The Jason Foundation, Inc.

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The Jason Foundation, Inc.

• A Promise for Tomorrow
• A Youth Curriculum Unit
• for the awareness and prevention of
• Youth Suicide
• www.jasonfoundation.com

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lesson A

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• In 1999, U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher,
• declared suicide as a National Health Problem
• especially within the youth and elderly
  populations.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Suicide in the general population had been in the
  top ten leading causes of death for the past 30
  years.
• Due to several reasons, very little had been done
  to confront the problem.
• Reasons include lack of knowledge about the
  subject and the stigma surrounding the topic of
  suicide.
• These caused a lack of funding to develop
  prevention and awareness programs.
• Dr. Satchers report specifically listed suicide
  as a major national concern for youth and the
  elderly.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• After a two year nationwide fact finding and
  resource gathering campaign, the Surgeon General
  released the National Strategy for Suicide
  Prevention. This became known as the Call to
  Action.
• We are now better equipped with the information
  and resources needed to help a friend who may be
  depressed, having trouble in relationships, or
  may be considering suicide.
• Suicide has been labeled as the number one
  preventable cause of death in our nation today.
  It is preventable because, for those individuals
  who need it, there is help available that can
  make a positive difference in their lives.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Purpose of this lesson
• Learn about the current statistics and some
  common myths that surround the topic of suicide.
• Learn about some behaviors that are often shown
  by a young person who is depressed or thinking
  about suicide.
• Learn some ways you can help a fiend who may be
  depressed or considering suicide.
• Explore some resources that you could turn to if
  a friend needs help.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Jasons Story

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Jason's Story (A Father's Letter)
• Dear Friend,Jason was my youngest son. He was
  an average 16-year old. He got mostly Bs on his
  report card, and he loved sports. Especially
  football. He was active in his youth group and he
  had a lot of friends. Jason was the one who was
  always up for going places and trying new things.
  From all appearances...my son loved life.But on
  July 16th, 1997, everything changed. My son,
  Jason became a statistic of the silent epidemic
  of youth suicide. In trying to come to terms with
  what happened, I began researching youth suicide.
  The statistics are alarming. Did you know on
  average, over 100 young people this week will
  become victims of youth suicide? But-youth
  suicide can be prevented.Thats what The Jason
  Foundation is all about. I urge you to get
  involved. Together we can help stop this
  epidemic. Ask for our material. Read it. Then
  share it with your friends and others. Please
  help us reach out to hurting teens with another
  choice - another way to handle lifes problems,
  pressures and disappointments.I will never hug
  my son again. But I can and will work alongside
  you -- perhaps to save your friend, your
  neighbors child, a relative or even your own son
  or daughter.Thank you for your help.
• Clark FlattPresident / CEOThe Jason Foundation,
  Inc.
• http//www.jasonfoundation.com/index.php

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lets see what
• you already know about the problem of
• Youth Suicide.

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Questions

• True
• or
• False

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Question 1

• Suicide is the THIRD leading cause of death among
  young people between the ages of 10 and 24.

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Answer

• TRUE
• First leading cause is accidents of all kinds
  homicides are second.

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In theUnited States

• How many young people do we lose, each year, to
  suicide?

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It is estimated that

• We will lose approximately 5,000 young people to
  suicide each year.
• For example, this would be enough people to fill
  our gym over three times. By the time our
  freshman class graduates, 20,000 young people
  will have lost their lives to suicide.

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Each week,

• We lose approximately 100 young people to the
  Silent Epidemic of youth suicide.
• If there were a virus or bacteria sweeping the
  country causing these deaths, would we hear about
  it anywhere? The problem with the silent
  epidemic of suicide is that we are losing about
  100 young people each week but no one is willing
  to talk about it.

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• Many experts believe that the total number of
  young people we lose each year is more than
  5,000.
• Some experts feel the actual number of youth
  suicides could be 10 to 30 higher than reported
  because of misreporting.
• What could be a misreported suicide???

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• Many suicides are incorrectly reported as
  accidents such as car accidents, drug overdose,
  etc.
• What do you think is needed to classify something
  as a suicide???

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• Evidence such as a note, a witness, etc.
• If no evidence is found, many times the death
  will be classified as an accident. Knowing this
  do you agree with the experts who believe there
  are more suicides than reported???

