YOUTH SUICIDE: THERE IS HOPE!

1
YOUTH SUICIDE THERE IS HOPE!
Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide Prevention
A Call to Hope and A Call to Life
Gumbo of Results!
Gumbo of Results!
Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide
Prevention- Evolution of Suicide Prevention in
Louisiana!

• TRINA EVANS WILLIAMS, MPH, CHES
• STATE PROJECT DIRECTOR
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS
• OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH

2
SUICIDE IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

• Every day 86 Americans take their own life.
• Every day 16 American youth die by suicide.
• Every day over 1500 attempt suicide. Although
  more females attempt suicide than males, males
  are at least 4Xs more likely to die from
  suicide.
• Firearms are the most common means of suicide
  among U.S. Men and Women accounting for 59 of
  all suicide deaths.
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death and
  homicide is the 14th for Americans. That is
  more Americans kill themselves than are killed by
  others! -National Strategy for Suicide
  Prevention--

3
YOUTH SUICIDE A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

• More U.S. teenagers and young adults die from
  suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS,
  birth defects,stroke, pneumonia and influenza,
  and chronic lung disease combined!
• 1952-1996, reported rates of suicide among
  adolescents and young adults nearly tripled!

The Road to Life
4
YOUTH SUICIDE A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM

• Among youth aged
• 15-19 years, firearms-related suicides accounted
  for 96 of the increase in the suicide rate since
  1980.
• Among American Youth 15-24 years of age, suicide
  is the 3rd leading cause of death, exceeded only
  by unintentional injury homicide.

5
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

• Newly released data from the National Survey on
  Drug Use and Health reveal that approximately
  900,000 youths ages 12-17 made a plan to commit
  suicide during their worst or most recent episode
  on major depression and 712,000 acted on that
  plan by attempting suicide!
• Charles G. Curie, Administrator, Substance Abuse
  and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S.
  Department of Health and Human Services-January
  2006-Advancing Suicide Prevention Volume II Issue
  I

6
STORIES OF SUICIDE IN LOUISIANA

• December 13, 2001-World Trade Center Widow Age
  51-Dies by suicide. Originally from Louisiana.
  Her Friend said that she had just lost her will
  to live, she lost Hope!
• August 2001-Louisiana Teen, Age 13-Report that
  youth and class mate were previously playing
  Pass-Outgame-Older Sibling had attempted
  previously.
• Year 2002-Baton Rouge Crisis Center Survivors of
  Suicide Quilt
• Year 2003-Louisiana Teen, Age 16-Report that
  youth was very active in his Youth Ministry at
  his local church
• Year 2004-Stories of Suicide of family members
  and best friends of Yellow Ribbon Winners
• Hurricane Katrina and Rita Hits Louisiana-More
  Stories of Suicide, suicide attempts and more
  calls to the 1-800-273-TALK number in which our
  crisis call centers are answering the calls 24
  hours 7 days a week!

7
STORIES OF SUICIDE

• Year 2006-2008-More Stories of Suicide
• Year 2008-LPYSP and statewide partners intervenes
  on various suicide attempt situations
• Year 2008-High School Principal dies by suicide
• Year 2009-Student shoots at teacher and dies by
  suicide
• Every Year an average of 497 Louisiana residents
  died by suicide and 100 are youth and children.
• In Louisiana an average of 1.4 suicides each day
• In Louisiana an average of 7.2 attempts every day
• Alarming news-adolescent age 15-19 had the
  highest hospitalized attempt rate 16 of
  hospitalized attempts
• Source is SPRC-Louisiana Fact Sheet

8
KATRINAS CHILDRENA Call to Action!

• Childrens Defense Fund Statement
• Katrina children and all children in our nation.
• Katinas children face specific emergency
• mental health, health and education needs right
• now but they and all children need their
• families, communities and leaders to ensure
• them a healthy and safe foundation in the early
• years and a chance to reach productive self
• sufficient adulthood. Katrinas Children are
• Americas opportunity to -once again-to heed the
  call
• to protect!
• Childrens Mental Health Does Matter!
• Adolescents Mental Health Does Matter!

Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike hits
landfall in Louisiana!!!!
9
CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!!!!

• About every 2 hours a young person kills himself
  or herself.
• 3,000,000 teenagers have considered or attempted
  suicide in the past year.
• Untreated youth with co-occurring conditions have
  high rates of suicide.
• Some victims of bullying have attempted or
  completed suicide to escape the harassment.
• 1 in every 33 children may have depression
• 1 in 10 children in the United States suffer from
  mental illness severe enough to cause some level
  of impairment and only one in five of these same
  children receive specialty mental health services
  in any given year.
• A survey conducted by the National Mental Health
  Association showed that only one third of
  Americans believe that childrens mental health
  disabilities can be effectively treated but, the
  treatment success rate for childrens mental
  health disorders is 80.
• 74 of students who are categorized as seriously
  emotionally disabled drop out of school and are
  arrested within 5 years of dropping out

10
CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
The Road to Life
We are committed to focusing on the behavioral,
emotional, mental and social health of all
children.
11
Cause of Death by Age in USA
Suicide ranks among Top 5 Causes for all ages 10
to 54 years of age
11th ranking cause for nation

• 18th for 5-9 (6 deaths) and 65 (5,248)
• 8th for 55-64 yrs (3,843)

Source CDC WISQARS
12
Attempted Suicide Age
Attempts are most common among the young!
Attempted Suicides
Suicides
Young 1001
Elderly 41

• Estimates of youth suicide attempts to
  completions are as high as 3001

13
Proportion of USA Suicidesby Age Groupings
Adult population aged 25-44 years comprises the
largest absolute number of suicides
45-64 yrs 10,324
65 yrs 5,248
32.8
16.7
13.5
5-24 yrs 4,238
37.1
25-44 yrs 11,667

• Note Age was not stated for 7 deaths in 2003.

14
Number of Suicide Survivors
It is Estimated that there are 6 survivors for
each death by suicide
A suicide survivor is someone who has lost a
loved one to death by suicide
2,808 in Louisiana

• Ratio implies at least 175,000 survivors each year

15
Stigma Barriers to Help-Seeking
Understanding the Myths

• The concepts of fear and shame are the foundation
  for the stigma surrounding depression, suicide
  mental distress.
• Mental Distress is not a sign of weakness.
• Mental Distress is not a lack of character or
  courage.
• You cant talk yourself out of it or man-up
  or pull yourself up by your bootstraps.

16
WARNING SIGNS

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking
  access to firearms, available pills or other
  means
• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
  when these actions are out of the ordinary for
  the person
• Feeling Hopeless
• Feeling Trapped-Like theres no way out of the
  pain!!!!!

As long as Louisianans are suffering on the Road
of Life and are thinking about suicide,
there is work in Louisiana that need to be done
to prevent suicide!!!!
17
WARNING SIGNS

• Acting reckless or engaging in risky
  activities---seemingly without thinking
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Feeling anxious, unable to sleep or sleeping all
  the time
• Experiencing dramatic mood swings
• Withdrawing from friends, family and society
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense or
  purpose in life

As long as children and youth attending Louisiana
schools are suffering on the Road of Life and
are thinking about suicide, there is work in
Louisiana that need to be done to prevent
suicide!!!!
18
Suicidal Behavior in High School Students
In the past year
1/4
1/6
1/6
1/12
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, USA, 2003 (CDC,
2004)
19
In the typical high school classroom...

