Hope Hutira-Green, MS, NCCProgram Manager
The Jesse Klump Memorial Fund, Inc.
Youth Suicide Awareness &
Prevention
Jesse Klump 5/26/1991-2/27/2009
1. Scholarship Fund2. Suicide Grievers’
Support Group3. Awareness Program
1. Teach warning signs2. Describe effective
response
Jesse Klump Memorial Fund, Incwww.JessesPaddle.org
Prevention may be a matter of a caring person with the right knowledge
being available in the right place at the right
time.
Workshop Goals Recognize prevalence of youth suicide Identify warning signs of suicide Provide an effective response to youth at
risk of suicide
Why talk about suicide?
Tragic reality inthe lives of our
youth!
SUICIDE: A permanent solution to a temporary problem!
Youth Statistics & Suicide 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds1
1st Leading cause of death among LGBTQ youth
5th leading cause of death among 5-14 year olds1
For every completion there are 50-200 attempts1
Approximately 2 million adolescents attempt suicide per year1
Every day approximately 11 youth suicides occur
Bringing it home… Worcester County
1st in state for suicide rate1
47.5 % higher than state average1
1 of top 5 counties for teen suicide1
Today’s YouthIn the last year (2009) MD 9-12 graders reported:
10.4% made a suicide attempt 210 students in Worcester Co. HS
14% seriously considered suicide 294 students in Worcester Co. HS
11% made a suicide plan 231 students in Worcester Co. HS
2 out of 3 students who attempt suicide return to school the following day
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System March 1, 2011. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/YouthOnline/App/Results.aspx?LID=MD
“I’m a daughter hiding my depression. I’m a sister making a good
impression. I’m the girl sitting next to you. I’m the one asking you to care. I’m your best
friend hoping you’ll be there.”
Young Life = stress Family Pressure
Divorce/ New marriage Single parentDeathAbuse/Neglect
School Related IssuesGradesFitting inBullying
Young Life Cont. Peers
Social mediaDrugs/AlcoholBreak-up
DiscriminationBeing excludedBeing made fun ofSexual orientation
“I’m sick of crying, tired of trying, yeah I’m smiling, but inside I’m
dying”
Beliefs about Suicide… Talking to someone about suicide will put the idea
into his/her head.
Suicide is generally preventable.
Suicide happens without warning.
Most people who attempt suicide have gotten it out of their systems and won’t try it again.
People who talk about suicide won’t do it; it is the people who don’t talk about it we need to be concerned about.
Suicidal Behavior
An attempt to solve a problem of intense pain with impaired skills
The Brain… PET scan of the brain for depression
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00356
Risk Factors Clinical depression Access to lethal methods, guns Past suicide attempt Plan to attempt suicide Family history of suicide Impulsive/aggressive tendencies History of abuse Stressful life event(s) Perfectionist
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23041
Means Matter Harvard School of Public Health
85% of firearm suicide attempts are fatal 82% of firearm youth suicides (17 &
under) used a family member’s gun, usually a parent’s
“How much time passed between the time you decided to complete suicide and when you actually attempted suicide?” (Simon 2001) 24% said less than five minutes Another 47% said an hour or less 33% of youth who died by suicide had
faced a crisis in the previous 24 hours
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/index.html
Warning SignsThoughts
Feelings
Behavior“I just can’t take it anymore”
“I wish I were dead”“No one cares”
“Everyone will be better off without me”
“All of my problems will end soon”“No one can do anything to help me
now”“I won’t be needing these things
anymore”“ I won’t be a problem for you
much longer”
HopelessTrapped
BurdenedAlone
PurposelessGuiltyAngry
DesperateWorthless
Giving away possessionsWithdrawal
Aggressive BehaviorSudden mood change
Alcohol/drug useDisturbed
sleep/appetiteRecklessnessImpulsiveness
Warning Signs of SuicideI
S
PATH
WARM
Ideation – Threatened or communicated
Substance use or abuse – Excessive or increased
Purposelessness – No reasons for living
Anxiety – Agitation/Insomnia
Trapped - Feeling like there is no way out
Hopelessness - There is nothing to live
Withdrawal – From family, friend, school, activities, etc.
Anger (uncontrolled) – Rage, seeking revenge
Recklessness – Risky acts, unthinking
Mood changes – Baseline
www.suicidology.org/stats-and-tools/suicide-warning-signs
What do I do? ASK
A – Ask S – Stay with the person K – Konnect
ASK Be direct Suicide
“Are you feeling so badly that you're considering suicide?"
"That sounds like an awful lot for one person to take; has it made you think about killing yourself to escape?“
Plan“Do you have a plan?”
Access“Do you have access to the means?”
STAY Do NOT LEAVE ALONE! LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! Show you care Reflect what you hear Know your limits Know your resources
*Do not worry about doing or saying exactly the "right" thing. Convey care!
Listening to a youth Acknowledge feelings Clarify what you hear Summarize Validate
KONNECT Parent Mental Health Professional Family Doctor 1-800-273-TALK 911
“We need some extra help” “I want to make sure you are okay”
Do’s & Don’ts DO
Listen, Listen, Listen Avoid accusing/judging Know your limits Remove access to means
○ Guns, firearms○ Ropes, belts, hoses, knotted
cords, shoe laces○ Knives, medicine
Connect with professional help
Always take suicide SERIOUSLY!
DON’T Promise to keep the secret Tell a person not to feel that
way Punish a person for telling
you Express tough love Say high school is best time of
life Won’t care about this is 20
years Leave the person alone
Practice Scenario
ScenariosChoose One
12 year old - older sibling was abused by step father in their house; feels guilty because didn’t stop or know what was happening; step father in jail; mom upset because step dad going to jail and fear of supporting family alone; daughter does not want to add to her mother’s worries
10th grader – A student; started handing in assignments late (atypical); dated sporadically on and off (currently not dating anyone); two older siblings in college – one full scholarship for engineering at PSU and other working on law degree; feels like a disappointment to father (who was a great athlete)
Protective Factors Sense of Connection!
Caring relationship with trusted adult
Positive self-esteem Good coping skills Access to care Cultural/religious
beliefs
To Do Be aware of warning signs Connect with youth/offer ongoing support Complete ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Strategies Training)
June, 2 day workshop in Snow Hill Ask us to speak to your church group, your school, community
association, fraternal organization, any place where people gather who may one day have to save a life.
May 29th: “Why s my Child so Moody?” A talk about teen depression and youth suicide prevention. Ocean Pines library, 6:30 p.m. sponsored by the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund and Atlantic General Hospital
Jesse’s Paddle – July, 20, 2013 – Snow Hill Out of Darkness Community Walk for Suicide Prevention– September
28th– OC Board Walk
Resources 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-422-0009
MD Youth Suicide Line 410-749-4357
Life Crisis 410-629-0164
Berlin Health Department 410-632-1100
Worcester Co. Health Department 410-641-4598
Worcester Youth & Family Counseling Center 911
Additional Resources www.maine.gov/suicide/youth
Maine Teen Suicide PreventionResources and information for teens
www.suicidology.orgAmerican Association of SuicidologyData, resources, links
www.maine.gov/suicideMaine Youth Suicide Prevention ProgramExtensive resources and information on youth suicide
www.sptsnj.orgSociety for the Prevention of Teen SuicideFocuses on resources for the competent school community
www.sprc.orgSuicide Prevention Resource CenterNational resource
www.afsp.orgAmerican Foundation for Suicide PreventionPrinted materials & resources
References1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control. (2010). 2. National Alliance on Mental Illness.
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23041
3. http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=228&name=DLFE-392.pdf
4. Mortality figures appearing here are derived or calculated from data in the following official data source: obtained 12 September from CDC’s WISQARS website: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html.
5. http://www.afsp.org/6. http://www.suicidology.org/home7. http://www.suicidology.org/stats-and-tools/suicide-warning-signs
* Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
http://wherelivingwatersflow.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/hope-in-focus.jpg
Your Role as ParentsTalk about suicide
1. Pick a good time2. Be conversational3. Be honest4. Be direct5. Listen to what your child has to say6. If you get worried, ask more
questions7. Revisit the conversation