1. You Got This Panel Presentation
Patrick Gannon, PhD
Clinical & Performance Psychology
San Francisco

2. Three Takeaway Messages
Suicide is increasing Nationwide
Suicide is PREVENTABLE but it takes MORE TIMELY SKILLED INTERVENTION
We must ALL be “First Responders”

3. Suicide Is On The Rise
National suicide rate increased 25.4% from 1999 to 2016
All states, except Nevada, saw increases
Rate is now 13.3 deaths per 100,000
45,000 suicides in US in 2016
10th leading cause of death in US
Mountain states have highest rates
Isolation, depression, substance use, and access to guns are key risk factors

4. CDC Survey on Suicide Suicide usually caused by multiple factors
(2018)
Suicide usually caused by multiple factors
Half of all suicides DID NOT have a diagnosed mental disorder at the time of death
Relationship loss, substance use, health, job, financial, legal and housing problems were also contributors (precipitating events)
Depression predicts suicidal ideation but not plans or suicide attempts (Nock et al. 2010)
Anxiety/agitation, poor impulse control, substance use predicts planning and attempting
Imminent Risk is tied to ”perturbation” or urgency to act (Schneidman, 1970)

5. UK Study of Musicians (2017)
68% report struggling with depression
71% report panic attacks & anxiety
Occupational stress factors high
Stack (2009) reported that the suicide rate for US musicians was 42.6 per 100,000---over three times the national rate

6. WHAT CAN WE DO?

7. Take Action on Two Levels
Intervene with the Individual & Institution
Expand Your Role as Educator/Provider/Admin
Learn how to be a skilled “First Responder”
Act as a “bridge” between person and resource
And an Institutional Change Agent

8. How To Be A First Responder The A. L. G. E
How To Be A First Responder The A.L.G.E.E Model (Mental Health First Aid, 2017)
Assess/Ask about suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Giving reassurance and information
Encouraging professional help
Encouraging self help & other support strategies

9. ASSESS/ASK ”How are things going for you lately?”
“I’ve noticed that you seem a little down lately. Is that true?
Take any response that AFFIRMS having a difficulty, seriously
Ask more in follow-up: “Wow, tell me what’s going on”
Rely on open-ended questions
If they voice any suicidal thoughts, plans,don’t be afraid to address it
directly.
“Are you thinking of ending your life?”
“Do you ever feel like harming yourself?”
If they answer yes, ask about when and how—get specific to determine
if a plan is in place
Ask if they have told anyone? Do they have a therapist? If so, urge them to call them.
If you are VERY CONCERNED about them (High Imminent Risk), bring other resources into play—person’s family, friends, school admins, therapists

10. LISTEN Once you ask, listen, listen, listen w/o judgement.
Give them space to find their words
Try to draw them out.
Don’t fill in silences unless they are stuck
Rely on empathic comments to keep them talking:
“That sounds really tough”.
“What was that like for you?”
“How long has it been this bad?”

11. GIVING SUPPORT Give support and information.
Just showing up helps more than you think
Don’t try to cheer them up
Connect with their pain
“I am sorry you are feeling so bad”
It sucks that you in in this much pain”.
“You sound really overwhelmed right now”.
Tell them what they mean to you
“This makes me concerned for you”
“You’re not alone in this. I care about you and I want to help”.
“What can I do to support you?”
You can give a message of hope such as
”My (sister, friend, cousin) was depressed. S/he got help and the depression lifted. It is treatable”.

12. ENCOURAGING REFERRALS
Use your relationship to encourage getting help
Know the institutional and community resources for the issues faced by performers: make referral lists
Get references from colleagues, admins & students
Develop referral relationships with resource people
Licensed professionals only; specialists preferred
Follow-up with student, follow-up with resource person, follow-up with institution.
Tell them “asking for help is a sign of strength—have you told your family, doctor, counselor, or pastor about this?”
Tell them you want to check in with them on how they are

13. ENCOURAGING SUPPORTS
Explore self-help & protective supports: family, friends, EAP at work, insurance coverage, emergency room, counseling center etc.
Be ready to provide alternative resources if the referral fell through
Tell them “Whenever you want to talk, just call or text me”.

14. Intervening with the Institution
Change the culture of the institution to support health & wellness & self-care
Encourage screening of mental health issues at the beginning of the year (NCAA does this with student athletes)
Encourage training of educators, staff and support staff to highlight positive motivational/pedagogical strategies
Serve on committees that have institutional authority
Encourage institution to develop an integrated care plan for students in distress

15. Yes, this is a lot to ask! But look what’s at stake.
Rising suicide rates are happening at a time in our country that is increasingly showing distress, division and dysfunction
We all have an opportunity here in making things better
Thank you!

16. Resource List
National Suicide Prevention Hotline The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Mental Health America,  Screening test for depression and other mental health disorders The Suicide Prevention Resource Center,  Kaiser Hospital

17. Resource List
University of California Guide to Promoting Student Mental Health for Faculty and Staff NCAA Best Practices for Student Mental Health

18. References
Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs and Practices (2017)