1. STRESS

2. Stress
Stress- is the body’s response to physical or mental demands or pressure.
Stressors- The physical or mental demands.
Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to you and around you -- and many things that you do yourself -- put stress on your body.
You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts.

3. Stress
Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger.
Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges.
Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress reaction.
Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping.
Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.
Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try and relieve their stress.
Instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems.

4. Stages of Stress
Alarm Stage- A quick physical warning. When you have fear your body releases adrenaline (a hormone that causes a rush of energy) into your body. Your body also encounters the fight or flight response (blood rushes from your stomach and other organs into your arms, legs, and brain). You can either fight all you can, or flee as fast as you can. Flight or Fight response
Resistance- Starts when your body fights or flees, your body is working against the stress. We begin to cope (acting to correct the problem, using defense mechanisms), to be able to deal with the stress.
Exhaustion- If the stress last to long then you may move into this stage, when your body’s defenses against stress are used up and you are unable to fight or flee the stress. Can no longer resist the stressor. Often become ill.

5. Body’s Response to Stress
Brain is stimulated
Heart beats faster, increasing blood flow to brain and muscles
Muscles tighten, becoming ready for action
Breathing becomes faster and deeper – more oxygen enters the body
Stomach and intestines slow down to save energy

6. Real Stress Test
STRESS SCALE FOR YOUTH In the following table you can look up representative changes in your life and see how much stress value each of these changes is adding to your life. NOTE ANY ITEM THAT YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS. Then, total up your score.

7. Real Stress Test Stress Event Value
Death of spouse, parent, boyfriend/girlfriend
100
Divorce 65
Puberty
Pregnancy (or causing pregnancy)
Marital Separation or Breakup with boyfriend/girlfriend 60
Jail Term or Probation
Death of other family member
Broken engagement 55
Engagement 50
Serious personal injury or illness 45
Marriage
Beginning next level of school (J.H., H.S., College)
Change in independence or responsibility
Any drug or alcohol use
Fired at work or expelled from school
Change in Alcohol or drug use

8. Getting back together with family or girlfriend/boyfriend 40
Trouble at school
Serious health problems of a family member
Working while attending school 35
Working more than 40 hours per week
Changing course of study
Change in frequency of dating
Confusion of sexual identity
Gain of new family member (birth, remarries, adopts)
Change in work responsibilities
Change in financial state
Death of a close friend (not family member) 30
Change to different kind of work
Change in number of arguments with mate, family, or friends
Sleep less than 8 hours per night 25
Trouble with in-laws or boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s family
Outstanding personal achievement
(Adapted from the "Social Readjustment Rating Scale" by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe. This scale was first published in the "Journal of Psychosomatic Research", Copyright 1967, vol.II p It is used by permission of Pergamon Press Ltd.)

9. Total Mate or parents starts or stops working 20 Begin or end school
Change in living conditions
Change in personal habits (start or stop smoking)
Chronic allergies
Trouble with the boss
Change in work hours 15
Change of residence
Presently in pre-menstrual period
Change in religious activity
Change to a new school (other than graduation) 10
Going in debt (you or your family)
Change in frequency of family gatherings
Vacation
Presently in winter holiday season
Minor violation of the law 5
Total

10. Stress Control ABC Strategy A= Awareness B= Balance C= Control
What causes you stress?
How do you react?
B= Balance
There is a fine line between positive/negative stress.
How much can you cope with before it becomes negative?
C= Control
What can you do to help yourself combat the negative effects of stress?

11. Stress Management/Busters
Thinking Positively
Get Organized (check off list)
Time Management
Humor
Take a time out
Changing Lifestyle
Diet
Reduce or stop Smoking and Alcohol
Exercise
Sleep
Relaxation
Talk, vent to someone
Breathing

12. SUICIDE

13. Warning Signs
The following are warning signs, and I am not stating that if you have any of these warning signs that you are suicidal. While we go through this information remember that these are warning signs.
The warning signs may be red flags for you are those around you to seek and get help.
Remember most importantly that help is available.

