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Suicide and First Suicide and First RespondersResponders
Bill PrasadBill Prasad
Behavioral Health CoordinatorBehavioral Health Coordinator
Fairfax County Fire and RescueFairfax County Fire and Rescue
Suicide in AmericaSuicide in America
Deaths per year: 30,000Deaths per year: 30,000 80 per day80 per day One suicide every 15 minutesOne suicide every 15 minutes Eleventh leading cause of death Eleventh leading cause of death Each suicide affects at least six peopleEach suicide affects at least six people 800,000 attempts every year800,000 attempts every year 5 million have attempted suicide 5 million have attempted suicide Firearms used in 52% of suicidesFirearms used in 52% of suicides
Suicide by Race/GenderSuicide by Race/Gender
White males: 72% of suicidesWhite males: 72% of suicides White males and females: 90% of suicidesWhite males and females: 90% of suicides------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Firefighters: 96% male/85% whiteFirefighters: 96% male/85% white Paramedics: 69% male/93% whiteParamedics: 69% male/93% white Police officers: 85% male/85% whitePolice officers: 85% male/85% white
First responder population mirrors high First responder population mirrors high risk grouprisk group
Suicide by OccupationSuicide by Occupation
OSHA tracks only on-the-job deathsOSHA tracks only on-the-job deaths Many states do not track deaths by occupationMany states do not track deaths by occupation NYPD: Suicide rate of NYPD: Suicide rate of 29 per 100,00029 per 100,000 a year. a year.
General population is General population is 12 per 100,00012 per 100,000 NYPD: Most were white males who shot NYPD: Most were white males who shot
themselves while off dutythemselves while off duty Nationally, twice as many police Nationally, twice as many police (300)(300) complete complete
suicide as are killed in the line of duty suicide as are killed in the line of duty
Suicide by OccupationSuicide by Occupation
Chicago FD: 2008 to 2009Chicago FD: 2008 to 2009
Firefighter SuicideFirefighter Suicide
““A firefighter’s suicide strikes at the very core A firefighter’s suicide strikes at the very core value of the profession– teamwork.”value of the profession– teamwork.”
““When a fire department experiences this When a fire department experiences this tragedy, its impact can be emotionally and tragedy, its impact can be emotionally and mentally debilitating for the personnel left mentally debilitating for the personnel left behind to grieve.” behind to grieve.”
www.firechief.comwww.firechief.com
Suicides Per 100,000Suicides Per 100,000
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Gen Pop
Military
White Males 21to 55
LawEnforcement
Completed SuicideCompleted Suicide
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
AOD/MoodDisorder
Intoxicatedat TOD
PreviousMood
Disorder
Fire Arm
First Responder Risk FactorsFirst Responder Risk Factors
DivorceDivorce TraumaTrauma StressStress Sudden fameSudden fame
DivorceDivorce
National Rate: 50%National Rate: 50% Police: 60 to 75%Police: 60 to 75% Police: 80% of suicides linked to divorce or Police: 80% of suicides linked to divorce or
relationship break-uprelationship break-up Fire: 50 to 65%Fire: 50 to 65% Fire: Many relationship break-ups linked to Fire: Many relationship break-ups linked to
24 hour shifts, OT, stress24 hour shifts, OT, stress
Trauma/Sudden FameTrauma/Sudden Fame
New York: Three firefighters who helped New York: Three firefighters who helped rescue 9-11 victims killed themselves rescue 9-11 victims killed themselves within a yearwithin a year
Oklahoma City: A police sergeant who Oklahoma City: A police sergeant who rescued four victims at the bombed rescued four victims at the bombed Federal building completed suicideFederal building completed suicide
Texas: A paramedic who helped rescue Texas: A paramedic who helped rescue baby Jessica McClure from a well later baby Jessica McClure from a well later took his lifetook his life
Life Events as TriggersLife Events as Triggers
Suicide/Death of loved oneSuicide/Death of loved one Serious family illnessSerious family illness Loss of healthLoss of health Loss of employmentLoss of employment RetirementRetirement Financial problemsFinancial problems Legal problemsLegal problems
