Teenage Suicide:Teenage Suicide:

SUICIDESUICIDE

Intentional Self-Inflicted Intentional Self-Inflicted DeathDeath

Just the FactsJust the Facts•Every 13.7 minutes another life is lost to Every 13.7 minutes another life is lost to suicide, taking the lives of more than 38,364 suicide, taking the lives of more than 38,364 Americans every year.Americans every year.

•Every day 105.8 Americans take their own life Every day 105.8 Americans take their own life

•Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in America; Homicide is 15death in America; Homicide is 15thth. . •For young people 15-24 years old, suicide For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.is the third leading cause of death.

OUR YouthOUR Youth In 2010, there were 4,600 In 2010, there were 4,600

reported youth suicides in the reported youth suicides in the United States. United States.

Each day there are Each day there are approximately 12 youth suicidesapproximately 12 youth suicides

Most common method is Most common method is firearms followed by firearms followed by suffocationssuffocations

Males complete 4 times more Males complete 4 times more than females; females attempt than females; females attempt four times more than males. four times more than males.

1 out of every 53 high school 1 out of every 53 high school students (1.9 percent) students (1.9 percent) reported having made a reported having made a suicide attempt that was suicide attempt that was serious enough to be treated serious enough to be treated medically (CDC, 2010a).medically (CDC, 2010a).

Approximately 1 out of every Approximately 1 out of every 15 high school students 15 high school students attempts suicide each year attempts suicide each year (CDC, 2010a). (CDC, 2010a).

For every completed suicide, For every completed suicide, there are 100-200 attempts there are 100-200 attempts among adolescents. among adolescents.

Suicide Attempts

Suicide in AdolescentsSuicide in Adolescents Research shows that most adolescent Research shows that most adolescent

suicides occur after school hours and suicides occur after school hours and in the teen’s homes.in the teen’s homes.

Most adolescent suicides are Most adolescent suicides are precipitated by interpersonal conflict.precipitated by interpersonal conflict.

Suicide in AdolescentsSuicide in Adolescents

The Teenage BrainThe Teenage Brain

Adolescence is a time of Adolescence is a time of profound brain growth.profound brain growth.

Greatest changes to the Greatest changes to the brain that are responsible brain that are responsible for impulse control, for impulse control, decision making, decision making, planning, organization, planning, organization, and emotion occur in and emotion occur in adolescence (prefrontal adolescence (prefrontal cortex). cortex).

Do not reach full maturity Do not reach full maturity until age 25. until age 25.

What do teens deal with?What do teens deal with? Increased school pressures as they progress through higher grades

Possibly first romantic relationships

Exploring increased independence and identity

Experimenting with substance use

Puberty and Hormone fluctuation

Bullying

Peer ProblemsPeer Problems

Several studies have found Several studies have found relationships between suicidal relationships between suicidal behavior and social isolation, behavior and social isolation, sexual orientation, and peer sexual orientation, and peer rejection.rejection.

70% of suicide completions 70% of suicide completions and attempts occur following and attempts occur following the loss or conflict with family the loss or conflict with family and peers. and peers.

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual youth are 1 Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual youth are 1 ½ - 7 times more likely to have reported ½ - 7 times more likely to have reported ideation (suicidal thoughts).ideation (suicidal thoughts).

LGB Youth in multiple studies are found LGB Youth in multiple studies are found to be 3-4 times more likely to attempt to be 3-4 times more likely to attempt suicide. suicide.

58% of LGB youth who had attempted 58% of LGB youth who had attempted suicide reported they really hoped to die suicide reported they really hoped to die vs. 33% of heterosexuals who attempted vs. 33% of heterosexuals who attempted and reported really hoping to die. and reported really hoping to die.

Sexual IdentificationSexual Identification

Bullying: 3 defining characteristics:

1.Intentional—behavior is deliberately harmful or threatening

2. Repeated—a bully targets the same victim again and again

3 .Power Imbalanced—a bully chooses victims he or she perceives as vulnerable

CyberspaceCyberspace

CYBERSPACE is the new environment where "

youth are forming communities.

Cyber bullyingCyber bullying

93% of teens ages 12-17 are on the Internet.

75% of teens own a cell phone.

A typical teen sends about >100 text messages a day.

Most teen cell phone users make just 1-5 calls per day.

82% of online teens ages 14-17 are on social network sites

What makes Cyberbullying What makes Cyberbullying different?different?

DistanceDistance 24/724/7 Multiple methodsMultiple methods

Text messages; Text messages; video clips; video clips; Websites; Social Websites; Social Media; IM; Emails; Media; IM; Emails; Chat roomsChat rooms

AnonymousAnonymous Expanded AudienceExpanded Audience

Bullying effectsBullying effects Withdraws socially; has few or no Withdraws socially; has few or no

friends.friends. Feels isolated, alone, and sad.Feels isolated, alone, and sad. Feels picked on or persecuted. Feels picked on or persecuted. Feels rejected and not liked.Feels rejected and not liked. Complains frequently of illness.Complains frequently of illness. Doesn’t want to go to school; Doesn’t want to go to school;

avoids some classes or skips avoids some classes or skips school.school.

Brings home damaged Brings home damaged possessions or reports them “lost.” possessions or reports them “lost.”

Cries easily; displays mood Cries easily; displays mood swings and talks about swings and talks about hopelessness. Has poor social hopelessness. Has poor social skills.skills.