14. Facts on Suicide
Teenage suicide is preventable. When a person is depressed, they are NOT thinking, feeling, or acting the way they normally do. We must get them help, to get them back on track. We must learn what the warning signs are and who is at higher risk.
Among young people aged 15-24, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicide. 2nd leading cause of death for people age
In 2013, 1 person committed suicide every minutes. 41,149 suicides.

15. Facts on Suicide In US, suicide rates are highest during spring.
1 suicide for every 25 attempts
Males make up 79% of all suicides, while women are more prone to having suicidal thought.
Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people.
4 out of 5 teens who attempted suicide have given clear warning signs.

16. Verbal Signs of Suicide (7)
“I can’t go on anymore”
“I wish I was never born”
“I wish I was dead”
“I won’t need this anymore”
“My parents wont have to worry about me anymore”
“Everyone would be better off if I was dead”
“Life sucks. Nobody cares if I live or die”

17. Students who are at High Risk (10)
Teenagers who have attempted suicide previously, especially if problems and other recurring concerns were not completely resolved
Teenagers with little self-esteem
Teenagers in trouble with the law
Teenagers who are suffering from depression
Teenagers who have been abused, molested, or neglected

18. Students who are at High Risk (10)
Teenagers who abuse drugs and/or alcohol
Teenagers who are perfectionists
Teenagers who are struggling with sexual orientation (gays and lesbians)
Teenagers who are in dysfunctional families
Teenagers who fail in school-potential dropouts

19. Warning Signs (8)
A recent suicide in the family or friend. Teens are especially vulnerable when a close family member or friend commits suicide. The grieving process and depression can interrupt normal thought processes.
Trouble coping with recent losses, death, divorce, moving, break-ups, etc.
Experience with a traumatic event. Sometimes a significant traumatic event can create feelings of hopelessness and despair
Making final arrangements, such as writing a will or eulogy, or taking care of details (i.e. closing a bank account)

20. Warning Signs (8)
Gathering of lethal weapons (purchasing weapons, collecting pills, etc.).
Giving away prized possessions such as clothing, CD’s, sports equipment, treasured jewelry, etc.
Preoccupation with death, such as death and/or ‘dark’ themes in writing, art, music lyrics, etc. Note that today’s music has more of this and is not necessarily related to suicidal feelings.
Sudden changes in personality or attitude, appearance, chemical use, or school behavior.

21. Suicide Myths – True/False (7)
Teenagers who talk about attempting suicide are doing it for attention.
TRUE, and they need the attention. There is something going on that’s causing them to feel this way. They need people to listen, and professionals to help them.)
All teenagers who are suicidal are depressed.
TRUE, but the reverse is not true, most people will experience times in their lives when they are depressed, but have no suicidal ideation.)

22. Suicide Myths (7)
Suicidal people really want to die, so there’s no way to stop them.
FALSE. They are depressed and need help. With help, they can feel better and find other solutions.
Talking about suicide will cause a student to attempt suicide.
FALSE. It is just the opposite: not talking about it could escalate the problem.
If a person really wants to kill himself or herself, no one has the right to stop him or her.
FALSE. We would help a person who was physically sick or injured; we need to help a person who is mentally ill.

23. Suicide Myths (7) Once a person is suicidal, they’re suicidal forever.
FALSE. Teens who are suicidal can go on to lead useful lives, once they get help. Usually the suicidal feelings are for a limited period of time.
Improvement following a suicidal crisis means that the suicide risk is over.
FALSE. Most suicides occur within 3 months following the beginning of “improvement”, when the teen has the energy to put their morbid thoughts and feeling into effect. Relatives and physicians should be especially vigilant during this period.

24. WHERE TO GET HELP School Home Professional Suicide Prevention Hotline
Councilors
Administration
Teachers
Home
Parents
Siblings
Friends
Professional
Hotlines
Therapists
Suicide Prevention Hotline
1(800)273-TALK(8255)