• 1 male and 2 females have probably attempted
  suicide in the past year

Source King (1997, p. 66)
In an average high school classroom in
Louisiana What things are weighing down our
students?
20
Warning Signs of SuicideFeelings
Lonely Sad Hopeless Helpless Worthless Apathetic
Angry Guilty Desperate Ashamed Distressed Scared
21
Warning SignsThoughts
All of my problems will end soon. I just cant
take it anymore. I wish I were dead. No one
can do anything to help me. Im at the end of
my rope. Everyone will be better off without
me..
22
Warning SignsActions
Withdrawal from family, friends,
co-workers... Loss of interest in activities,
hobbies, sports... Making final arrangements
giving away possessions, tidying up, saying
good-bye Recklessness or impulsivity Extreme
behavior changes negative AND positive Abuse of
alcohol or drugs Self-mutilation Preoccupation
with death or dying
23
Warning SignsPhysical
Lack of interest in appearance Changes in
appetite/weight Changes in sleep patterns Lack of
physical energy Change/loss in sexual
interest Increase in minor ailments
24
Warning SignsSituations
Death/loss of someone close Divorce, separation,
relationship problems Sexual, physical or
emotional abuse Work, relationship, financial
problems Addictive Behaviors - Dependency on
alcohol, drugs, gambling Criminal activity or
court involvement
RECENT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OR LOSS.
25
Warning Signs
Warning signs can be any combination of these
things.

• Ask yourself
• What is this person experiencing?
• How is this person coping?
• What signs am I seeing?
• What are my instincts telling me?

Remember, warning signs are invitations to help!
26
Red STOP
Ask the Question
Yellow LISTEN
Get information
Green GO
Make a safe plan
27
Asking the Question
NO DANCING AROUND THE SUBJECT!
Be direct and specific. Dont leave room for
misinterpretation or misunderstanding.
Are you having thoughts of suicide?
28
Getting More Information

• 1 - Ask about a plan get specifics
• what method, when, where?
• 2 Explore if high risk factors exist
• attempter or survivor?
• experienced loss or trauma?
• using alcohol or drugs?
• 3 Resources/Supports
• how alone is this person?

STOP
LISTEN
GO
29
Making a Safe Plan

• 1 - Let the person know that you are taking this
• seriously and that you will continue to
  help.
• 2 - Create a safe plan that works for both of
  you your comfort level is important, too.
• 3 Remove the method(s) gun, pills, rope, etc.
• 4 - Get others involved family, friends, school
• personnel, minister, therapist, etc.
• 5 - Look into resources to assist with problem
  areas.

30
Educating Others about Depression Suicide
The recognition of suicide as a serious public
health problem and the advocacy of Americans who
have lost someone to suicide have galvanized
action to stop the loss of life and the suffering
caused by suicide.

• In its severest forms, depression paralyzes all
  of the otherwise vital forces that make us human,
  leaving instead a bleak, despairing, desperate,
  and deadened state. . . The body is bone-weary
  there is no will everything is an effort and
  nothing seems worth it. Death by suicide is not a
  gentle deathbed gathering it rips apart lives
  and beliefs, and sets its survivors on a
  prolonged and devastating journey.
• -Kay Redfield Jamison, Night Falls Fast
  Understanding Suicide

31
LPYSP!A STATEWIDE IMPERATIVE ON THE MOVE
BUSBOARDS 910, 890 POTENTIAL MEDIA HITS
PLEASE JOIN US!!!!!
32
TAKE ACTION!

• Youth Suicide is a serious public health problem!
  U.S. Surgeon General states that Americans
  nationwide can make a difference in preventing
  suicide and suicidal behaviors!
• LA Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force urges you
  as Louisianans-We Must Talk About It, We Must
  Act Now, We Must Work Towards Preventing Another
  Louisiana Youth Suicide

33
LA TASK FORCE ADDRESSES YOUTH SUICIDE

• History
• This task force was developed out of the
  OPH-Louisiana Adolescent Health Initiative of the
  Family Planning Program in 2000 as a statewide
  response to the U.S. Surgeon Generals Call to
  Action to prevent suicide.
• Trina Evans Williams, Chairperson LA Youth
  Suicide Prevention Task Force

34
YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION IS A LOUISIANA PRIORITY?

• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for
  adolescents in and the 2nd leading cause of death
  for college aged youth in Louisiana and in the
  nation!
• Adolescent Suicide cuts across ethnic, economic
  and social boundaries and has a tremendous and
  traumatic impact on survivors who are at high
  risk of suicide and emotional problems!
• This is an issue that not only affects the
  victim, in addition it affects the victims
  family, friends, community and schools!
• For every suicide they are approximately 100
  survivors that are affected by that one death and
  are at risk for taking their own lives!

