1. “A Promise For Tomorrow”
The Jason Foundation
“A Promise For
Tomorrow”

2. A Promise For Tomorrow
Lesson A

3. In 1999…
Dr. David Satcher declared suicide as a “National Health Problem”… especially within the youth and elderly populations.

4. The Jason Foundation The Beginning… July 16, 1997
Use the Teacher’s Manual to tell Jason’s story. Be sure to preview the story and “tell” rather than read the story.

5. LET’S SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH SUICIDE.
Hand out Activity Page 1. Wait until students complete it to proceed to the next slide.

6. QUESTIONS
TRUE
OR FALSE

7. SUICIDE IS THE 3rd LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR
QUESTION 1
SUICIDE IS THE 3rd LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE
AGE 15 to 24?

8. ANSWER
TRUE

9. We lose approximately 100+ young people to suicide
It is estimated that…
We lose approximately 100+ young people to suicide
EACH WEEK in our nation.

10. PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT OR THREATEN SUICIDE RARELY COMMIT SUICIDE?
QUESTION 2
PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT OR THREATEN SUICIDE RARELY COMMIT SUICIDE?

11. ANSWER
FALSE

12. APPROXIMATELY ONE YOUNG PERSON DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY
QUESTION 3
APPROXIMATELY ONE YOUNG PERSON DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY
1 HOUR and 45 MINUTES?

13. ANSWER
TRUE

14. QUESTION 4
TALKING TO A PERSON ABOUT SUICIDAL FEELINGS MAY CAUSE HIM/HER TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE?

15. ANSWER
FALSE

16. Suicide is the number one preventable cause of death.
QUESTION 5
Suicide is the number one preventable cause of death.

17. ANSWER
TRUE

18. People who are contemplating
QUESTION 6
People who are contemplating
suicide almost always indicate their intentions to someone beforehand.

19. ANSWER
TRUE

20. Why didn’t that person say anything to anyone?
IN FACT…
In almost 70% of all suicides the person told someone their intentions at least 1 hour before.
Why didn’t that person say anything to anyone?

21. Youth Suicide Statistics
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24.
2. There has been a 300% increase in youth suicides in the past 40 years.
3. There has been a 128% increase in suicides for year olds since 1980.
young people lose their lives to suicide each week.
5. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.

22. A Promise For Tomorrow
Lesson B

23. Video Presentation
“Choices”

24. A Promise For Tomorrow
Lesson C

25. Just a Bad Day or Something More…
Do you think it is normal to have a bad day?
What are some words that describe how you feel on your bad days?
Does anyone notice you are having a bad day?
If Yes, who?
How do you know they notice?

26. Warning Signs Suicide Threats Previous Suicide Attempts
Sudden Changes In Behavior
Depression
Final Arrangements

27. Can you think of other examples?
Suicide Threats
“I would be better off dead!”
“You won’t have me around much longer to bother you!”
“I wish I was dead”
“I am going to kill myself”…(this is straight forward, but it happens)
Can you think of other examples?

28. Previous Suicide Attempts
Four out of Five completed suicides are NOT the first attempt
Physical Mutilation is a sign of wanting to hurt oneself… that can result in suicide.
Even if the attempt seems to be “only for attention” take it as a serious attempt.
We get very upset at the Foundation when we hear someone refer to a “half hearted” attempt. Why would a student make a half-hearted attempt? As was stated earlier, Do they really want to die” What do they really want?

29. Sudden Changes in Behavior
A quiet person becomes loud and obvious.
A loud person becomes very quiet and reserved.
A gentle person becomes aggressive and angers easily.
An outgoing person becomes withdrawn.
Changes in grades or class attendance

30. Depression Feeling the “blues” every day for two weeks or longer
Feelings of being alone or of no one caring
Sleeplessness or wanting to sleep an abnormal amount of time
Eating disorders- eating too much or not enough
Sometimes we only think that a depressed person is quiet and withdrawn. Depression, especially in a young person, can exhibit itself by aggressive behavior and outbursts of rage or emotion. There are several behaviors that, if they are out of character for that individual, need to be addressed if nothing more than asking a few questions.

31. Final Arrangements
The giving away of “prized possessions” examples: favorite piece of jewelry or clothing, driver’s license, collection, etc.
“Making rounds”… the visiting of friends to set things right and say good-bye.
Sharing of funeral plans (primarily by girls to a best friend).
Sometimes this comes in the form of giving up an activity or interest. I told you that Jason loved football. Not long before his death he decided he didn’t want to play football anymore. This was completely out of character for him.
I was in one class and referred to the giving away of jewelry. A young lady on the back row jumped up with eyes wide and said that her friend had given her a necklace the day before. You could see the fear in her eyes. After asking if her friend seemed happy and healthy and had never seemed unhappy, I assured her that she should accept the gift and be happy herself. If that friend had made comments about not wanting to live, and had stopped doing the things she enjoyed and then had given her a necklace that was special, we would need to be concerned. We need to be careful that we are not causing undue concern.

32. A Promise For Tomorrow
Lesson D

33. “Choices” Video Presentation
As we watch the video again pay attention to the behavior of Mark and Jan to see if you can identify “signs of concern”. List on a piece of paper all the signs you see. Think about what you know about suicidal ideation. What would you have done before? What would you do now?

34. A Promise For Tomorrow
Lesson E

35. How to Help LIFE Listen Insist on honesty Feelings- share them
Talk Listen Respond
LIFE
Listen
Insist on honesty
Feelings- share them
Extend a helping hand

36. IT’S ABOUT LIVING L*I*F*E
L- represents the very first thing you must do…
LISTEN
I-represents the second thing you can do to help..
INSIST ON HONESTY
F-stands for the third thing you can do to help your friend, talk about FEELINGS, yours and theirs.
E-is for EXTEND A HELPING HAND. Go with your friend to get help.

37. POSSIBLE PLACES FOR HELP
Favorite Teacher/Coach
Parent
Clergy
Guidance Counselor
Medical Doctor
Other Trusted Adult
Crisis Line
Local Mental Health Center

38. Friends Helping Friends
If you see any of the signs mentioned in a friend or a classmate tell someone immediately.
Be willing to risk your friendship to save a friend.
REMEMBER
Your knowledge of suicidal ideation
could save someone’s life.
Explain and Distribute Promise Cards.

39. The Jason Foundation 181 East Main Street, Suite 5 Hendersonville, TN 37075