Talks about running away/suicide. Talks about running away/suicide.

Bullying risks for suicide:Bullying risks for suicide:

Verbal Verbal PhysicalPhysical RelationalRelational

Both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at a higher risk for suicide than their peers. Children who are both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at the highest risk

One study found that victims of cyberbullying had higher levels of depression than victims of face-to-face bullying

SUICIDE: MythSUICIDE: Myth

Confronting a person about suicide will Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase only make them angry and increase the risk of suicidethe risk of suicide..

• Asking someone directly about Asking someone directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act lowers the risk of an impulsive act

MythMyth

•Those who talk about suicide Those who talk about suicide don’t do don’t do it.it.

• People who talk about People who talk about suicide may suicide may

try, or even complete, an act try, or even complete, an act of of self-destruction.self-destruction.

MythMyth

•If a suicidal youth tells a friend, If a suicidal youth tells a friend, the the friend will access help.friend will access help.

•Most young people do not tell Most young people do not tell an an adultadult

•Risk Factors- characteristics that will make it more likely that an individual will consider, attempt, or die by suicide

•Warning Signs- behaviors that indicate signs of immediate risk

•Protective Factors- characteristics that make it less likely that individuals will consider, attempt, or die by suicide.

SUICIDE- Risk Factors, Warning Signs, Protective

Factors

Risk Factors

Ideation-thoughts about suicideIdeation-thoughts about suicide Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse PurposelessnessPurposelessness AnxietyAnxiety TrappedTrapped HopelessnessHopelessness WithdrawalWithdrawal AngerAnger RecklessnessRecklessness Mood ChangesMood Changes

Problems that increase Suicide RiskProblems that increase Suicide Risk

Prior suicide attemptsPrior suicide attempts Mental health disordersMental health disorders History of trauma or abuseHistory of trauma or abuse Family history of suicideFamily history of suicide Lack of social supportLack of social support

•Major physical illnesses

•Losses

•Bullying

•Easy access to lethal means

•Local clusters of suicide

Situations that increase suicide riskSituations that increase suicide risk

Firearms are used in 58% Firearms are used in 58% of successful suicidesof successful suicides

The rate of completed The rate of completed suicides is fives times suicides is fives times higher in houses with higher in houses with firearms. firearms.

Firearms are even more Firearms are even more prevalent in suicides prevalent in suicides involving alcohol. involving alcohol.

Access to means

Acquiring a gun or stockpiling pillsAcquiring a gun or stockpiling pills Talking about wanting to die or kill Talking about wanting to die or kill

oneselfoneself Impulsivity/increased risk takingImpulsivity/increased risk taking Giving away prized possessionsGiving away prized possessions Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting)Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting) Increased drug or alcohol abuseIncreased drug or alcohol abuse Talking about no reason to liveTalking about no reason to live

Warning Signs:Warning Signs:

Protective FactorsProtective Factors •Treatment for Mental health, physical disorders

•Increased access to interventions

•Restricted access to highly lethal means

•Strong connections to family and community support

•Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills

•Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation.

•Treatment for Mental health, physical disorders

•Increased access to interventions

•Restricted access to highly lethal means

•Strong connections to family and community support

•Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills

•Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation.

““I’m tired of life, I just can’t go on.”I’m tired of life, I just can’t go on.” ““My family would be better off without me.”My family would be better off without me.” ““Who cares if I’m dead anyway.”Who cares if I’m dead anyway.” ““I just want out.”I just want out.” ““I won’t be around much longer.”I won’t be around much longer.” ““Pretty soon you won’t have to worry aboutPretty soon you won’t have to worry about

me.” me.”

Indirect or “Coded” Verbal Indirect or “Coded” Verbal Clues:Clues:

What to Do for the IndividualWhat to Do for the Individual

Take it seriouslyTake it seriously Almost 80% of all suicides had Almost 80% of all suicides had

given some warning of their given some warning of their intentionsintentions

Ask DirectlyAsk DirectlyIf you think that someone is If you think that someone is

suicidal, ask them about itsuicidal, ask them about it

When talking to a suicidal personWhen talking to a suicidal person Be yourself. Let the person know you care, Be yourself. Let the person know you care,

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

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

What to do:What to do:

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

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

What to Do What to Do

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

What to Do What to Do

Don’t argue with the suicidal person. Avoid Don’t argue with the suicidal person. Avoid saying things like: "You have so much to saying things like: "You have so much to live for," "Your suicide will hurt your live for," "Your suicide will hurt your family," or “Look on the bright side.” family," or “Look on the bright side.”

Don’t act shocked, lecture on the value of Don’t act shocked, lecture on the value of life, or say that suicide is wrong. life, or say that suicide is wrong.

Do NotDo Not

Don’t promise confidentiality. Refuse to be Don’t promise confidentiality. Refuse to be sworn to secrecy. A life is at stake and you may sworn to secrecy. A life is at stake and you may need to speak to a mental health professional in need to speak to a mental health professional in order to keep the suicidal person safe. order to keep the suicidal person safe.

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

Don’t blame yourself. Don’t blame yourself.

Do NotDo Not

Stay ThereStay There Don’t leave them alone. Don’t leave them alone.

Seek HelpSeek Help -Be actively -Be actively involved in seeking help from a involved in seeking help from a teacher, counselor or other teacher, counselor or other adultadult