Preventing Youth Suicide within the Context of Other Violence

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Preventing Youth Suicide within the Context of
Other Violence

• Lloyd Potter
• Childrens Safety Network

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Topics

• Youth suicide and violence
• Planning for prevention
• Strategies for prevention

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Violence and Suicidal Behavior Among
Massachusetts High School Students, 1999
Percent reporting attempting suicide
Source 1999 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior
Survey
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Violence and Suicidal Behavior Among
Massachusetts High School Students, 1999
Percent reporting attempting suicide
Source 1999 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior
Survey
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Severity of suicidal ideation and behavior of
high school youth, by sexual orientation,
Massachusetts, 1997
and/or those who had any same-sex sexual
experience Source Massachusetts Youth Risk
Behavior Survey Results, 1998
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Suicidal behavior and risk factors are present
among many perpetrators of youth violence
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Suicide rates among persons aged15-19 years,
United States, 1956-2001
Source Centers for Disease Control Prevention
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Mortality and morbidity from suicidal behavior,
1998
Sources Death certificates Natl.
Hospital Discharge Survey Natl. Hospital
Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
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Suicide Among Leading Causes of Death (2000)
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Risk Factors For Suicide Deaths

• PA Studies At least 90 of suicide victims had a
  mental or substance abuse disorder
• Adolescents - depression, conduct disorder,
• substance use, prior attempt
• Adults - prior suicide attempt, depression,
  
• alcohol dependence, schizophrenia
• Older Adults - depression - late onset

Luoma, Martin Pearson, 2002
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Percent of youth in need of help with emotional
problems who are not being treated, by
race/ethnicity
Ringel and Sturm, Journal of Behav. Services,
28(3) 2001.
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Title V Block Grant Performance Measures
Core National Objectives

• Performance Measure 16 The rate (per 100,000) of
  suicide deaths among youths aged 15 through 19.

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The Public Health Approach to Prevention
Assess the Problem Whats the problem?
Identify the Causes Why does it happen?
Implementation Dissemination How do you do
it?
Develop Evaluate Programs Policies What
works?
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National advances in suicide prevention policy
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National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention/
Provides guidance and suggests activities on
suicide prevention
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Spheres of Influence Ecological perspective of
development
Society
Community
Family/Peers
Individual
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KEY COMPONENTS State Suicide Prevention
Program

• SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR
• FUNDING
• ADVOCACY
• NEEDS ASSESSMENT
• DATA IMPROVEMENT
• INTERVENTION PLAN
• SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS
• EVALUATION
• COLLABORATION

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PARTNERSHIP

• HEALTH/PUBLIC HEALTH
• MENTAL HEALTH
• LAW ENFORCEMENT
• MEDICAL EXAMINER
• FAMILY SURVIVORS
• EDUCATION
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• JUVENILE JUSTICE
• FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

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Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among
Adolescents and Young Adults

• School gatekeeper training
• Community gatekeeper training
• General suicide education
• Screening programs
• Peer support programs

CDC. Youth Suicide Prevention Programs A
Resource Guide. 1992.
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Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among
Adolescents and Young Adults(continued)

• Crisis Centers and hotlines
• Restriction of access to lethal means
• Intervention after a suicide

CDC. Youth Suicide Prevention Programs A
Resource Guide. 1992.
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Common Youth Suicide Prevention Strategies
Utilized in Prevention of Other Forms of Violence
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TIP of the ICEBERG

• Suicide prevention can be incorporated into many
  places across the life course
• Much suicide prevention is disguised as other
  programs and efforts
• Suicide prevention involves everyone
• Planning and partnerships are key

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Resources for States
www.ChildrensSafetyNetwork.org
www.SPRC.org