1. MAKING EDUCATORS PARTNERS IN SUICIDE PREVENTION
Lifelines: A School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative
Midland ISD Counselors

2. Educational Objectives
Review benefits
Correct myths
Present accurate data
Risk factors
Outline roles
Discuss interaction with students
Provide additional resources

3. Why Suicide Prevention is Important
Second leading cause of death for teens 15-24
Second leading cause of death in colleges
For every completion, there are between attempts
CDC Youth Risk Survey: 7.8% grades 9-12 reported attempt in past year
15.8% high school students report suicide ideation
Attempt rate increasing for year olds
Same risk and protective factors for suicide as other problem behaviors such as drugs, violence, risky sexual activities

4. Importance of teaching suicide- related content
38,364 people died by suicide in 2010 (105 a day)
Almost 80% of individuals who die by suicide saw a health care professional in the year prior to their death
Most health care professionals receive no training in suicide assessment and treatment

5. Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS
Felt sad or hopeless  (almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities during the 12 months before the survey)
Youth Risk Behaviors Survey results from the CDC

6. Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS
Seriously considered attempting suicide  (during the 12 months before the survey)

7. Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS
Made a plan about how they would attempt suicide  (during the 12 months before the survey)

8. Youth suicide in Texas-2013 YRBS
Attempted suicide  (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey)

9. Youth suicide in Dallas-2013 YRBS
Attempted suicide that resulted in an injury,
poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse  (during the 12 months before the survey)

10. EVERY… EVERY Year EVERY Day EVERY 1 Hour and 54 Minutes
- there are approximately youth suicides
for every 100,000 youth
EVERY Day
- there are approximately 12 youth suicides
EVERY 1 Hour and 54 Minutes
- a person under the age of 25 completes suicide

11. Why Educator Training is Important:
According to the Carnegie Task Force on Education:
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.

12. “Competent School Community”
THE CONTEXT FOR PREVENTION
All members of the school community are concerned about the welfare of each other
They know how to obtain help for those who need it

13. Your Role Simplified Learning signs of risk in students
Identifying at-risk students
Referring to appropriate resources

14. Role of Parents Understand school’s policies and procedures
Recognize signs of trouble in their children
Know what to do and where to go for resources
Understand how to respond to other at-risk youth

15. Role of Students Awareness of warning signs
Strategies for getting help personally
Knowledge of ways to help peers
Awareness of school and community resources
Identification of ‘caring’ adults
Students learn this through the SOS curriculum given to all 7th and 9th grade students

16. Your First Step
Assessing Attitudes About Suicide

17. Questions to Consider:
1. I think suicide is a rational choice.
sometimes
Always
Never

18. Questions to Consider:
2. I think suicide should be prevented no matter what.
sometimes
Always
Never

19. Questions to Consider:
I would do everything I could
to prevent my teenager from
dating someone who had attempted suicide.
I would respect my child’s choice.

20. ----------------------+-----------------------
Talking About Suicide
On a 1 to 10 scale, rank how comfortable you are talking about suicide. 1 5 10
Very Uncomfortable
Very Comfortable

21. Are School Programs That Address Suicide Safe?
Answering Common
Questions
Are School Programs That Address Suicide Safe?
YES

22. Answering Common
Questions
Can Talking about Suicide Plant the Idea in the Minds of Vulnerable Teens? NO

23. Is Talking about Suicide Just a Way for Someone to Get Attention?
Answering Common
Questions
Is Talking about Suicide Just a Way for Someone to Get Attention? NO

24. Do You Need to Address Suicide in Middle and Elementary School?
Answering Common
Questions
Do You Need to Address Suicide in Middle and Elementary School?

25. Suicide in Middle & Elementary School
Deaths by suicide infrequent under age 10
Attempts increasing dramatically in yr olds
Risk factors may be seen in young children
Impact of suicide on elementary school children primarily through suicide of parent, peer or other adult figure
Protective factors can be encouraged in young children
There ARE ways to respond that are more helpful than others

26. Where does developing competence in a school community begin?
Answering Common
Questions
Where does developing competence in a school community begin?
Knowledge 26

27. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE Defining the Problem SUICIDE
is a potentially self-injurious act
Completed with at least some intent
to die as a result of the act
SUICIDE
is an attempt to solve a problem
of intense emotional pain
with impaired problem-solving skills

28. Characteristics of Suicide
1. Alternative to problem perceived as unsolvable by any other means
2. Crisis thinking colors problem solving
3. Person is often ambivalent
4. Suicidal solution has an irrational component
5. Suicide is a form of communication

29. Risk Factors / Warning Signs
Red - Warning Signs
Yellow - Risk Factors
Green - Protective Factors

30. Risk Factors for Youth Suicide
Demographic
Clinical
‘Stressors’
Access to Means
Personality
Factors
Family

31. Risk Factors DEMOGRAPHIC Age Sex Gender Identity Race CLINICAL
Psychiatric diagnosis
Drug / alcohol use
Previous attempt
Age highest risk
Sex and Race- White Males highest risk

32. Risk Factors FAMILY History of suicide EXPOSURE
To suicide (personally or in media)
Death of peer under any circumstance
RECENT, SEVERE STRESSORS
Loss
Trouble
Change – transition

33. THE PERFECT STORM
Changing just one factor can advert the perfect storm

34. Warning Signs F
eelings A
ctions C
hanges T
hreats S
ituations

35. Students at Higher Risk
Threatening suicide
Looking for access to means
Talking or writing about death, dying, suicide
Previous attempt serious enough to require hospitalization

36. Talking with At-Risk Students
LISTEN
Acknowledge feelings in student’s terms
Clarify
Summarize
Validate
Know Your Limits
To ask about suicide directly?
Know Your Resources
Act
Follow-up

37. Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors

38. Protective Factors Contact with a caring adult
Sense of connection or participation in school
Positive self-esteem and coping skills
Access to and care for mental / physical / substance disorders

39. Fostering Protective Factors
Teach students it is okay to ask for help
Give students permission to talk about traumatic events like suicide
Help students identify trusted adults
Encourage participation in school & community activities
Acknowledge student efforts
Be a good listener, as often as you can

40. Remember: Your Role Simplified
Learning signs of risk in students
Identifying at-risk students
Referring to appropriate resources

41. Web Resources
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide Sponsor of this program, focuses on resources for the competent school community, including Lifelines,
an evidence-based suicide prevention program for schools. Free on-line educator training!
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Free confidential, 24-hour hotline, free materials
Suicide Prevention Resource Center Resources for states, on-line library, best practices registry
American Association of Suicidology Data, resources, links, journal, national conference
The Trevor Project Specific information for LGBTQ youth
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Survivor resources, research, and awareness

42. It’s in the Shelter of Each Other…
...THAT WE LIVE

43. Revisit This Question:
On a 1 to 10 scale, rank how comfortable you are talking about suicide, now? 1 5 10
Very Uncomfortable
Very Comfortable

44. Questions?