SUICIDE IS FOREVER:

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• SUICIDE IS FOREVER
• Lets Talk About It.

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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE

• Between 1998 and 2002 there were 517 suicides of
  young people ages 10 to 24 an average of nearly
  2 per week
• Between 1998 and 2002 there were 3,793
  hospitalizations of young people between the ages
  of 10 and 24 average of 14 per week

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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE Data on youth

• For 5- to 14-year-olds, the suicide rate is 2.6
  times higher than the national average. And there
  is an even greater disparity in the later teenage
  years and into young adulthood.
• Over 32 of 10th graders indicated that they
  felt sad or hopeless almost every day in the past
  two weeks

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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE

• 17.8 of 10th graders had seriously considered
  suicide in the past 12 months (one out 6)
• 13.7 of the 10th graders indicated that they had
  made a plan about how they would attempt suicide
  in the past 12 months

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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE
The suicide rate for American Indian / Alaska
Native youth aged 15 to 24 is 3.3 times higher
than the national average.
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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE
Suicide rates have increased among youth in the
U.S. between the ages of 10-19, among elderly
white males,and young Native males 14-15 years of
age. Males From 1999 to 2004, American
Indian /Alaska Native males from 15-24 years old
had the highest suicide rate at 27.9, compared to
white males 17.5, Black 12.8, Asian/Pacific
Islander 8.9.
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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE Data on Occurrence

• Suicide takes the lives of more than 30,000
  Americans each year every18 minutes a life is
  lost.
• More people die in the United States from suicide
  than from homicide.
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the
  U.S. and the 3rd leading cause of death for
  youth ages 15-24.
• Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death for
  American Indians/Alaska Natives of all ages and
  the 2nd leading cause of death for Natives ages
  10-34.
• Between 1999-2004, the suicide rate of American
  Indians/Alaska Natives was 10.84 higher than the
  overall rate for the U.S. of 10.75.
• There is one suicide for every 25 attempts.
• In 2005-2006, results show that among those who
  died of suicide and were tested for alcohol
  (70), about 1/3 had evidence of alcohol in their
  system, and 1/4 were above the legal limit for
  alcohol intoxication. Of these, the highest
  percent was among American Indian/Alaska Natives
  (37.1) followed by Hispanic/Latinos (28.7) as
  reported by the National Violent Death Reporting
  System.

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FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE Data on Gender

• Males take their own lives at nearly four times
  the rate of females
• Women attempt suicide about two to three times as
  often as men.
• Firearms are the most commonly used method of
  suicide among males.
• Poisoning is the most common method of suicide
  for females.

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QUESTIONS MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED
Why do people kill themselves? Do people who
attempt do it to prove something? Can a suicidal
person mask their depression with happiness? Is
it more likely for a person to suicide if he/she
has been exposed to it in their family or has had
a close friend die of suicide? Why don't people
talk about depression and suicide? Will talking
things out cure depression? Why do people attempt
suicide when they appear to have been feeling so
much better? If a person's mind is made up can
they still be stopped? Is depression the same as
the blues? Why do depressive illnesses sometimes
lead to suicidal thoughts?
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KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS
Most suicidal young people dont really want to
die they just want their pain to end. About
80 of the time, people who kill themselves have
given definite signals or talked about suicide.
The key to prevention is to know these signs
and what to do to help.
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• A previous suicide attempt
• Current talk of suicide or making a plan
• Strong wish to die or a preoccupation with death
• Giving away prized possessions
• Signs of depression, such as moodiness,
  hopelessness, withdrawal
• Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
• Hinting at not being around in the future or
  saying good-bye

• Watch for these signs. They may indicate someone
  is thinking about suicide. The more signs you
  see, the greater the risk.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS
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THESE WARNING SIGNS ARE ESPECIALLY NOTEWORTHY IN
LIGHT OF

• a recent death or suicide of a friend or family
  member
• a recent break-up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
• conflict with parents
• news reports of other suicides by young people in
  the same school or community

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OTHER KEY RISK FACTORS INCLUDE

• Readily accessible firearms
• Impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
• Lack of connection to family and friends (no one
  to talk to)

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IDENTIFYING HIGH-RISK CHILDREN TEENS
Watch for symptoms of depression and anxiety
along with verbal clues I shouldn't be here.
I'm going to run away. I wish I were dead.
I'm' going to kill myself. I wish I could
disappear forever. The voices tell me to kill
myself. Maybe if I died, people would love me
more. I want to see what it feels like to die.
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IDENTIFYING HIGH-RISK CHILDREN TEENS
Watch for symptoms of depression and anxiety
along with behavioral clues Talking or joking
about suicide. Giving away possessions.
Preoccupation with death/violence TV, movies,
drawings, books, music Risky behavior, jumping
from high places, running into traffic,
self-cutting Having several accidents
resulting in injury Obsession with guns and
knives Previous suicidal thoughts or
attempts Children who have a clear understanding
that death is final and who are not impulsive are
at a very low risk for suicidal behavior.
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MYTH OR FACT

• Myth A youth threatening suicide is really not
  serious about completing suicide.
• Fact Those youth who talk about suicide or
  exhibit suicidal behaviors are serious suicide
  risks. As a friend, parent or professional
  caregiver, it is better to overestimate the risk
  of suicide and intervene than to ignore or
  minimize the behaviors.

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MYTH OR FACT

• Myth Suicide cannot be prevented because,
  somehow, a suicidal youth will find a way to do
  it.
• Fact The majority of the time youth who kill
  themselves have given definite signs or talked
  about suicide. The keys to prevention are
  recognizing the warning signs and knowing what to
  do to help. Remember that most suicidal youth do
  not really want to die, they just want their pain
  to end.

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MYTH OR FACT

• Myth Talking about suicide will cause someone to
  attempt suicide.
• Fact Talking about suicide does not create or
  increase risk it actually reduces it. If you
  have observed any of the warning signs, chances
  are the youth is already thinking about suicide.
  Be direct in a caring, non-confrontational way
  ask the question, "are you thinking about
  suicide?" Open talk and genuine concern are a
  source of relief and key elements in preventing
  the immediate danger of suicide.

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SO WHAT YOU CAN DO?
Know the Warning Signs Understand the
Symptoms of Depression Show You Care Ask The
Question Clearly and Directly  Do you ever
feel so badly that you think of suicide? If
yes, Get Help Immediately If no, suggest
professional help Become ASIST (Applied Suicide
Intervention Skills Training) trained Become
safeTalk Trained
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SHOW YOU CARE

• Often, suicidal thinking comes from a wish to end
  deep psychological pain. Death seems like the
  only way out. But it isn't.
• Let the person know you really care. Talk about
  your feelings and ask about his or hers. Listen
  carefully to what they have to say.
• I'm worried about you, about how you feel.You
  mean a lot to me. I want to help.I'm here, if
  you need someone to talk to.

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ASK THE QUESTION

• Don't hesitate to raise the subject. Talking with
  young people about suicide won't put the idea in
  their heads. Chances are, if you've observed any
  of the warning signs, they're already thinking
  about it. Be direct in a caring,
  non-confrontational way. Get the conversation
  started.
• Are you thinking about suicide?Do you really
  want to die?Do you want your problems to go
  away?

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GET HELP

• Never keep talk of suicide a secret, even if they
  ask you to. Its better to risk a friendship than
  a life. Do not try to handle the situation on
  your own. You can be the most help by referring
  your friend to someone with professional skills
  to provide the help that he or she needs, while
  you continue to offer support.
• I know where we can get some help.Let's talk
  to someone who can help...let's call the crisis
  line, now.I can go with you to get some help.

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HELP RESOURCES

• International
• International Association for Suicide Prevention
• www.iasp.info
• National
• The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
• 877-GET-SPRC (438-7772),
• info_at_sprc.org
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• 1800-CDC-INFO
• www.cdc.gov/injury
• cdcinfo_at_cdc.gov

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HELP RESOURCES

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• 1-800-273-TALK
• American Association of Suicidology
• 202-237-2280
• info_at_suicidology.org
• SPAN USA
• 202-449-3600
• info_at_spanusa.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• 212-363-3500

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HELP RESOURCES

• In Your State
• Phyllis Brashler
• Suicide Prevention Coordinator
• Minnesota Department of Health
• PO Box 64882
• St. Paul, MN 55164
• Tel [phone]
• Email phyllis.brashler_at_state.mn.us
• Dr. Dan Reidenberg
• Executive Director
• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
• 8120 Penn Avenue South Suite 470
• Bloomington, MN 55431
• Tel [phone]
• Email dreidenberg_at_save.org
• Website http//www.save.org

NAMI Minnesota 800 Transfer Rd Ste 31 Saint Paul,
MN   55114-1414 [phone] nami-mn_at_nami.org www
.namihelps.org Mental Health Consumer/Survivor
Network of Minnesota 1821 University Avenue West,
Suite S-160 St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 Telephone
651/637-2800 Toll Free 1-800/483-2007 Yellow
Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program in
Minn. 1-800-272-TALK
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• Funding for the Gila River Youth suicide Project
  provided by
• SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health
  Services Administration
• U. S. Dept of Health and Human Services
• For further information, please contact
• Julie Jimenez, MSW
• Prevention Administrator
• Gila River Behavioral Health
• Sacaton, AZ
• 520-562-3321 x7031
• jrjimenez_at_grhc.org