MAKE A DIFFERENCE 2017-18

1. MAKE A DIFFERENCE 2017-18 ANNUAL TRAINING • SUICIDE • BULLYING/HARASSMENT • CHILD ABUSE

2. WHAT DO WE DO?

3. Youth Suicide:Prevention and Intervention Zoe Anne Bozeman BCS Counseling Supervisor Barri Sky Faucett, MA ASPEN Project Director

4. BCS SUICIDE POLICY • JASON FLATT ACT – 2007 • TN requires all educators in the State to complete 2 hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training each year in order to be licensed to teach in Tennessee. • T.C.A 49-6-1902 – Mandatory Suicide Policy in each TN School District (2016) • BCS POLICY #6054-Student Suicide Policy (2016)

5. SUICIDE Intentional Self-Inflicted Death

6. Just the Facts • Every 12 minutes another life is lost to • suicide, taking the lives of more than 42,773 • Americans every year. • Every day 117 Americans take their own life. • For young people 10-24 years old, suicide • is the second leading cause of death.

7. In 2014 = 5,504 reported youth suicides in the United States. 2010 = 4,600 (CDC) Each day there are approximately 15 youth suicides (12 in 2010) Most common method is firearms followed by suffocations Males complete 4 times more than females; females attempt four times more than males. Our Youth

8. SUICIDE STATISTICS • Among students in grades 9-12 in the U.S. during 2013, in the previous 12 months: • • 17.0% of students (5 in a class of 30)seriously considered attempting suicide (22.4% of females and 11.6% of males). • • 8.0% of students (3 in a class of 30) attempted suicide one or more times (10.6% of females and 5.4% of males).

9. SUICIDE STATISTICS • • 13.6% of students (4 in a class of 30) made a plan about how they would attempt suicide (16.9% of females and 10.3% of males). • • 2.7% of students (1 in a class of 30) made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or an overdose that required medical attention (3.6% of females and 1.8% of males).

10. Suicide in Adolescents Suicide in Adolescents Research shows that most adolescent suicides occur after school hours and in the teen’s homes. Most adolescent suicides are precipitated by interpersonal conflict.

11. The Teenage Brain • Adolescence is a time of profound brain growth. • Greatest changes to the brain that are responsible for impulse control, decision making, planning, organization, and emotion occur in adolescence (prefrontal cortex). • Do not reach full maturity until age 25.

12. What do youth deal with? • Increased school pressures as they progress through higher grades • Possibly first romantic relationships • Exploring increased independence and identity • Experimenting with substance use • Puberty and Hormone fluctuation • Bullying

13. Peer Problems • Several studies have found relationships between suicidal behavior and social isolation, sexual orientation, and peer rejection. • 70% of suicide completions and attempts occur following the loss or conflict with family and peers.

14. Sexual Identification • LGBT youth are 1 ½ - 7 times more likely to have reported ideation. • LGBT Youth in multiple studies are found to be 3-4 times more likely to attempt suicide. • 58% of LGBT youth who had attempted suicide reported they really hoped to die vs. 33% of heterosexuals who attempted and reported really hoping to die. • Have elevated risk factors and lower protective factors

15. Bullying and Suicide

16. Cyberspace CYBERSPACE is the new environment where " youth are forming communities.

17. Distance 24/7 Multiple methods Text messages; video clips; Websites; Social Media; IM; Emails; Chat rooms Anonymous Expanded Audience What makes Cyberbullying different?

18. Withdraws socially; has few or no friends. Feels picked on or persecuted. Complains frequently of illness. Doesn’t want to go to school; avoids some classes or skips school. Brings home damaged possessions or reports them “lost.” Cries easily; displays mood swings and talks about hopelessness. Talks about running away/suicide. Bullying effects

19. Verbal Physical Relational Both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at a higher risk for suicide than their peers. Children who are both victims andperpetrators of bullying are at the highest risk. One study found that victims of cyberbullying had higher levels of depression than victims of face-to-face bullying. Bullying risks for suicide:

20. SUICIDE: Myth or Fact • Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide.

21. SUICIDE: Myth or Fact • Asking someone directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act.

22. Myth or Fact Those who talk about suicide don’t do it.

23. Myth or Fact • People who talk about suicide may try, or even complete, an act of • self-destruction.

24. Myth or Fact If a suicidal youth tells a friend, the friend will access help.

25. Myth or Fact • Most young people do not tell an adult.

26. SUICIDE- Risk Factors, Warning Signs, Protective Factors • Risk Factors- characteristics that will make it more likely that an individual will consider, attempt, or die by suicide • Warning Signs- behaviors that indicate signs of immediate risk • Protective Factors- characteristics that make it less likely that individuals will consider, attempt, or die by suicide.