35
LA YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE KEY
INGREDIENT PART I

• Louisianas State Suicide Prevention Plan is
  entitled, Louisiana S.T.A.R. Plan
• This plan is based on the national strategy and
  incorporates its eleven goals.
• Within this framework, the plan consists of core
  strategies which encompass education, clinical
  and professional organizations, public health,
  community-based initiatives, media youth serving
  organizations, legislation and the
  public-at-large.

36
LA YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTS

• LA S.T.A.R. Plan to Prevent Youth Suicides was
  developed
• Statewide Activities
• Training of Gatekeepers
• Awareness and Advocacy
• Resources and Resolutions

37
PARTNERS IN SUICIDE PREVENTIONKEY INGREDIENT
PART II

• Survivors
• State Agency Support
• Public Health professionals
• Mental Health professionals
• Medical Providers
• Education Professionals
• Law Enforcement
• Youth Programs and Parents
• Community Groups
• Churches and Civic groups
• College and Universities

Suicide Prevention is Everybodys Business!
Suicide Prevention is Everybodys Business!
38
Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide
PreventionKEY INGREDIENT PART III

• Louisiana Office of Mental Health has been
  awarded funds under the Garret Lee Smith Memorial
  Act (SAMHSA) to implement the Louisiana
  Partnership for Youth Suicide Prevention.

39
LPYSP UTILIZING BEST PRACTICE STRATEGIESKEY
INGREDIENT PART IV

• Develop broad based support for Suicide
  Prevention at local and statewide levels
• Increase High Quality Peer Support Programs in
  schools and universities
• Yellow Ribbon Chapters
• Expand Gatekeeper Trainings
• Suicide 101
• 2-Day ASIST
• 1-Week ASIST Train of Trainers
• Safe Talk
• Promote Awareness that Suicide is a Preventable
  Public Health Problem through the LPYSP Media
  Campaign
• Improve and expand data collection efforts
• Provide screenings for at-risk adolescents
  utilizing the Teen Screen model

• Create 5 community coalitions with identified
  leadership
• Provide leadership avenues for
• at-risk adolescents-Safe Talk Health Summits
• Include sessions on youth suicide as part of
  existing statewide meetings, in-services,
  conferences and trainings
• Integrate SP into existing programmatic
  activities
• To create a sustainable, effective program that
  impacts the physical and mental health of
  adolescents and their families
• To create a sustainable continuous system of care
  model that can be adapted statewide

40
2009LPYSP TAKING ACTION

• Knowing is not enough we must APPLY. Willing is
  not enough we must Do !

