are you writing? Is your audience the American people? A friend? Your teacher? Format What form will the writing take? Is it a letter? Format What form will the writing take? Is it a letter? Topic What's the subject or the point of this piece? Topic What's the subject or the point of this piece? Role – A teen contemplating suicide/ A friend of a teen contemplating suicide Role – A teen contemplating suicide/ A friend of a teen contemplating suicide Audience – Parents, siblings, friends, the person contemplating suicide Audience – Parents, siblings, friends, the person contemplating suicide Format – A letter Format – A letter Topic – The reasons you are contemplating suicide…why not to commit suicide Topic – The reasons you are contemplating suicide…why not to commit suicide Your job is to write a letter. You will be writing as a teen who is contemplating suicide. Your audience is your parents, siblings or friends. Your topic is to write about why you are contemplating suicide. Your job is to write a letter. You will be writing as a teen who is contemplating suicide. Your audience is your parents, siblings or friends. Your topic is to write about why you are contemplating suicide. Take on the role. The letter should have facts about suicide and depression. Take on the role. The letter should have facts about suicide and depression. You will be graded on: Staying in character, How you targeted the audience, How well you stayed on the topic and How well you used the format of a letter. You will be graded on: Staying in character, How you targeted the audience, How well you stayed on the topic and How well you used the format of a letter.