1 Faculty and Staff Training

2  Review your role in our school’s suicide prevention strategy  Help you better recognize students who may be at risk  Provide an effective initial response to these students  Clarify how to refer students for further help Workshop Objectives

3  Third-leading cause of death in adolescents  Second-leading cause of death among college students  There are 50 to 200 attempts for every completion  Almost 7% of high school students report making a suicide attempt  Over 14% of high school students report suicidal thoughts Why Talk about Youth Suicide?

4  Every year, there are approximately 10 youth suicides for every 100,000 youth  Every day, there are approximately 11 youth suicides  Every 2 hours and 11 minutes, a person under the age of 25 dies by suicide In Simpler Numbers …

5 Video Clip from “Not My Kid”

6 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.” Carnegie Task Force on Education The School’s Role in Suicide Prevention “

7  Provides an effective initial response to potentially suicidal students  Knows where to refer students for additional assistance The Competent School Community in Suicide Prevention

8  Identification  Support and Response  Education Suicide Prevention Strategies

9 Program Goal:  To develop the school-based expertise and supports needed for responding to the problem of adolescent suicidal behavior The Lifelines Program

10 1. To increase the probability that persons who come into contact with potentially suicidal adolescents: a. can more readily identify them b. know how to respond to them c. know how to rapidly obtain help for them d. will be consistently inclined to take such action 2. To make sure troubled youth are aware of and have access to helping resources so that they are inclined to seek help as an alternative to suicide Lifelines Objectives

11  Administrative Readiness Consultation  Faculty and Staff Training  Parent Workshop  Student Curriculum Lifelines Components

12  To present relevant facts about suicide  To alert students to signs of suicide risk in peers and encourage serious responses  To outline ways to respond to troubled peers  To demonstrate positive attitudes about intervention and help-seeking behavior  To identify resources Curriculum Learning Objectives

13 Answering Common Questions Your Role as Educators

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

15 Answering Common Questions Can Talking about Suicide Plant the Idea in the Minds of Vulnerable Teens?

16 Answering Common Questions Is Talking about Suicide Just a Way for Someone to Get Attention?

17 Every threat should be taken seriously Remember

18 Understanding Suicide Your Role as Educators

19 Characteristics of Suicide 1. An alternative to what is seen as an unsolvable problem 2. Thinking is in crisis mode 3. Considered to be a means of communication

20 Identifying Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Protective Factors Your Role as Educators

21 Red: Warning Signs Yellow: Risk Factors Green: Protective Factors

22  Demographics  Psychiatric history  Drug/alcohol abuse  Previous suicide attempt  Family history of suicide  Exposure to another’s suicide  Experience of stressful life events  Personality factors  Access to means Risk Factors

23 F = Feelings A = Actions C = Changes T = Threats S = Situations Warning Signs

24  Suicide ideation  Substance use  Purposelessness  Anxiety  Feeling trapped  Hopelessness  Withdrawal  Anger  Recklessness  Mood changes Warning Signs

25 What to Do about Warning Signs  Consult with school resource staff

26  Listen  Know your limits  Know your resources  Follow up Talking with Students

27  Personal, behavioral, or situational characteristics that contribute to resiliency and serve as a buffer against risk Protective Factors

28  Caring relationship with a trusted adult  Sense of connection or participation in school  Positive self-esteem and good coping skills  Access to care for emotional/physical problems, substance abuse  Cultural/religious beliefs that discourage suicide and promote self- preservation Protective Factors

29  The competent school community engages all members in suicide prevention activities  The competent school community can increase the effectiveness of responses to at-risk teens, their families, and friends Putting It All Together

30 Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide F ocuses on resources for the competent school community Suicide Prevention Resource Center National resource American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Printed materials & resources American Association of Suicidology Data, resources, links Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Extensive resources and information on youth suicide Maine Teen Suicide Prevention Resources and information for teens Additional Resources