41
LPYSP IS ON THE MOVE!
BUSBOARDS 910, 890 POTENTIAL MEDIA HITS
AWARENESS IS KEY!!!!! PLEASE JOIN US!!!!!
42
LPYSP UPDATEYellow Ribbon Media Campaign
Tactic
Duration
Placement
Potential Media Hits
Busboards 3 Months New Orleans public buses Results Sept 09
Billboards 1 Month Four rural areas in or between target parishes Results Sept 09
Print Ads, Color Posters and Pocket Cards 1 Month at 5000 Posters and 10,000 Pocket Cards Print-Ads-Major newspapers of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Shreveport and statewide coverage of 70 small town weeklies and dailies across Louisiana Printed Materials will be distributed as a tool of the five area coalitions Results Sept 09
TV PSAs 4Weeks Nine area movie theaters in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, New Iberia and Slidell Results Sept 09
43
2007 LPYSP UPDATE Yellow Ribbon Week Activities
Participants
Event
Location
Walk for Youth Suicide Prevention Lafayette 160
State Capitol Rally Baton Rouge 400
Poster/Essay Contest Statewide 200 entries from 22 schools
Annual Suicide Prevention Conference Baton Rouge 250
A total of 1,010 individuals participated in
the 2007 Yellow Ribbon Week Activities.
Additionally, various promotional materials such
as Yellow Ribbon cards (1000), brochures (600),
tool bags (300), and yellow ribbon promotional
packets (500) were distributed during the weeks
events. Materials like the cards and brochures
provided information about prevention, including
resources such as the 1-800-273-TALK number the
other items created even more awareness for the
issue of youth suicide prevention in the state of
Louisiana.
44
2008 LPYSP UPDATE Yellow Ribbon Week Activities
Participants
Event
Location
Walk for Youth Suicide Prevention Lafayette 300
State Capitol Rally Baton Rouge 225
Poster/Essay Contest Statewide 75
Local Awareness events sponsored by area coalitions Shreveport and Jefferson 165
Annual Suicide Prevention Conference Baton Rouge 150
A total of 915 individuals participated in the
2008 Yellow Ribbon Week Activities. Additionally,
various promotional materials such as LPYSP
Awareness Cards (4000), posters (4000), tool bags
(300), and yellow ribbon promotional packets
(800) were distributed to promote the weeks
events.
45
LOUISIANA SUICIDE PREVENTIONYELLOW RIBBON WEEK
ACTIVITIESSeptember 20, 2009 - September 26, 2009

• Sep 20-Youth Suicide Prevention At Louisiana
  Movie Theaters, Shopping Malls and Area Churches
• Sept 21-Educating the Community on Yellow Ribbon
  Information at Push Packet Distribution Day
• Sept 21-23-Local Coalitions Suicide Prevention
  Awareness Summits with area churches,
  universities and service providers
• Sept 24-Louisiana Schools at the 2009 Suicide
  Prevention Youth Rally on the Steps of the
  State Capitol
• Sept 25-3rd Annual Louisiana Taking Action to
  Prevent Suicide Tool Bag Conference
• Sep 26-LA Out of the Darkness Community Walk and
  Announcement of Annual Poster/Essay Contest Winner

46
LPYSP UPDATETEEN SCREEN Safe Talk Health
Summits
Event
of Participants
1) Teen Screenings at Scotlandville High School and Renaissance Village 304
2) Safe Talk Youth Health Summits in East Baton Rouge at Renaissance Village and in New Orleans 125
47
A Taste Of New Orleans Youth Summit!
FUN, FUN AND MORE FUN!
Free Agents Brass Band  
PRIZES
RAFFLE  
DYNAMIC SPEAKERS Youthanasia Youth Leaders,
Poets, Dancers and Presenting Mr. Stanley
Schofield    
Refreshments
48
2009 LPYSP UPDATECommunity Coalitions
Coalition Parishes Included Status of Development
Northwest Suicide Prevention Coalition Shreveport Regular quarterly meetings scheduled. Identified Leadership Applying for 501 3 status
Orleans Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines In planning stages. One meeting held. Meetings scheduled to occur in Year Three
Jefferson Youth Suicide Prevention Education Coalition (JYSPEC) Jefferson Regular meetings scheduled. Thirteen meetings held to date. Identified Leadership and Fiscal Agent identified.
Baton Rouge East Baton Rouge and statewide partners One meeting held at the Monthly Planning Council in Renaissance Village in Year One. In Year Two the State Advisory Board became the Baton Rouge Coalition. Three meeting scheduled each year. Six meetings held to date.
Regional Intervention and Suicide Education Coalition (RISE) Lafayette Vermillion Regular meetings scheduled. Nine meetings held to date. Identified Leadership and Fiscal Agent identified.
Suicide Prevention Intervention Coalition for Youth (SPICY) Cameron Calcasieu Regular meetings scheduled. Ten meetings held to date. Identified Leadership and has applied for 501 3 status.
49
LPYSP Working Effectively with Local
CoalitionsYear Round Community Awareness
Approach!

