Safe Schools: Preventing Youth Suicide

1. Safe Schools: Preventing Youth Suicide

2. Moderator Joan Lerman, MSSW • School Administrative Consultant Prevention/School Violence • Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team • Department of Public Instruction

3. This month’s webcast is brought you with partnerships between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Office of Justice Assistance, Homeland Security Program, Wisconsin Emergency Management, Department of Health and Family Services and partnering organizations involved in the Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness.

4. Goals for this workshop • Present useful data • Discuss risk factors • Identify early and late warning signs • Suggest an easy way to help suicidal students: ACT • End youth suicide in Wisconsin!

5. Why “Gatekeeper” Training? • Describes a serious problem among kids • Empowers staff to help • Ends fear of taking action • Increases ability to identify, support, refer

6. Youth Risk Behavior Survey WI DPI, 2007

7. Where does suicide rank among causes of death in WI youth? And, how many youth die by suicide every year? DHS WISH, 1999-2006, ages 10-19, www.dhfs.wisconsin.gov/wish/Mortality Module, accessed 10/30 & 31 2007

8. Is suicide very common? Suicide: 399! That's about 50 each year

9. In the U.S. Suicides are 12% Suicide is the third leading cause of death In Wisconsin Suicides >17% Suicide is the second leading cause of death Of all deaths among youth… WISQARS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Vital Statistics System, downloaded 3/19/08 for years 1999-2005, ages 10-19

10. Wisconsin’s Rate Compared to USA • For 10-19 year olds • 13th highest rate in nation • Rate is 42% higher than national average • For 10-14 year olds • 5th highest in US • 20 states didn’t even have enough suicides in this age range to have reliable data • CDC WISQARS

11. Risk Factors • Risk factors raise risk something will occur • The most important suicide risk factors: • A prior suicide attempt • Suicidal thoughts or plans • Exposure to suicide of friends, family, community, or in the media

12. Other Risk Factors • Serious depression, hopelessness • Using drugs or drinking • Teenage Crisis • Risky behaviors • School problems • Trouble solving problems J. of Adolescence, 29 (2005) 75-87; Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:513-519; J. School Health, 77, 2, 59-66

13. Early Warning Signs • Look for changes over time, including: • Spending more time alone (girls—isolated) • Major/frequent mood swings (boys—angry) • Difficulty concentrating • Decline in quality of school work • Change in eating or sleeping habits • Boredom • Physical symptoms related to emotions Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide, 2003, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute Goldstein, et. al, J Consulting Clinical Psychiatry, 2008 Feb; 76(1): 84-91

14. Late Warning Signs • Talking about suicide • Impulsive violent or rebellious actions • Refusing help, won’t accept praise • Being cheerful after a period of depression • Giving away favorite possessions • Making a last will & testament Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide, 2003, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute

15. ACT NOW! • If you see any late warning signs, you should act immediately. • Don’t try to diagnose the problem. • Don’t worry about students getting attention. • Myth: Asking them will give them ideas. • Myth: They won’t tell the truth when asked. • Myth: If they don’t do it now, will do it later.

16. What else do we need to know? • Suicide doesn’t just happen out of the blue—90% had treatable mental illnesses or drug/alcohol problems. • Usually an impulsive reaction to “crisis” • Firearms used in more than half of youth suicides in WI—safe storage is critical

17. It might look something like this: • You’ve noticed risk factors such as depression or exposure to suicide… • and the student has become isolated… • and they hinted about suicide or forever escaping their problems… • it’s time to ACT! Right away! Don’t leave the student alone.

18. ACT for suicide prevention • A is “Acknowledge” signs and symptoms • C is for showing “Care and Concern” for the person who is at-risk • T is “Tell” a trusted adult who knows how to respond • Signs of Suicide is the source of ACT, a program of Screening for Mental Health

19. A is ACKNOWLEDGE • “That sounds really tough, I’m sorry to hear it.” • “You have some major challenges on your plate.” • Don’t minimize their feelings by saying: • “You’ll get over it.” • “Time heals all wounds.” • “Stop worrying about it.” • You don’t even have to ask questions!

20. C is CARE AND CONCERN • “I would hate for any harm to come to you.” • “I don’t want this to get any worse. I’d really like to see you get some help.” • “You’re an important part of my class and I want to be sure you stay safe.”

21. T is TELL A TRUSTED ADULT • “I know Mr. Humphries in the Student Services office, and he works with many students who are facing challenges like this. Let’s go see him together.” • Know your: School Counselor: Kelly Kaminski - Elementary, Susan Read – Middle School, Janae Gile - High School; Psychologist: Meghan Saxine – Elementary & Middle School, Jessie Stevenson - High School; School Nurse: Carrie Nelson & Jenny Franseen Crisis Response Team Members. Take the student to see one of them right away, even if you’re not sure if it’s a crisis.

22. State Law Protects You! • WI 118.295 Suicide intervention; civil liability exemption. “…any (school) officer, employee or volunteer, who in good faith attempts to prevent suicide by a pupil is immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions in respect to the suicide or attempted suicide.” • You are safe in trying to help students. • For private and public schools.

23. What can schools do? • Staff and volunteers should be skilled at identifying and helping suicidal students • Train all students (another law) • Develop prevention/intervention programs • Student Services staff should be skilled at suicide risk assessment or have access to someone who is skilled in this area

24. In your school • Are there any students you are concerned about right now? • Who can you take a student to see?

25. Remember • All you need to do to stop youth suicide is: • ACT • Acknowledge • Care • Tell • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always available at (800) 273-TALK

26. Additional Resources • DPI’s Suicide Prevention Web Page • www.dpi.wi.gov/sspw/suicideprev • Suicide Prevention Resource Center • www.sprc.org

27. Practice ACT • High School Junior Girl, “Monica” • Used to be social, would laugh, participate • Grades were good but have slipped • Over 6 or 8 months becomes isolated, gloomy, outlook is bleak • One day says to you, “I’d like to take a permanent nap and never wake up.” • What do you do?

28. Webcasts may also be observed at: • www.citizenpreparedness.org • From the Center for School, Youth, and Citizen Preparedness

29. Next Safe Schools Webcast: