Download ppt - Beaverton School District

ACT® to Prevent
Suicide
Diane Santoro, LICSW
Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
Objectives






Information about the SOS program
Warning signs of youth depression & suicide
View the SOS DVD
Importance of working as a team
What is the school protocol?
Available resources
Why? What? How?

Why is it important?


Mortality from suicide increases steadily through the teens
Children and particularly adolescents who suffer from depression
are at much greater risk of dying by suicide

What is the SOS program?

A program to help students recognize the symptoms of depression
or warning signs of suicide in themselves or others
Teach them the appropriate action steps to take to get help by using
ACT


How are we implementing the program at
Southridge?
Depression & Youth
In 2007, 8.2% of adolescents (an estimated 2
million youth aged 12 to 17) experienced at least
one major depressive episode in the past year
(SAMHSA, 2009).
 What is a Major Depressive Episode?


DSM-IV: a period of 2 weeks or longer in which there
is either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or
pleasure AND at least 4 of the following:
Increase or decrease in appetite
 Problems with sleeping
 Fatigue or energy loss
 Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt
 Diminished ability to think or concentrate

Prevalence of Suicide Among Youth
 Nationally, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among
children ages 15-24 (4,405 deaths in 2006) (CDC, 2004). Only
accidents and homicides occurred more frequently.
 Whereas suicides accounted for 1.4% of all deaths in the U.S.
annually, they comprised 12% of all deaths among 15-24-yearolds.
 Adolescent suicidal behavior is deemed to be underreported
because many deaths of this type are classified as unintentional
or accidental (World Medical Association, 2004).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury
Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. (2004) [cited 2005 Feb 28]. Available from: URL:
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.

In 2007, 8.2% of adolescents (1 in 12: an
estimated 2 million youth aged 12 to 17) reported
experiencing at least one major depressive
episode in the past year (SAMHSA, 2009).

In children and adolescents, an untreated
depressive episode may last between 7 to 9
months, potentially an entire academic year!

More than 90% of people who complete suicide
have a diagnosable mental disorder, most
commonly a depressive disorder or a substance
abuse disorder (NIMH, 2009).
By the Numbers…
 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that:
 26.1% felt so sad or hopeless for 2+ weeks that they stopped
doing some usual activity.
 13.8% seriously considered attempting suicide.
 10.9% made a suicide plan.
 6.3% attempted suicide.
 1.9% of those who made an attempt required medical
attention
Suicide – Risk Factors
Risk factors are not necessarily causes.
 Suicidal distress can be caused by
psychological, environmental, and social factors.
 The first step in preventing suicide is to identify
and understand the risk factors.
 The strongest risk factors for suicide in youth are
depression, substance abuse, and previous
attempts (NAMI, 2003).
 Mental illness is the leading risk factor for
suicide.
 Over 90% of children and adolescents who die
by suicide have a least one major psychiatric
disorder (Gould et al., 2003).

Suicide Risk Factors

















Previous suicide attempt(s)
History of mental disorders, particularly depression
History of alcohol and substance abuse
Family history of suicide or child abuse
Feelings of hopelessness
Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
Loss or interpersonal conflict (problems w/ school or the law
Physical illness
Easy access to lethal means, especially guns
Unwillingness to seek help because of the attached stigma
Local epidemic of suicide
Isolation
Incarceration or a pending disciplinary incident
Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others
History of physical and/or sexual abuse
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender youth
SUICIDE: A MULTI-FACTORIAL EVENT
Psychiatric Illness
Co-morbidity
Personality
Disorder/Traits
Neurobiology
Impulsiveness
Substance
Use/Abuse
Hopelessness
Suicide
Severe Medical
Illness
Access To Weapons
Life Stressors
Family History
Psychodynamics/
Psychological Vulnerability
Suicidal
Behavior
Warning signs that demand immediate
action










Talking or writing about suicide or death
Direct verbal cues
Less direct verbal cues
Isolation
Expressing the belief that life is meaningless
Giving away prized possessions
A sudden and unexplained improvement in mood
Neglecting appearance and hygiene
Dropping out of school or activities
Obtaining a weapon or another means
ACT






Acknowledge
Admit you are seeing the signs of depression
or suicide in a friend and it is serious
Care
Let your friend know that your care about
him/her, and that you are concerned that
he/she needs help you cannot provide
Tell
Inform a trusted adult, with your friend or on
his/her behalf
Myth or Fact






It’s normal for teens to be moody; teens don’t suffer
from “real” depression
Teens who claim to be depressed are weak and just
need to pull themselves together. There’s nothing
anyone can do to help
People who talk about suicide won’t really do it
If a person is determined to kill themselves, nothing
is going to stop them
People who commit suicide are people who
unwilling to seek help
Talking about suicide may give someone the idea
Questions?
Related Issues:
Social Networking concerns
Cutting or Self-harming behaviors