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Question 2

• People who talk about or threaten suicide rarely
  die by suicide.

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Answer

• FALSE
• This is a common myth believed by many people.
  It is totally untrue.
• Many times people who are thinking about suicide
  make statements or threats about it
• Id be better off if I werent even here
• I wont be bothering you much longer
• People who talk about suicide are thinking about
  it and should be taken seriously.
• If they are not suicidal, it is obvious that they
  are not happy.
• Ask questions and find out what is so wrong in
  their lives.
• They are desperately asking for help. We want to
  be able to provide that help.

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Question 3

• Approximately one young person dies by suicide
  every 2 hours.

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Answer

• TRUE
• Some parent loses a son or daughter to suicide
  approximately every two hours.
• If you allow for misreported suicides, some
  experts believe that the rate is every 1 hour and
  15 minutes or even more frequent
• From the time you get up in the morning until
  school begins, one young person in the United
  States has died by suicide. During the time it
  takes you to enjoy a movie or a basketball game,
  another young person has died because of suicide.

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Question 4

• Talking to someone about suicidal feelings may
  cause them to attempt suicide.

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Answer

• FALSE
• This is another common myth believed by many
  people. It is totally untrue.
• Talking about it can only help if done in a
  compassionate and knowledgeable manner.
• The thoughts of suicide come from a feeling of
  hopelessness and the belief that no can help
  them!

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• Have you ever had a problem that worried you so
  much that you could not sleep?
• When you finally dealt with the problem by
  talking to your girlfriend or boyfriend, parent
  or teacher (whomever), did it relieve some of the
  pressure?
• It is the same with young people who are thinking
  about suicide.
• They do not want to die they want the pain to go
  away.
• Helping your friend get that pain out on the
  table, and talk about it, will only relieve some
  of the pressure and together you can begin to
  look for much better ways to solve their problems.

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• Time takes care of most all of our individual
  problems.
• You must give yourself time because time will
  change our circumstances.
• Young people who take their own lives cut off
  their time. They do not wait to experience the
  changes that will surely come. Whatever seems so
  hard or bad today may be gone tomorrow. We must
  wait to se what better things are in the future.
• How do you think talking about feelings and what
  causes those feelings can help a person in
  trouble???

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Identify the problem, discover solutions, realize
you are not alone, etc.
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Question 5

• Suicide is Preventable.

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Answer

• TRUE
• What makes suicide preventable???

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• We would want to stop someone from hurting our
  friend so we have the right to stop our friend
  from hurting himself/herself.
• We want to be able to recognize the need and know
  what to do.

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Question 6

• People who are contemplating suicide almost
  always tell someone beforehand.

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Answer

• TRUE
• In almost 70 of suicides, the person shared
  his/her thoughts or intentions with a friend,
  teacher, or other important person in his/her
  life before the attempt or completion.
• They may say something like
• Id be better off dead!
• You wont have to worry about me much longer.
• Sometimes they will actually say I am going to
  kill myself.

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In fact,

• In almost 70 of all suicides the person told
  someone their intentions at least ONE hour
  before.
• Why didnt that person say anything about what
  they had been told?

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Youth Suicide Statistics

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for
  young people, ages 10 to 24.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for
  college-age youth.
• Youth suicides have tripled since the late 1960s.
  
• Approximately 100 young people lose their lives
  to suicide in the U.S. every week.
• There has been over a 100 increase in suicides
  for 10 to 14 year olds since 1980.
• More teenagers and young adults are lost to
  suicide than die from cancer, heart disease,
  AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza
  and chronic lung disease, combined.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lesson B
• Choices

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lesson C

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Just a Bad Day or Something More

• There are times when most of us feel sad or down.
  What are some words that describe how you feel
  on those really bad days???

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Just a Bad Day or Something More

• Lonely
• Bored
• Tired
• Misunderstood
• Frustrated
• etc.

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Just a Bad Day or Something More

• Is it normal to have a bad day?
• Do you think everyone feels sad or down at times?
• What are some words you use to describe how you
  feel on your bad days.
• Does anyone notice when you are having a bad day?
  If yes, who?
• How do you know they notice?
• How can you determine if it is more than just a
  bad day?

