Suicide Prevention
Suicide is NEVER the answer, getting help is the answer. Prevention, Awareness, and support is available at Suicide.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8225
What are some warning signs?
Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.Displaying extreme mood swings.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://psychcentral.com/helpme.htm
Keeping Students Safe:
Why should we worry about youth suicide? Are many kids really depressed or suicidal?
Suicide can be prevented by knowing a few key warning signs.
Early warning signs include:
Myth: Asking a student how they are doing or if they have had thoughts about harming themselves will bring on thoughts of suicide.
Reality: Students are already thinking about and completing suicide. Carefully talking about the topic and getting students to help are keys to preventing suicide.
Myth: Students won’t be honest when asked if they need help.
Reality: Students who are having thoughts about suicide are usually scared and want help. No one truly wants to die.
Myth: Only pupil service professionals can/should help a suicidal student.
Reality: Everyone in school can help prevent youth suicide by connecting students to appropriate helping professionals.
Other Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8225
What are some warning signs?
Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
Talking about being a burden to others.
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.Displaying extreme mood swings.
- Acknowledge
- Care/Concern
- Tell someone!
What can you do if you are concerned about a student?
Teachers and other school staff are well-positioned to observe student behavior and to ACT if there is a suspicion that a student may consider self-harm. Young people lack the perspective of time. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, but for kids, their problems can seem endless at this stage. If we get them through the crisis, they are very unlikely to attempt suicide. ACT stands forAcknowledge, Care, and Tell.
Acknowledge the feelings.- “I’m sorry to hear about this. It sounds really hard.”
- “You have some major challenges in your life right now.”
“You’ll get over this.” “Time heals all wounds.” “Stop worrying so much—it’s no biggie.”
Show Care and Concern for the student by taking the next step.- “I’m worried about you. I don’t want anything bad to happen or for you to be hurt.”
- “I don’t want this to get any worse.”
- “I really want to be sure you get some help.”
- “You’re important to me and so many others and I want to be sure you stay safe.”
- “Let’s go talk with someone in the counseling office. They know how to work with students who have concerns like these.”
- “I know the people in Student Services, and they work with a lot of students who face challenges like this. Let’s go together, right now.” (Walk with them to the counseling center or to a teacher that they know. Don't take their "word" for it that they'll seek out help on their own)
These steps (Acknowledge-Care-Tell) are the central components of the “Signs of Suicide” program (SOS), an evidence-based school-wide intervention program.
- Police Officer, Teacher, Nurse, Counselor, Administrator, Parent or anyone else you can find who might be able to help.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://psychcentral.com/helpme.htm
Keeping Students Safe:
Why should we worry about youth suicide? Are many kids really depressed or suicidal?
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth in Kansas.
- We have the 19th highest rate in the US, 29% higher than the U.S. average.
- We lose one young person to suicide about every other week.
- More than one in five Kansas high school students report symptoms of depression.
Suicide can be prevented by knowing a few key warning signs.
Early warning signs include:
- Declining quality of school work.
- In girls, watch for social isolation. In boys, anger problems.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Change in eating habits, eating a lot or very little.
- Talking about suicide
- Change in sleeping habits—a major sleep disturbance is an important sign
- Impulsive violent or rebellious actions
- Sudden cheerfulness after a period of depression
- Giving away possessions
- Making a last will/testament
- Mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety, usually contribute to attempted and completed suicides. These concerns are treatable, but they must be recognized.
- A prior suicide attempt is the best predictor of a future suicide attempt.
- Everyone in a school community can identify and help students at risk for suicide.
Myth: Asking a student how they are doing or if they have had thoughts about harming themselves will bring on thoughts of suicide.
Reality: Students are already thinking about and completing suicide. Carefully talking about the topic and getting students to help are keys to preventing suicide.
Myth: Students won’t be honest when asked if they need help.
Reality: Students who are having thoughts about suicide are usually scared and want help. No one truly wants to die.
Myth: Only pupil service professionals can/should help a suicidal student.
Reality: Everyone in school can help prevent youth suicide by connecting students to appropriate helping professionals.
Other Resources:
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center, www.sprc.org
- American Association of Suicidology, www.suicidology.org
- SMS Counseling Staff: Johanna Fredenberg, Erin Burvee- social workers Niki Dosland, Mike Heil, Kelly Lillis, Dave Mesh- Counselors
- Johnson County Mental Health Center 913-831-2550