• JYSPEC Coalition-Awareness Summit (2)
• May 2008 Childrens Mental Health Week
• September 2008-Yellow Ribbon Week
• Southwest LA Suicide Prevention Coalition
  Awareness Summit
• September 2008-Yellow Ribbon Week
• SPICY Coalition-Awareness Summit
• December 1, 2008
• RISE Coalition Upcoming Awareness Summit
• February 5, 2009
• Awareness! Awareness! Awareness!
• Lunch and Learn Community Awareness Tool!

Sharing the Keys of Awareness and Hope!
Sharing the Keys of Awareness and Hope!
Year Round Community Awareness Approach!
50
STEPS OF SUSTAINABILITYLPYSP Gatekeeper
Trainings
Types of Training
Parishes Included
Number of Participants
Suicide 101 Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Vermillion and Lake Charles, Ascension Parish, Alexandria, Shreveport 975
Safe Talk Orleans at Xavier University 93
ASIST Training for Trainers and ASIST Trainins Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Vermillion 24 ASIST Trainers 320 people ASIST trained
Grand Total All above-mentioned parishes 1,412
51
PREVENTING YOUTH SUICIDE USING A TEAM APPROACH

• Youth Suicide remains a serious problem, and the
  economic, social and personal cost for teens,
  their loved ones and society are great.
• However, A Problem As Complex As YOUTH SUICIDE
  Can Not Be Resolved With A Magic Potion or
  Single Solution!

Suicide Prevention is Everybodys Business!
Suicide Prevention is Everybodys Business!
52
LPYSP TAKING ACTION IN 2009
Gumbo of Results!

• WE ARE A TEAM!
• Together Everyone Achieves More!
• (Trina Evans Williams,
• State Project Director-2009)

53
YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION A SERIOUS LOUISIANA
PRIORITY!
BUSBOARDS 910, 890 POTENTIAL MEDIA HITS
Working Together with Louisiana Schools!!!!!
PLEASE JOIN US!!!!!
54
TAKE ACTION!

• REGIONAL -SCHOOL PERSONNEL CAN HELP US BY
• Assisting us with suicide prevention efforts in
  your area schools ( i.e.-take suicide prevention
  materials back to your schools)
• Promote annual Yellow Ribbon Week in your school
  3rd Week in September-(youth to participate in
  poster/essay contest)
• Work with Health Education Teachers with
  incorporating suicide prevention into health
  curriculum-adopted health standards 2002 for
  suicide prevention-a copy found at
  www.louisianaschools.net

YOU CAN HELP US!
55
TAKE ACTION!

• REGIONAL SCHOOL PERSONAL CAN HELP US BY
• Support the implementation of the -Youth Suicide
  Prevention School Plan and ACT 219
• Attend Awareness Update of Suicide Prevention
  Summit for School Personnel
• Work with Local Crisis Response Team
• Join the LA Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition
• Serve as an informed resource on suicide
  prevention in your area
• Attend Annual Childrens Mental Health Summit-May
  8, 2209 and Suicide Prevention and Awareness
  Tool-Bag Summit on September 25, 2009

YOU CAN HELP US!
56
STEPS OF SUSTAINABILITYWorking with LA Schools
to Implement SP Legislation

• In Year Three, the program plans to double the
  amount of safeTALK trainings by working with the
  Department of Education in fulfilling its
  requirements of providing 2 hours of mandated 20
  hours for continuing education credits for
  teachers and administrators in Louisiana schools.
  
• This is stated in Louisiana Legislative Act 219
  which states, The State Board of Elementary and
  Secondary Education shall develop and adopt
  guidelines for in-service training in suicide
  prevention as provided for in Subsection B of
  this Section. The board shall identify suitable
  materials for use in such training. The board
  shall adopt rules to require that all public
  school teachers, school counselors, and
  principals and, as determined by the board, other
  school administrators for whom such training is
  deemed beneficial participate annually in at
  least two hours of in-service training in suicide
  prevention and that such training begin no later
  than the 2008-2009 school year.

