Suicide AWARENESS TRAINING

1. Suicide AWARENESS TRAINING Brought to you by the HSD Care Coordinators

2. Overview • Data • Facts About Suicide • Warning Signs/ Risk Factors • Protective Factors • How to Intervene • Your Suicide Screeners • Resources • Review & Questions

3. Leading Causes of Death for Youth Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Oregon youth, ages 10-24 Source: Oregon death certificate data for 2009-10

4. Mechanism of Death in Suicides among Oregon Youth Aged 10-24 Oregon Violent Death Reporting System, Aggregate Data from 2003-2009

5. Told Others of Plan Source: Oregon Adolescent Suicide Attempt Data System

6. Facts • Talking about suicide responsibly does not increase risk of suicide. • Those who are suicidal are almost always ambivalent. • Parents are often unaware of a child’s suicidal thoughts or behavior. • There are often warning signs that someone is thinking about suicide.

7. Suicide is preventable.

8. Warning Signs – Seek Help • Thinking, talking, or writing about death, dying, or suicide And… • Feeling hopeless, helpless, guilt, worthlessness • Recklessness • Increased use of alcohol or drugs • Dramatic mood changes (depressed, irritable, angry) • Feeling trapped, as if there is no way out • Withdrawal from friends, family, activities • Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness or sleeping all the time • Feeling or expressing no reason for living; no sense of purpose in life • Pain or loss; recent or eminent crisis

9. Warning Signs – Seek Immediate Help • Threatening to hurt or kill oneself • Seeking a means to kill oneself • Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide

10. Report Ideation EVERY time you hear or see it. • Ideation: Self-reported thoughts of engaging in suicidal behaviors. (Expressed in writing assignments, drawings, notes or verbally.) • “It doesn’t matter anymore.” • “I wish I could just disappear.” • “You would be better off without me.” • “Nobody would miss me if I were gone.” • “I won't be around much longer to bother you.” • “Do you ever think about what it's like when • you're dead?” • “If I could just go to sleep and not wake up.” • “If a car hit & killed me that would be fine by me.” • “I can't take it anymore. I want to die.”

11. Major Risk Factors for Suicide • Prior attempt(s) • Mental health disorder • Substance abuse • Access to lethal means

12. Other Risk Factors for Suicide • Poor social problem-solving skills • Aggressive-impulsive behavior • Oppression and prejudice • Bullying • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse • Problematic parenting or family environment • Contagion/ Imitation • Perfectionism

13. Is student being bullied, stalked or harassed through chat rooms, text messaging, websites, blogs, or social networking sites? Is student getting “support” for suicidal ideation/behavior on-line? For more information on cyber bullying, visit www.cyberbully.org Technology Awareness

14. Major Protective Factors • Effective mental health care • Problem-solving skills • Contacts with caregivers • Strong connections to family, community, and social institutions • Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide • Restricted access to lethal means of self destruction in the home

15. Suspect suicide? Take action! 1. Establish rapport. 2. ASK. Discretely, but directly, ask the question, “Are you thinking about suicide?” 3. If “yes,” then do not leave this person alone. • REASSURE. Offer some comforting things to say. For example, “I’m sorry you’re feeling this way.” 5. REFER. Escort the student to a suicide screener at your school. Tell the administrator.

16. Your Suicide Screeners: • Michelle Buyas • Jacy Jukkala • Matt Steele • Tanya Stremme • Jeff Meeuwsen • Mary Peterson • Karen Shea • Kaleigh Doncheck (Youth Contact Therapist) • Patti Seitz (Youth Contact Therapist)

17. Review • Be aware of warning signs and risk factors for suicidal students • Be aware of attitudes and behaviors that could disrupt your ability to help • Ask, Reassure, Refer to Suicide Screener • Share with the suicide screener any information you have from talking with the student • Keep information confidential (need-to-know basis) • Questions?

18. Table Exercise • Wanda is an eighth grade student who is in the leadership program at school and until recently, she has earned very good grades. • As Wanda’s teacher, you have observed that Wanda has been quieter in class the last couple weeks and she is not turning in her homework as consistently as before. • You regularly read a journal that Wanda writes in for an ongoing class assignment. The most recent entry expresses sadness and vague references to “what it would be like to not be here”. • What is your next step? • 2. What would be challenging for you in this situation?

19. Resources • School supports: Counselors, Administrators, Youth Contact Therapist, School Resource Officer, Care Coordinator • 503-291-9111 Washington County Crisis &Consultation Line / Mobile Crisis Team • 911 Go Directly to Hospital Emergency Room • 1-800-273-TALK National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

20. Thank You! Andrew Chipps x5966 chippsa@hsd.k12.or.us Washington County Crisis and Consultation Line 503-291-9111