Life Events as TriggersLife Events as Triggers
Victim of crimeVictim of crime Sexual assault/domestic violenceSexual assault/domestic violence Witness to violenceWitness to violence Poor gradesPoor grades Sexuality concernsSexuality concerns Substance abuseSubstance abuse
Suicide MotivationSuicide Motivation
Loss or change in important relationshipLoss or change in important relationship To avoid or end perceived painTo avoid or end perceived pain Escape intolerable situationEscape intolerable situation Gain attentionGain attention Punish others/selfPunish others/self Become a martyrBecome a martyr
Support System Warning SignsSupport System Warning Signs
Lack of support systemLack of support system Rejected by peersRejected by peers Separation from family or friendsSeparation from family or friends Loner or newcomerLoner or newcomer Feels like no one caresFeels like no one cares
Indirect Suicide IndicatorsIndirect Suicide Indicators
Buying a weaponBuying a weapon Giving away possessionsGiving away possessions Making a willMaking a will Talking about a long tripTalking about a long trip Taking unusual risksTaking unusual risks Sudden religious interest/disinterestSudden religious interest/disinterest Substance abuse relapseSubstance abuse relapse
Indirect Verbal CluesIndirect Verbal Clues
I can’t go on any longerI can’t go on any longer I’m tired of lifeI’m tired of life Life has lost its meaningLife has lost its meaning I can’t take the painI can’t take the pain You’d be better of without meYou’d be better of without me You’re going to regret how you treated meYou’re going to regret how you treated me
Direct Verbal CuesDirect Verbal Cues
I might as well be deadI might as well be dead I wish I were deadI wish I were dead If ------- doesn’t happen, I’m going to end itIf ------- doesn’t happen, I’m going to end it I’m going to kill myselfI’m going to kill myself
Important QuestionsImportant Questions
Have you been thinking of hurting or killing Have you been thinking of hurting or killing yourself?yourself?
When did you last think of suicide?When did you last think of suicide? Have you ever attempted suicide?Have you ever attempted suicide? Has anyone in your family attempted/completed Has anyone in your family attempted/completed
suicide?suicide? Do you have a Do you have a planplan?? Do you have the Do you have the meansmeans for carrying out plan? for carrying out plan?
Principles of Suicide Prevention Principles of Suicide Prevention ProgramsPrograms
Encourage help-seeking behaviorEncourage help-seeking behavior High risk target population= more intense High risk target population= more intense
efforteffort Age-specificAge-specific Developmentally appropriateDevelopmentally appropriate Culturally sensitiveCulturally sensitive
Organizational Suicide Prevention Organizational Suicide Prevention ProgramsPrograms
Supported/endorsed by senior staff and Supported/endorsed by senior staff and unionunion
Pamphlets, handouts, face-to-face Pamphlets, handouts, face-to-face briefingsbriefings
Everyone has a responsibilityEveryone has a responsibility Focus on identifying red flagsFocus on identifying red flags Have accessible helpHave accessible help
Risk FactorsRisk Factors
Sex (male)Sex (male) Race (white)Race (white) Age (15 to 34) and (65+)Age (15 to 34) and (65+) DepressionDepression Previous exposure (self or family)Previous exposure (self or family) Loss of hope/rational thinkingLoss of hope/rational thinking Means and planMeans and plan No spouse or significant otherNo spouse or significant other Illness Illness
SourcesSources
Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, & Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention, Clark, Thompson and Postvention, Clark, Thompson and WelzantWelzant
World Health Organization, Preventing World Health Organization, Preventing SuicideSuicide
www.firechief.comwww.firechief.com
Suicide and First Suicide and First RespondersResponders
Bill PrasadBill Prasad
Behavioral Health CoordinatorBehavioral Health Coordinator
Fairfax County Fire and RescueFairfax County Fire and Rescue
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