LPYSP and DOE Working Together to Implement
Legislative ACT 219!!!!!
57
TAKE ACTION!

• ALL AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES CAN HELP US BY
• Support the implementation of the LA S.T.A.R.
  Plan and the LPYSP
• Serve as an informed resource and supporter of
  suicide prevention in your agency
• Educate the public about the scope of the problem
• Promote Gatekeeper Trainings on Youth Suicide
  Prevention
• Approve staff attendance at future LPYSP
  trainings on Youth Suicide Prevention-(i.e-ASIST,
  Suicide 101 or Safe-Talk)
• Incorporate suicide prevention into existing
  conferences, meetings or services
• Integrate SP Referral Systems of Care
• Sustain the LPYSP efforts to promote healthy
  lives, healthy futures and healthy families for
  LA youth and young- adults who are at suicidal
  risk.

YOU CAN HELP US!
Gumbo of Results!
58
LPYSP School and University InitiativeHope
Ambassador Yellow Ribbon Clubs of Louisiana
Objective To establish 3 school-based peer
support programs utilizing the Yellow Ribbon
Active Minds models
Peer Helper Programs ReDhonda V. Malone, MPH
School and University Coordinator
59
Be A LinkBe a Hope Ambassador!

• Established through existing student
  organizations
• (ie. Peer leaders, student council, athletics,
  etc.)
• Must have an advisor and school administrations
  support
• Complete a Yellow Ribbon Club registration packet
• Return it to the LPYSP New Orleans office as
  printed in the packet
• Complete Yellow Ribbon Be-A-Link
  training/Orientation
• Welcome HOPE AMBASSADORS!!

Promoting Awareness, Education, Collaboration
PREVENTION
60
Resources Knowing Where to Turn for Help For
More Information
Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center
www.brcic.org American Association of
Suicidology www.suicidology.org American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention
www.afsp.org The HopeLine Network
www.hopeline.com Suicide Prevention Action
Network www.spanusa.org Suicide Information
Education Centre www.suicideinfo.ca Suicide
Prevention Resource Center www.sprc.org The
Yellow Ribbon Program www.yellowribbon.org Nat
ional Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
61
Contact Information

• DHH-Office of Mental Health
• LA Partnership for Youth Suicide Prevention
• Trina Evans-Williams
• State Project Director
• 628 N. 4th Street-4th Floor
• Baton Rouge, LA 70802
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail tevans_at_dhh.la.gov

Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide
Prevention  
A Call to Hope and A Call to Life  
62
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE BATON ROUGE CRISIS
INTERVENTION CENTER FOR COLLABORATING WITH US ON
THIS PRESENTATION WE APPRECIATE IT!
Youth Suicide There is Hope!

• CONTACT PERSON PATTY RIVES, LCSW
• ASIST, SAFE TALK AND SUICIDE TALK TRAINER
• BATON ROUGE CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTER EMAIL
  PRIVES_at_BRCIC.ORG
• PHONE [phone]

63
AND THE HOPE CONTINUES
64
AND THE HOPE CONTINUES

• The LPYSP main Aim is to provide these three
  things to prevent suicides in Louisiana
• HOPE
• HELP
• HEALING

65
SUICIDE PREVENTION MESSAGE!

• As a team we are all on the mission to improve
  the health and save the lives of our states
  adolescents, One life At A Time!
• We know that this will take the combined efforts
  of us all.
• We know that awareness, education, training,
  advocacy and prevention are critical parts of
  saving the lives of some of our most values
  assets, our states youth!
• The Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide
  Prevention is committed to youth who are at
  suicide risk Our message is a Call
• to Hope and a Call to Life
• STORIES OF HOPE!

Youth Suicide
There is HOPE
66
THE END! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE LPYSP.
WE APPRECIATE IT!
Youth Suicide There is Hope!

• TRINA EVANS WILLIAMS,
• STATE PROJECT DIRECTOR
• LOUISIANA PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH SUICIDE
  PREVENTION