You Can Save a Life:

Youth Suicide

PreventionSuicide Prevention Workgroup

The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement for our students.

Goals for Today

• Recognizing a student at risk for

suicide

• Learning what actions to take if a

student is potentially suicidal

• Important legal issues

• Resources

Suicide is…

• Intentional self-harm resulting in

death

• Under-reported

• Preventable

You are liable if you do not intervene!

Common Characteristics of an Individual Who is Considering Suicide

• Person is often ambivalent

• Often the individual has “tunnel vision” about

solving their problem

• Suicidal solution has an irrational component

• Suicide is a form of communication Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based Youth

Suicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

Protective Factors Regarding Suicide• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance

use disorders• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and

support for help-seeking• Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide• Strong connections to family and community support• Support through ongoing medical and mental health care

relationships• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and nonviolent

handling of disputes• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and

support self-preservation.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide. http://www.sprc.org/library/srisk.pdf

Youth-Specific Protective Factors

• Contact with a caring adult

• Sense of connection or participation in school

• Positive self-esteem and coping skills

• Access to and care for

mental/physical/substance disorders

Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based YouthSuicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

Facts and Figures

• In 2006, suicide ranked as the 3rd leading

cause of death for young people (ages

15-24)

• In 2006, 216 children ages 10-14 died by

suicide

Facts and Figures

• Each day 91 Americans die from

suicide

• Each day there are about 12 youth

suicides

• Every 1 hrs. and 59 min. someone

under the age of 25 completes

suicide

Important Points

• Not all attempters admit their intent – thus any

self-harming behaviors should be considered

serious and in need of further evaluation

• Most adolescent suicide attempts are

precipitated by interpersonal conflicts

• The typical profile of a nonfatal suicide

attempter is a female who ingests pills; the

profile of a typical suicide completer is a male

who dies from a gunshot woundAmerican Association of Suicidology

Does Gender Matter?

• Gender has a stronger influence

than does race and ethnicity

• Males, ages 15 - 19 are 5 times

more likely than females to

complete suicide

• Three times as many females as

males attempt suicide

When?

• Most adolescent suicides occur after

school hours ( between 3 pm – 12 am)

• They occur most often on Mondays and

least often on weekends

• They occur most often between March

and September- American Association of Suicidology

Where? What Method?

• Most youth suicides occur at home

• Firearms most common - 52%

• Since 1999, 10 – 14 year olds

complete suicide by suffocation

more frequently than by firearms

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

There isn’t a definitive

method to determine if a

student is suicidal. However,

there are risk factors and

warning signs to be aware of.

Generally, more than one sign

or symptom is present.

Risk Factors• Presence of a psychiatric disorder (e.g.

depression, mood disorder, anxiety disorders,

etc.)

• Previous suicidal behavior

• Expression of thoughts of suicide or death

• Poor problem solving and coping skills

• Exposure to another’s suicidal behavior

• Recent severe stressor

• Family instability, significant conflict

• Social isolation

Warning Signs• Difficulty in school

• Difficulty concentrating

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Complaining of being a bad person

• Personality change and serious mood

changes

• Rage, anger, anxiety, reckless

behavior

• Increased alcohol and drug use

• Perception of being trapped or having

no purpose in life; psychological pain

• Eating and/or sleeping difficulties

Don’t:• Ignore it

• Agree to keep it a secret

• Give advice

• React emotionally

• Give false hopes or quick answers to

problems

• Handle it alone

• Put yourself in danger

Do:• Become familiar with

signs/symptoms

• Listen—be calm and understanding

• Offer support in a caring way

• At all times, provide appropriate

supervision

• Get help from guidance/student

services

• Follow up

Understanding Our Students

• Familiarity with cultural beliefs can

positively impact our relationships with

students and their families.• Use information provided as a

general framework – every family is

unique.

It is important not to “generalize”

regarding family values.

18

Responding to a Youth At-Risk for Suicide

• Don’t be afraid to ask

• Teachers are not responsible for

doing a suicide risk assessment -

student services personnel/crisis

team members in the schools have

been trained and are available to

help

Debunking Myths About Youth Suicide• Asking if a student is thinking about suicide does

NOT increase the risk

• It is a myth that those who have attempted

suicide always receive treatment

• Young people do not always leave suicide notes

• Parents are not always aware of their child’s

suicidal behavior

• Not true that individuals who talk about suicide

are only trying to get attention and are NOT

seriously thinking about it

What Teachers/Staff Might Say

• “I’m here for you.”• “Let’s talk and figure out what we

can do.”• “If I can’t help you, we can find

someone who can.”

General Staff ProceduresWhen a student threatens suicide:

• Provide supervision −Never leave the student alone−Do not allow student to go home alone

• Don’t send a student home until a risk

assessment can be completed −Get help from student services/administration

• Make sure parents are notified

• Continue to monitor student’s progress

Who Talks to the Parents of a Suicidal Child?

• Administrator• School Psychologist• School Social Worker• Guidance Counselor • School Resource Officer• Crisis Team Member

* Parents MUST be notified by the administrator or designee. This is NOT the teacher’s responsibility!

Teachers

• REPORT TO

GUIDANCE ASAP

• Know signs/

symptoms

• Watch students

for changes in

behavior

Teacher Follow-up

• Continue to monitor student’s progress• Report any further signs to guidance and

administration• Document! Document! Document!• Offer continued support

−Encourage student involvement in class and outside activities

−Reinforce use of positive coping skills−Continue to listen

Support Staff

• Support personnel such

as bus drivers, custodians,

paraprofessionals, and office staff

may be the first to identify a student

in crisis. They should immediately

report concerns to a school

administrator.

Administrators• Parents must be

notified! Coordinate with guidance to ensure this is done.

• Make sure student is supervised

• Contact SRO right away if student is out of control or in imminent danger

Administrator Follow-up

• Find out if parents have sought

outside support:−Mental health professional, doctor,

clergy

• Check with teacher/guidance

regarding student’s progress

• Ensure confidentiality/legal issues

are addressed

Other Administrator Responsibilities

• Train instructional/non-instructional

staff to:−Know signs/symptoms−Report to guidance/student services

immediately−Show they care/be positive

Guidance

• You are the primary contact person• Call for additional help when needed

−School psychologist−School social worker−Pam Stein (534-0958) or Linda Troupe (534-

0928)• Document steps taken• Have a witness when calling parent• Complete suicide risk assessment, if

trained• Attend Crisis Intervention Training

Guidance Follow-up

• Check with teacher on student’s progress

• Check with student upon return to school

• Follow-up on mental health issues

• Follow “Recommendations for Dealing

with Potential Student Suicide” available

in Outlook, Student Services, Crisis

Resources

Baker Act• Baker Act is used when the student is in

imminent danger of harm to self or others and

has a mental health illness

• If student does not seem to be at risk for

imminent danger, a risk assessment should first

be conducted

• School Resource Officer/Deputy

(SRO/SRD)/Licensed Mental Health professional

can initiate Baker Act Procedures

• When a student is not immediately at risk of

suicide, counselors may assist parents with

coordinating mental health services

Where to Get Help?

• 911 or emergency room if imminent threat

• Local mental health services − Winter Haven Hospital (1-800-723-3248 / 294-7062)− Peace River Center (1-800-627-5906)− Licensed mental health provider

• Family doctor/pediatrician

• National Hotlines− 1-800-273-TALK

• Faith community

• Employee Assistance Program

Legal Issues

Civil liability “means that one

can be sued for acting wrongly

toward another or for failing to

act when there was a

recognized duty

to do so.”

Civil Liability

“Negligence,” or failure to

respond, is the most

common tort (legal error)

committed by school

personnel.

Confidentiality

• Confidentiality does not apply when student makes threat to harm self or others.

• Never keep a student’s suicidal or homicidal intentions confidential, even if the student requests you to.

• Disclose the least amount of information necessary and relevant to a referral.

• Assure privacy when discussing confidential information with other professionals.

Preventive Factors at School• Academic success

• Perceived

connectedness to the

school

• Good relationships

with peers

• Problem

solving/conflict

resolution abilities

Suicide Resources

• PCSB’s Crisis Training for Student

Services Personnel

• Student Services Personnel already

trained in Crisis Intervention

Contact: Student Services Department

Pam Stein at 534-0958

or Linda Troupe at 534-0928

Polk CountyResources in Outlook

Public Folders:

• Go to Student Services tab

• Go to Crisis Intervention tab−Teacher brochure−District procedures guide−Parent/teacher information−Reporting form for

guidance/administrators

Resources and Links

Use curriculum & materials approved by Crisis Team

• Annotated bibliography of resources for school-based suicide

prevention

available at:

• School Based Youth Suicide Prevention Guide at

http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu/

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center at www.sprc.org

No specific endorsement is implied with the inclusion of any

given program and absence of a given program does not

presume negative judgment of its value.

Resources and Links continued: The selected list of resources is given to provided additional information

and help in suicide prevention. It is not all-inclusive.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

http://www.aacap.orgAmerican Association of Suicidology

http://www.suicidology.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

http://www.afsp.orgSuicide Prevention Resource Center

http://www.sprc.orgNational Institute on Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.govNational Alliance on Mental Illness

http://www.nami.org Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention

http://www.helppromotehope.com

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More Resources

• Peace River Mobile Crisis Response

Team (863) 519-3744

• Access Line (Winter Haven Hospital)

1-800-723-3248 or 293-1121 (Access Line)

Suicide Prevention Work Group• Pam Stein, Psychological Services

• Linda Troupe, Student Services

• Ann Marshall, Support Services

• Chris Laney, Legal Services

• Madonna Wise, Guidance Services

• Poinsetta Williams, School Counselor

• Adam Summeralls, School Counselor

• Peggy Smith, School Social Worker

• Audrey Kelley, Mark Wilcox Center

• Bill Sone, School Resource Deputy

• Kirk Fasshauer, Peace River Center, Crisis Response Team

• Marie Dudek, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

• Meena Mohan, Winter Haven Behavioral Health

• Mary McGregor, School Psychologist