Suicide

1
Suicide

• A permanent solution for a temporary problem

2
Test your knowledge

• Which of the following would you say is the most
  likely to commit suicide?
• A. A straight-A studentB. A student who is
  gifted in athleticsC. A student who is abusing
  drugs and failing in schoolD. A student who
  is very popularE. All of the above are at equal
  risk

3
Answer

• E. Under the right or wrong circumstances,
  all of the above could commit suicide.

4
Teenage Suicide Facts

• It is the 3rd leading cause of death among young
  people ages 15-29.
• Every day approximately 12 people between the
  ages of 15-24 die from suicide.
• Nearly 1 in 5 high school students have stated
  that they have seriously considered attempting
  suicide in the past year.

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More Facts..

• Teen girls attempt suicide more often than teen
  guys. (About nine times more often)
• But, teen guys are four times more likely to
  succeed when they try to kill themselves.
• Teen guys tend to use more deadly methods like
  guns or hanging while girls tend to use overdoses
  of medication or cutting.

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Suicide is a serious issue

• Things we will discuss
• What causes a person to consider taking his/her
  own life?
• What puts a teenager at risk for suicide or self
  harm?
• What are the warning signs that someone might be
  considering suicide?
• Where can someone go for help?

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Thinking about suicide

• Thinking about suicide is often related to
  stressful events and feelings of sadness. Some
  teens feel so overwhelmed, sad and in despair
  that they think they will never feel better.
• Teenagers tend to experience strong feelings of
  stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to
  succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears
  while growing up.

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• Feelings may be brought on by
• Anger or violence in the home or school
• May be doing poorly in school and feel inadequate
• Depressed
• Alcohol or drug problem they can't handle
• They may be angry and heart-broken over a
  break-up.
• They may feel like they don't belong, either in
  their family or with their friends.
• Divorce
• Formation of new family with stepparents and
  stepsiblings
• Moving to a new community
• Sometimes, they may feel very sad with no obvious
  cause.

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What makes some teens at risk?

• Depression
• Feelings of sadness, loneliness, disappointment.
• Every teen feels anxiety and confusion at some
  point, but it helps to get through tough times by
  turning to people you trust and love.
• But sometimes the feelings can last all day,
  every day. If feelings last for more than two
  weeks a person may be experiencing major
  depression.
• Many teens have experienced major depression.

10
Depression and Suicide

• Serious depression involves a long-lasting sad
  mood that doesnt let up and a loss of pleasure
  in things you once enjoyed.
• Thoughts of death, negative thoughts of oneself,
  hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep can
  also occur.
• Depression distorts ones viewpoint making them
  focus only on their failures.
• Depressed thinking can convince someone that
  there is nothing to live for.

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• When someone who is depressed gets the proper
  treatment or therapy, their distorted thinking is
  cleared and they can find energy, pleasure, and
  hope again.

12
What else puts a teen at risk?

• Substance abuse problems
• Alcohol and some drugs have depressive effects on
  the brain. Misuse of these substances can bring
  on serious depression.
• Alcohol and drugs also alter ones judgment. Many
  suicide attempts occur while a teen is under the
  influence.

13
Other risks

• Life Stress
• Being a teen is not easy. There are many social,
  academic, and personal pressures.
• Teens who have additional problems to deal with
  can make life feel even more difficult.
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Divorce or death in the family
• Struggle with body image and eating problems

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Finally

• Having access to guns.
• For any teen who has any of the other risk
  factors, having access to a gun is very
  dangerous.
• Many lives could be saved by making sure those
  who are at risk do not have access to a gun.
• More than 60 of teen suicides deaths happen with
  a gun.

15
Warning Signs- What to Look For

• Pulling away from friends or family
• Trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• Changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Major changes in appearance
• Talk about feeling hopeless or guilty
• Talk about suicide
• Talk about death
• Talk about going away
• Self-destructive behavior (drugs, alcohol,
  driving too fast)
• Giving away favorite possessions
• Suddenly very happy moods after being depressed
  or sad for a long time (this person may have a
  suicide plan)

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• Paying attention and responding to the warning
  signs can save someones life.
• Dont be afraid to talk to someone about suicide
  if you think they might be considering it.
• It allows you to get help for that person.
• Just talking might make the person feel less
  isolated and more cared about.
• It may help the person to consider that suicide
  is not the solution.

17
Getting Help

• If you have been thinking about suicide. Get help
  right away.
• If you have a classmate or friend who you think
  is considering suicide. Get help right away.
  Even if you have been sworn to secrecy. You may
  save your friends life.

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Where to get help

• Parents
• Teachers
• Counselors
• Friends
• Call 9-1-1
• National Suicide Hotline
• 1-800-SUICIDE

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Remember

• Suicide is a
• PERMANENT
• solution for a
• TEMPORARY
• problem.

20
References

• www.kidshealth.org
• www.4girls.gov
• American Association of Suicidology
• www.suicidology.org
• Developed by Bridget Robinson, RN, BSN,SNM
• University of Kansas School of Nursing HETC
  Project