Suicide Prevention & Intervention

Training for Secondary students

Dept. of Guidance and Counseling

Fall 2017
 Why Address Suicide?
• Suicide is the death of someone’s
daughter, son, or friend.

• SUICIDE IS PREVENTABLE.

• 1 SUICIDE IS 1 TOO MANY!

 Why Address Suicide?

Suicide is the death of someone’s daughter, son, &

friend.
 Fastest growing 3rd leading
age group is 10- cause of death
14 years old ages 10-14

More than 1 in 2nd leading

5 students cause of death
consider suicide Why for ages 15-24
Address
Suicide?
RISK FACTORS
GENERAL YOUTH SPECIFIC
• Mental disorders • Separation/divorce of
• Alcohol and substance abuse parents or family crisis

• History of trauma or abuse • Harassment by peers

(bullying)
• Family history
• Sexual identity/orientation
• Access to lethal means-pills,
guns, etc. • Relationship break up

• Lack of social support and • Feelings of stress brought

sense of isolation about by perceived
achievement needs
• Hopelessness
• Inadequate problem
solving/coping mechanisms
 WARNING SIGNS
• Situational
– persistent sadness
– change in mood
– change in eating/sleeping habits
– crisis or traumatic event
 WARNING SIGNS
• Behavioral
– writing or drawing about death/suicide
– irritability/anger
– withdrawal from friends and activities
– under the influence (50% are under influence
at time of attempt.)
– giving things away
 WARNING SIGNS
• Verbal
– “I’m going to kill myself.”
– “I wish I were dead.”
– “I can’t take it anymore.”
– “You would be better off without me.”
– frequent complaints about physical symptoms
(stomach ache, headache, tired)
 Resiliency
A skill that allows individuals to…

• manage life’s challenges, stresses, changes, and

pressures effectively

• cope with and adapt successfully to adversity

• bounce back to a balanced state after facing a major

disruption in life.
 Teens who are resilient
• see problems and difficult situations as challenges

• go with the flow

• have high self-esteem, self-confidence, self-concept, and

sense of self

• create goals and work at accomplishing them

• bounce back from disappointments

• have hope for their future

 Ways to Develop a Bounce-Back Mentality
• Remind yourself frequently of your positive qualities.

• Stay in the present without dwelling on the past.

• Take more responsibility for your own actions and for

what happens in your life.

• Overcome negative messages by releasing them and

reversing them to make them more positive.

• Learn from your experiences.

 Ways to Develop a Bounce-Back Mentality
• Be sure that the negative influences of the past do
not negatively affect your future.

• Laugh and find humor in your day.

• Invest in yourself.
 How You Can Help Yourself
• Contact a caring adult.
• Develop a sense of connection
in school.
• Become involved in extra-
curricular activities.
• Develop positive self-esteem
and coping strategies.
• Access resources (counselors,
support groups, treatment
programs).
• Ask for help!
MOBILE APPLICATIONS

CIH Guide
Crisis Intervention
of Houston
 How You Can Help Others
• Be aware of signs.
• Listen & be there for your
friend. Suicidepreventionlifeline.org tells you how to report.

• Refer friend to the school

counselor.
• Tell an adult (parent and counselor).

Krista’s story (Always Tell Someone)

https://youtu.be/cOCMsgoM6To
 Suicide Hotline
Numbers
Ask for HELP-
1-800-273-TALK(8255)
for yourself or 832-416-1199
others! If an emergency, go
to nearest
emergency room, or
call 911
QUESTIONS?
 REFERENCES
• www.cdc.gov

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Report

• Teen Resiliency-Building Workbook

John J. Liptak, Ed.D. & Ester R.A. Leutenberg