CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE

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CHILD AND ADOLESCENT SUICIDE

• PREVENTION AND INFORMATION

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Training Objectives

• Identify the Warning Signs of Child and
  Adolescent Suicide
• Recognize the Risk Factors of Child and
  Adolescent Suicide
• Identify Steps Parents and Adults can Take to
  Prevent Child and Adolescent Suicide

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Child and Adolescent Suicide

• Childhood and Adolescence can be stressful times
  for children. Children may feel depressed, or
  they may have feelings of fear and confusion.
  When problems grow, many children and adolescents
  feel their only solution is suicide.

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In the United States

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for
  15 to 24 year olds in the United States.
• Suicide is the sixth leading cause of death for 5
  to 14 year olds in the United States.

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In Missouri

• In 2006, 21 children died of self-inflicted
  injury. 14 were ages 15-17 years old 7 were ages
  10-14 years old.
• Suffocation/Strangulation and Firearms are the
  most common mechanism of suicide among Missouri
  children.
• Of the 21 suicide victims ages 17 and under, 7
  had displayed one or more warning signs.

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• In 2006, a 15-year-old shot himself with a gun
  belonging to his father. The gun was kept in a
  lock box, but the teen found the key. Friends
  were aware that he had threatened suicide in the
  past, but the parents denied any knowledge that
  their son was having suicidal ideations.

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• In 2006, a 13-year-old hung himself in the
  basement of his home. He was depressed over poor
  grades and had been told he would have to repeat
  the seventh grade.

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Warning Signs

• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent
  Psychiatry lists the following Warning Signs of
  suicide
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and
• regular activities
• Change in eating and sleeping habits
• Unusual neglect of personal appearance
• Drug and alcohol use

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• Violent actions, rebellious behavior, or
• running away
• Personality change
• Frequent complaints about physical
• symptoms, often related to emotions,
• such as stomachaches, headaches,
• fatigue, etc.
• Difficulty concentrating, or a decline in
• schoolwork

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• Threats of suicide
• Acting out behaviors and running away
• Preoccupation with death and dying
• Doesnt respond to praise

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Risk Factors

• There are both Warning Signs and Risk Factors
  of child and adolescent suicide. The following
  are Risk Factors
• Previous attempt of suicide
• Family history of suicide
• Access to firearms and prescription drugs
• Preoccupation with morbid or violent
• themes

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What To Do If You Think A Child Is Suicidal?

• Mental Health America suggests the following
• ? Ask the child or teen if they feel depressed
  
• or thinks about suicide or death. Speaking
• honestly and openly allows a child to
• confide in you and gives you a chance to
• express your concern. Listen to his or her
• thoughts and feelings in a caring and
• respectful manner.

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• ? Let the child or teen know that you care
• and want to help.
• ? Supply the child or teen with local
• resources, such as a crisis hotline or the
• location of a mental health clinic. If the
• child or teen is a student, find out if
  there
• are any available mental health
• professionals at the school and let the
• child know about them.

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• ? Seek professional help. It is essential to
• seek expert advice from a mental health
• professional that has experience helping
• depressed children and teens.
• ? Alert key adults in the childs life-family,
• friends, and teachers. Inform the childs
• parents or primary caregiver, and
• recommend that they seek professional
• assistance for their child or teen.

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Prevention Recommendations

• ? It is important for children with behavioral
• problems, possible mental disorders
• (such as depression and impulse-control
• disorders) and substance abuse problems to
• get early treatment.
• ? Limit young peoples access to lethal means
  of
• suicide, including firearms.
• ? Always take threats of suicide seriously.

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Additional Resources

• 1-800-SUICIDE, http//www.hopeline.com/
• 1-800-999-9999, http//www.nineline.org/
• 1-800-273-TALK, http//mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/sui
  cideprevention/concerned.asp
• Life Crisis Services (St. Louis area),
  314-647-HELP
• Mid-Missouri Crisis Line, 1-888-761-HELP

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Additional Resources

• Missouri Department of Mental Health,
  http//www.dmh.mo.gov/cps/issues/suicide.htm
• KUTO (Kids Under Twenty-One), http//www.kuto.org/
  
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center,
  http//www.sprc.org/
• American Academy of Childhood and Adolescent
  Psychiatry, http//www.aacap.org/page.ww?sectionF
  actsforFamiliesnameTeenSuicide
• Mental Health America, http//www.nmha.org/index.c
  fm?objectidC7DF98D7-1372-4D20-C8A64BC67FFA74CD

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Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team

• Address
• PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
• Telephone [phone](800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
  to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
• Email
•  dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov