1. Suicide Awareness
© 2016 Dustin MacDonald

2. Agenda About Me A Note on Wording Definitions Suicide Statistics
Suicide True and False
Risk Factors for Suicide
Warning Signs for Suicide
How to Help
Support Networks
Case Study

3. About Me
Currently Director of Online Support & Distress Centre Durham
Distress Centre Durham History
1600+ hours of telephone experience
600+ hours of online chat and text
Former Placement Student, Summer Student (x3)
Trainer Experience
Distress Centre Durham Basic Training
DCIB Suicide Risk Assessment
Online Chat and Text (ONTX) Training

4. Before we start… People do not commit suicide
You commit a crime, you get committed to a psychiatric hospital
Instead, people who take their own lives are said to have suicided or alternately died by suicide, as one dies of lung cancer or a person is murdered.

5. Definitions Suicide Suicidal ideation Parasuicide
Intentional taking of one’s own life
Suicidal ideation
Clinical term for suicidal thoughts
Parasuicide
A suicidal attempt that is designed to fail or be discovered
Not necessarily attention-seeking behaviour

6. What is a Crisis?
A crisis is any event that overwhelms someone’s coping mechanisms, those things a person does to solve or deal with a problem

7. Suicide Statistics
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in Canada for year olds (behind car accidents)
More than 90% of suicide victims have a diagnosable mental illness
1,115 people died by suicide in Ontario in 2005
The suicide rate is 12.7 per 100,000 males and 4.1 per 100,000 females in Ontario
The Aboriginal suicide rate is 11 times higher than the national average

8. Risk Factors for Suicide
Mental Illness
Clinical Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Schizophrenia all increase risk
Financial Difficulties
Bullying (+ Cyber-bullying) for young adults
Relationship Troubles
Academic / School Troubles
Legal Problems
History of Physical / Sexual Abuse

9. Up to 70% percent of suicides involve alcohol or drugs
Suicide True and False
Most suicides involve drugs or alcohol…
True!
Up to 70% percent of suicides involve alcohol or drugs

10. Most people feeling suicidal want to talk about their feelings
Suicide True and False
Talking about suicide can plant the idea in someone’s head
False!
Most people feeling suicidal want to talk about their feelings

11. The highest risk population is 45-54 years of age
Suicide True and False
Teenagers have the highest rate of suicide
False!
The highest risk population is years of age

12. The most common method (overall) is hanging
Suicide True and False
The most common suicide method is pills
False!
The most common method (overall) is hanging

13. Only about 30% of suicides have notes
Suicide True and False
Most suicidal people leave notes
False!
Only about 30% of suicides have notes

14. Most suicidal people don’t want to die, but want the pain to stop
Suicide True and False
Suicidal people want to die
False!
Most suicidal people don’t want to die, but want the pain to stop

15. Risk Factors for Suicide
Substance Abuse
Physical Illness
Bereavement Grief and Loss
Especially a suicide-related loss
Interrupted (or “Complicated” Grief)
Identifying as LGBTQ
Military Veteran
Profound humiliation or failure
Others?

16. Suicide Warning Signs
Risk Factors are things that increase the likelihood someone will suicide because those things make coping more difficult
Warning signs are clues that a suicidal crisis may be imminent
It takes careful clinical examination by a trained mental health professional to determine a person’s true level of risk

17. Suicide Warning Signs
Sudden Mood changes (either very happy or very sad)
Sudden appetite changes
Talking about life in the past tense
Telling people goodbye, tying up loose ends
Talking about suicidal acts, feeling hopeless or helpless
Making lethality statements

18. How to Help Listen! Provide empathy Refer to resources Explore options
Distress Centre ( , )
Durham College Counselling Services
Durham Mental Health Services
Other resources (e.g. spiritual)
Explore options
Build support network

19. Support Network Three levels of support
Internal
External
Peripheral
Strong support network allows developing the resources that provides the strongest defence against suicide

20. Things that we do ourselves to cope with stress
Internal Supports
Things that we do ourselves to cope with stress

21. Internal Supports Examples include: Journalling
Listening to music / Playing an Instrument
Running / Working Out / Exercise
Prayer / Meditation / Spirituality
Art
Yoga / Massage
Deep Breathing
Other Hobbies

22. People in our “inner circle” we reach out to
External Supports
People in our “inner circle” we reach out to

23. External Supports
Examples include:
Family
Friends
Pets

24. Community agencies and others outside of our inner circle
Peripheral Supports
Community agencies and others outside of our inner circle

25. Peripheral Supports Examples include:
Distress Lines (e.g. Distress Centre)
Family Doctors
Psychiatrists / Psychologists
Durham Mental Health Services
Clergy
Any others?

26. Summary Suicide is usually preventable
Asking about suicidal thoughts is the most important thing you can do
Never be afraid to reach out to a professional for help

27. Case Study