27. Risk Factors-IS PATH WARM • Ideation • Substance Abuse • Purposelessness • Anxiety • Trapped • Hopelessness • Withdrawal • Anger • Recklessness • Mood Changes

28. Prior suicide attempts Mental health disorders History of trauma or abuse Family history of suicide Lack of social support Factors that increase Suicide Risk

29. Situations that increase suicide risk • Major physical illnesses • Losses • Bullying • Easy access to lethal means • Local clusters of suicide

30. Firearms are used in 58% of successful suicides. The rate of completed suicides is fives times higher in houses with firearms. Firearms are even more prevalent in suicides involving alcohol. 47% of TN homes have firearms. Risk Factor - Access to means

31. Warning Signs: • Acquiring a gun or stockpiling pills • Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself • Impulsivity/increased risk taking • Giving away prized possessions • Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting) • Increased drug or alcohol abuse • Talking about no reason to live

32. Protective Factors • Treatment for Mental Health/Substance Abuse, physical disorders • Increased access to interventions • Restricted access to highly lethal means

33. Protective Factors • Strong connections to family and community support • Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills • Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation.

34. Indirect or “Coded” Verbal Clues: • “I’m tired of life, I just can’t go on.” • “Who cares if I’m dead anyway.” • “I just want out.” • “I won’t be around much longer.” • “Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about me.” • “My family would be better off without me.”

35. What to Do for the Individual • Take it seriously • Almost 80% of all suicides gave some warning of their intentions.

36. What to Do for the Individual • Ask Directly • If you think that someone is suicidal, ask them about it.

37. Tips for Asking the Question • If in doubt, don’t wait, ask the question. • If the person is reluctant, be persistent. • Talk to the person alone in a private setting. • Allow the person to talk freely. • Give yourself plenty of time. • REFER TO SCHOOL COUNSELOR IMMEDIATELY FOR FOLLOW UP. • REMEMBER: How you ask the question is less important than that you ask it.

38. What to Do Be Genuine: • Listen and don’t show shock or disapproval. • Show that you care, it is more important than saying “the right thing.” • Avoid trying to explain away the feelings…(saying things like “you have a lot to live for” or “you are just confused right now.”)

39. What to Do • Stay There • Don’t leave them alone. • Seek Help-Be actively involved in seeking professional help

40. COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTION • Faculty & Staff: • Take opportunity to teach life skills (i.e., conflict resolution) • Promote social connectedness • Identify students at risk • Increase help seeking behavior • Counselors: • Connect students with substance abuse and mental health resources • Follow crisis management procedures • Restrict access to potentially lethal means

42. BULLYING, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, HAZING

43. Making A DifferenceBULLYING PREVENTION • BARTLETT CITY SCHOOLS POLICIES RELATED TO BULLYING: • #6002 – Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, and Cyber-Bullying and Intimidation • “Alleged victims of bullying/harassment offenses shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal/designee.” • #6038 – Discipline Procedures • Information included in Student Handbooks

44. BULLYING DEFINITIONS •  Bullying/Intimidation/Harassment - An act that substantially interferes with a student’s  educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and the act has the effect of: 1. Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property; 2. Knowingly placing a student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property;

45. BULLYING DEFINITIONS  3. Causing emotional distress to a student or students; or  4. Creating a hostile educational environment. Bullying, intimidation, or harassment may also be unwelcome conduct based on a  protected class (race, nationality, origin, color, gender, age, disability, religion) that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment.

46. CYBERBULLYING DEFINITION •  Cyber-bullying: • A form of bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices. •  Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, cellular phones or other  wireless telecommunication devices, text messaging, emails, social networking sites, instant messaging, videos, web sites or fake profiles.

47. HAZING DEFINITION • Hazing: An intentional or reckless act by a student or group of students that is directed against any other student(s) • that endangers the mental or physical health or  safety of the student(s) or • that induces or coerces a student to endanger his/her mental or physical health or safety. • Coaches and other employees of the school district shall not encourage, permit, condone or tolerate hazing activities. • “Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization.

48. FOUR MARKERS OF BULLYING • Imbalance of Power (student has difficulty defending himself/herself) • Intent to Harm • Threat of further aggression (repetitious behavior) • Terror

49. EXTEND and IMPACT • PREVALENCE OF BULLYING CYBERBULLYING: 7-15% youth affected SCHOOL-BASED BULLYING: 18-31% of youth affected STARS Nashville, Rodger Dinwiddie ; Preventing Bullying through Science, Policy and Practice 38

50. Prevalence Among Subgroups LGBT Youth: • Double that of heterosexual youth: 25.6%-43.6% YOUTH with DISABILITIES: • 1.5 times as much OBESE Youth: • Increased risk; difficult to attribute to a single physical attribute STARS Nashville, Rodger Dinwiddie ; Preventing Bullying through Science, Policy and Practice 38