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Just a Bad Day or Something More

• Things happen in our lives that cause us concern
  and sometimes unhappiness.
• Failed relationships and failed dreams can be
  very difficult
• Not making a team
• Not winning an election
• Divorce in the family
• Breaking up with girlfriends or boyfriends
• Bad grades
• Traumatic events
• Feeling humiliated or ashamed
• How are you going to know if your friend is just
  having a bad day, or if there is something
  more???

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Signs of Concern

• Lets look at some signs of concern (warning
  signs) that may indicate a person might be having
  thoughts of suicide.
• Suicide Threats
• Previous Suicide Attempts
• Sudden Changes in Behavior
• Depression
• Final Arrangements

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Suicide Threats

• I would be better off dead.
• You wont have me around to bother you much
  longer!
• I wish I was dead.
• I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up.
• I am going to kill myself. (This is very
  straight forward, but it happens.)
• Can you think of any other comments you have
  heard that would lead you to be concerned about a
  friend???

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PreviousSuicide Attempts

• Four out of five completed suicides are not the
  first attempt.
• Physical mutilation (cutting) is a sign of
  wanting to hurt ones self physically to relieve
  an emotional painit can sometimes lead to
  suicidal thoughts or attempts.
• Even if the attempt seems to be only for
  attention, take it as a serious cry for help and
  seek help immediately.

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PreviousSuicide Attempts

• Why would someone make a suicide attempt???

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PreviousSuicide Attempts

• To see if it hurts
• To see if they can go through with it
• Most common reason to see if anyone notices
  that they are in pain. Will anyone help them???

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Sudden Changesin Behavior

• A loud person becomes quiet and reserved or a
  quiet person becomes loud and obvious.
• A person withdraws from activities he or she used
  to enjoy.
• A gentle person becomes aggressive and angers
  easily.
• An outgoing person becomes withdrawn.
• Declining grades or changes in class attendance.
• For some people these are their normal behaviors
  and/or personality traits. It is when there is a
  sudden change that we need to be diligent and pay
  close attention.

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Depression

• Feeling sad or hopeless every day for two weeks
  or longer
• Feelings of being alone or of no one caring
• Sleeplessness or wanting to sleep an abnormal
  amount of time
• Eating disorders - eating too much or not enough
• Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed

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Final Arrangements

• Giving away prized possessions
• Favorite piece of jewelry or clothing
• Drivers license
• Collection cards, music, etc.
• Making rounds
• Visiting friends to set things right and / or say
  good-bye.
• Sharing of funeral plans
• Primarily by girls to a best friend.
• If you have seen two or more of the other four
  warning signs and then see this one, it could
  indicate that the situation is more critical.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lesson D
• Choices

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Lesson E

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How to Help

• Talk, Listen and Respond with
• L. I. F. E.
• Listen
• Insist on honesty
• Feelings - share them
• Extend a helping hand

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L.I.F.E.

• ITS ABOUT LIVING LIFE!
• L represents the very first thing you must
  do. LISTEN
• I represents the second thing you can do to
  help. INSIST ON HONESTY
• F stands for the third thing you can do to help
  your friend, talk about FEELINGS, yours and
  theirs.
• E is for EXTEND A HELPING HAND. Go with your
  friend to get help.

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Resources for Help

• Favorite Teacher or Coach
• Parent
• Minister/Clergy
• Guidance Counselor
• Medical Doctor
• Other Trusted Adult
• Local Crisis Line
• Local Mental Health Center

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Friends Helping Friends

• If you see any of the signs mentioned in a friend
  or a classmate, tell a responsible adult
  immediately.
• Be willing to risk your friendship to save a
  friend.
• REMEMBER
• Your knowledge of suicidal ideation could save
  someones life.

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A Promise for Tomorrow

• Rascal Flatts
• B1 Project

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B1 Project

• Rascal Flatts and The Jason Foundation are
  working together to prevent youth suicide.
• Rascal Flatts became JFI Ambassadors in June
  2010.
• Theme is Someone you know may need a friend, B1.
• B1 encourages young people to B Aware, B Able,
  and B Prepared
• for their friends who may be struggling with
  suicidal thoughts.

www.rascalflattsb1.com
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The Jason Foundation, Inc.

• A Promise for Tomorrow
• A Youth Curriculum Unit
• for the awareness and prevention of
• Youth Suicide
• www.jasonfoundation.com