Some Secrets SHOULD be Shared

1
Some Secrets SHOULD be Shared

• ACT to Prevent
• Suicide
• Diane Santoro, LICSW
• Screening for Mental Health, Inc.

2
Objectives

• Information about the SOS program
• Warning signs of youth depression suicide
• View the SOS DVD
• Importance of working as a team
• What is the school protocol?
• Available resources

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Why? What? How?

• Why is it important?
• Mortality from suicide increases steadily through
  the teens
• Children and particularly adolescents who suffer
  from depression are at much greater risk of dying
  by suicide
• What is the SOS program?
• A program to help students recognize the symptoms
  of depression or warning signs of suicide in
  themselves or others
• Teach them the appropriate action steps to take
  to get help by using ACT
• How are we implementing the program at
  Southridge?

4
Depression Youth

• In 2007, 8.2 of adolescents (an estimated 2
  million youth aged 12 to 17) experienced at least
  one major depressive episode in the past year
  (SAMHSA, 2009).
• What is a Major Depressive Episode?
• DSM-IV a period of 2 weeks or longer in which
  there is either a depressed mood or a loss of
  interest or pleasure AND at least 4 of the
  following
• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Problems with sleeping
• Fatigue or energy loss
• Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate

5
Prevalence of Suicide Among Youth

• Nationally, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of
  death among children ages 15-24 (4,405 deaths in
  2006) (CDC, 2004). Only accidents and homicides
  occurred more frequently.
• Whereas suicides accounted for 1.4 of all
  deaths in the U.S. annually, they comprised 12
  of all deaths among 15-24-year-olds.
• Adolescent suicidal behavior is deemed to be
  underreported because many deaths of this type
  are classified as unintentional or accidental
  (World Medical Association, 2004).
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  National Center for Injury Prevention and
  Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and
  Reporting System (WISQARS) online. (2004)
  cited 2005 Feb 28. Available from URL
  www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.

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• In 2007, 8.2 of adolescents (1 in 12 an
  estimated 2 million youth aged 12 to 17) reported
  experiencing at least one major depressive
  episode in the past year (SAMHSA, 2009).
• In children and adolescents, an untreated
  depressive episode may last between 7 to 9
  months, potentially an entire academic year!
• More than 90 of people who complete suicide have
  a diagnosable mental disorder, most commonly a
  depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder
  (NIMH, 2009).

7
By the Numbers

• 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that
• 26.1 felt so sad or hopeless for 2 weeks that
  they stopped doing some usual activity.
• 13.8 seriously considered attempting suicide.
• 10.9 made a suicide plan.
• 6.3 attempted suicide.
• 1.9 of those who made an attempt required
  medical attention

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Suicide Risk Factors

• Risk factors are not necessarily causes.
• Suicidal distress can be caused by psychological,
  environmental, and social factors.
• The first step in preventing suicide is to
  identify and understand the risk factors.
• The strongest risk factors for suicide in youth
  are depression, substance abuse, and previous
  attempts (NAMI, 2003).
• Mental illness is the leading risk factor for
  suicide.
• Over 90 of children and adolescents who die by
  suicide have a least one major psychiatric
  disorder (Gould et al., 2003).

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Suicide Risk Factors

• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly
  depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Family history of suicide or child abuse
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Loss or interpersonal conflict (problems w/
  school or the law
• Physical illness
• Easy access to lethal means, especially guns
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the
  attached stigma
• Local epidemic of suicide
• Isolation
• Incarceration or a pending disciplinary incident
• Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others
• History of physical and/or sexual abuse
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender youth

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SUICIDE A MULTI-FACTORIAL EVENT
Psychiatric IllnessCo-morbidity
Neurobiology
Personality Disorder/Traits
Impulsiveness
Substance Use/Abuse
Hopelessness
Severe Medical Illness
Suicide
Family History
Access To Weapons
Psychodynamics/ Psychological Vulnerability
Life Stressors
Suicidal Behavior
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Warning signs that demand immediate action

• Talking or writing about suicide or death
• Direct verbal cues
• Less direct verbal cues
• Isolation
• Expressing the belief that life is meaningless
• Giving away prized possessions
• A sudden and unexplained improvement in mood
• Neglecting appearance and hygiene
• Dropping out of school or activities
• Obtaining a weapon or another means

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ACT

• Acknowledge
• Admit you are seeing the signs of depression or
  suicide in a friend and it is serious
• Care
• Let your friend know that your care about
  him/her, and that you are concerned that he/she
  needs help you cannot provide
• Tell
• Inform a trusted adult, with your friend or on
  his/her behalf

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Myth or Fact

• Its normal for teens to be moody teens dont
  suffer from real depression
• Teens who claim to be depressed are weak and just
  need to pull themselves together. Theres
  nothing anyone can do to help
• People who talk about suicide wont really do it
• If a person is determined to kill themselves,
  nothing is going to stop them
• People who commit suicide are people who
  unwilling to seek help
• Talking about suicide may give someone the idea

14
Questions?

• Related Issues
• Social Networking concerns
• Cutting or Self-harming behaviors