Suicide: Prevention and EducationSuicide Prevention Awareness Month: September 2014

Purdue University North Central Student Counseling CenterLSF 103B(219) 785-5373Counseling Center Website

Table of Contents

• 1. Facts about suicide• 2. Myths About Suicide• 3. Suicide Warning Signs• 4. How to Help: What to Do & What NOT to do• 5. Talking to a Person w/suicidal Thoughts• 6. Resources

*Clicking on the links will take you to that particular section.

Facts about Suicide

• 2nd leading cause of death for college students.

• 3rd leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.

• #1 risk factor for suicide is untreated depression.

• On average, one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes.

Information obtained from:http://www.suicide.org/index.html

Facts about Suicide continued:

• Between 20%- 50% of people who complete suicide had previously attempted suicide.

• Those who have made suicide attempts are at higher risk for actually taking their own lives.

• About 75% of people who complete suicide give some clue as to their intentions before they make an attempt.

• 60%-70% of completed suicides are completed on their first attempt and had no know history of prior attempts.

Information obtained from the contact crisisline.org

Kleespies, P. M., & Dettmer, E. L. (2000). An evidence-based approach to evaluating and managing suicidal emergencies. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(9), 1109-1130.

Myths about Suicide

• "People who talk about suicide won't really do it."• Almost all people who commit suicide exhibit warning signs

beforehand. Do not ignore suicide threats even if told jokingly.

• "Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy."• Most suicidal people are not “crazy”. They may be suffering from

depression, feelings of grief, and hopelessness. Suffering from extreme distress and emotional pain are not indications of being mentally ill.

Information obtained from the crisisline.org

contactcrisisline.org

Myths about Suicide continued:

• "If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop him/her."• Most individuals waiver until the very last moment between wanting

to die and wanting to live. Suicide is usually driven by a desire for the pain to stop, not to die. The impulse to commit suicide does not last forever.

• "Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.“• False. In fact, broaching the topic of suicide and discussing it openly

is one of the most helpful things one can do.

Suicide Warning Signs

• Threatening or talking about hurting or killing oneself

• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means

• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person

• Feeling hopeless

• Feeling rage or uncontrollable anger or seeking revenge

• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities-seemingly without thinking

• Feeling trapped-like there’s no way out

Information obtained from: suicide prevention lifeline.org

Suicide Warning Signs continued:

• Increasing alcohol or drug use

• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society

• Losing interest in activities

• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

• Experiencing dramatic mood changes

• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life

• Giving away prized personal possessions

• Sudden sense of calm

-A sudden sense of calm and happiness after being extremely depressed can mean that the person has made a decision to commit suicide.

What to Do• Suicide Prevention #1: Speak up!

• Ways to start a conversation about suicide:

-I have been feeling concerned about you lately. -Recently, I have noticed some differences in you and wondered how you are doing. -I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately.

What To Do Continued..

• Questions you can ask:-What you can say that helps: -You are not alone in this. I’m here for you. -You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change. -I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help. -When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just one more day, hour, minute whatever you can manage.

What to do continued• What you can say that helps:

-You are not alone in this. I’m here for you. -You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change. -I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help. -When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just one more day, hour, minute—whatever you can manage.

Remember; always take thoughts of suicide or plans for suicide seriously.

Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts

• Do:• Be yourself. Let the person know you care, that he/she is

not alone. The right words are often unimportant. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it.

• Listen. Let the suicidal person unload despair, ventilate anger. No matter how negative the conversation seems, the fact that it exists is a positive sign.

• Be sympathetic, non-judgmental, patient, calm, accepting. Your friend or family member is doing the right thing by talking about his/her feelings.

Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts

• Offer hope. Reassure the person that help is available and that the suicidal feelings are temporary. Let the person know that his or her life is important to you.

• If the person says things like, “I’m so depressed, I can’t go on,” ask the question: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” You are not putting ideas in their head, you are showing that you are concerned, that you take them seriously, and that it’s OK for them to share their pain with you.

Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts

• But DO NOT:• Argue with the suicidal person. Avoid saying things like:

"You have so much to live for," "Your suicide will hurt your family," or “Look on the bright side.”

• Act shocked, lecture on the value of life, or say that suicide is wrong.

• Promise confidentiality. Refuse to be sworn to secrecy. A life is at stake and you may need to speak to a mental health professional in order to keep the suicidal person safe. If you promise to keep your discussions secret, you may have to break your word.

Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts Continued

• Offer ways to fix their problems, or give advice, or make them feel like they have to justify their suicidal feelings. It is not about how bad the problem is, but how badly it’s hurting your friend or loved one.

• Blame yourself. You can’t “fix” someone’s depression. Your loved one’s happiness, or lack thereof, is not your responsibility.

How to Get Help

If you, a friend, or loved one is a registered PNC student:• Visit the PNC Student Counseling Center, located in LSF

103B. Call 219-785-5373 or stop in to make an appointment.

• Fall & Spring Hours• Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Resources• Self-Evaluator:-You can use the anonymous Self Evaluator to learn if a treatable mental health problem could be affecting you or a friend. U life line evaluator

• Half of Us: -A website dedicated to educating the public on different mental health issues through video sharing, etc. Half of us.com

Resources• Jed Foundation-Jed Foundation.org-Provides resources, information, and promotes emotional health for college students. It also provides campus professionals, parents, and supporters with information and resources on how to get involved on campus to help fight suicide and promote emotional health.

Purdue University North Central Student Counseling Center

Website

How to Get Help continued:

• If you, a friend, or loved one is not a PNC student or if the Counseling Center is closed:

• Visit the nearest hospital emergency room

• Call 911

• Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline • 1-800-273-TALK • 1-877-SUICIDA (spanish)• Suicide prevention .org

• If you are in Northwest Indiana call the Crisis Center• 1-800-519-0469• 1-219-938-0900

How to Get Help continued:

• If you, a friend, or loved one is not a PNC student or if the Counseling Center is closed you may contact the following local mental health facilities,

• Edgewater Systems (Gary)• 219-885-4264

• Porter Starke (Porter/Starke Counties)• 219-531-3500

• Regional Mental Health Center (Lake County)• South Lake County: 219-736-7200• North Lake County: 219-392-6001

• Swanson Center (LaPorte County)• 219-879-0676• 1-800-982-7123

• Wabash Valley (Newton/Jasper Counties)• 765-463-2555• 1-800-859-5553

Internet Resources on Suicide Prevention• http://www.ulifeline.org/schools/puc

• http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/suicide/DS01062

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/suicide/MH00054

• http://www.save.org/ • http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_suicide_prevention_day/en/

• http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/index.html

• http://www.iasp.info/

• http://www.suicide.org/index.html

• http://contactcrisisline.org/resources/suicide/