Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Objectives:
* Increase correct and accurate information regarding adolescent suicide (myths vs. facts).
* Understand risk factors and warning signs.
* Identify resilience and protective factors that promote well-being and reduce potential for youth suicide and other high-risk behaviors.
* Identify what to do when someone you know is struggling.
NOTE: The resources and objectives for this module have been provided by the PA Department of Education Act 71 Youth Suicide Education Awareness and Prevention Model Curriculum.
ALL Responses should be recorded on your TASK SHEET!
* Increase correct and accurate information regarding adolescent suicide (myths vs. facts).
* Understand risk factors and warning signs.
* Identify resilience and protective factors that promote well-being and reduce potential for youth suicide and other high-risk behaviors.
* Identify what to do when someone you know is struggling.
NOTE: The resources and objectives for this module have been provided by the PA Department of Education Act 71 Youth Suicide Education Awareness and Prevention Model Curriculum.
ALL Responses should be recorded on your TASK SHEET!
Part 1: Myths vs. Facts
TASK #1 The following statements are designed to make you think about the perceptions often involved in discussions of suicide awareness and prevention. On your TASK SHEET, read each statement and mark whether you think the statement is a MYTH or a FACT before you begin exploring any of the resources below.
MYTH vs. FACT?
1. Talking about suicide will cause it.
2. You should ignore your friend if he or she talks about suicide, because there is no way it could be serious.
3. Most suicidal people show warning signs before attempting suicide.
4. Alcohol and other drug abuse increases the risk for suicide.
5. All suicidal people are mentally ill.
6. Many adolescent suicides can be prevented.
7. Suicide happens mostly for troubled individuals who come from difficult family situations.
8. People who are suicidal definitely want to die.
9. The only one who can help a suicidal adolescent is a counselor or a mental health professional.
MYTH vs. FACT?
1. Talking about suicide will cause it.
2. You should ignore your friend if he or she talks about suicide, because there is no way it could be serious.
3. Most suicidal people show warning signs before attempting suicide.
4. Alcohol and other drug abuse increases the risk for suicide.
5. All suicidal people are mentally ill.
6. Many adolescent suicides can be prevented.
7. Suicide happens mostly for troubled individuals who come from difficult family situations.
8. People who are suicidal definitely want to die.
9. The only one who can help a suicidal adolescent is a counselor or a mental health professional.
TASK #2 Now that you have responded to the statements above, it is time to find out the facts. Use the links below to find the correct answers with evidence for each of the statements above and record on your TASK SHEET. EVEN if the statement is a fact, you must provide evidence or additional explanation for each statement in the chart.
Helpguide.org is a research based free resources for mental health and well-being.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm
Maine Teen Suicide Prevention Quiz
http://www.maine.gov/suicide/youth/quizyourself/index.htm
Helpguide.org is a research based free resources for mental health and well-being.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-helping-someone-who-is-suicidal.htm
Maine Teen Suicide Prevention Quiz
http://www.maine.gov/suicide/youth/quizyourself/index.htm
Part 2 - Risk Factors and Warning Signs
There is no single cause of suicide. Risk factors may increase a person's risk for attempting or dying by suicide. However, these don't cause or necessarily predict suicide. Suicide affects everyone, but some groups are at a higher risk than others.
Warning signs are signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide. These signs may not be dramatic, but they are significant, especially if the change in behavior is related to a recent loss, painful event, or change. The links below share both risk factors and warning signs.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Risk Factors and Warning Signs
https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/
National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide
http://www.suicidology.org/ncpys/warning-signs-risk-factors
Warning signs are signs that someone may be thinking about or planning to commit suicide. These signs may not be dramatic, but they are significant, especially if the change in behavior is related to a recent loss, painful event, or change. The links below share both risk factors and warning signs.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Risk Factors and Warning Signs
https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/
National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide
http://www.suicidology.org/ncpys/warning-signs-risk-factors
TASK # 3 Watch the Mayo Clinic Teen Suicide Prevention video here and complete the tasks related to the video found on your task sheet.
Here is a link to the video on YouTube if the video doesn't play correctly on the right hand side of this page.
https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto
Here is a link to the video on YouTube if the video doesn't play correctly on the right hand side of this page.
https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto
TASK # 4 The majority of individuals who are contemplating suicide will give some outward and visible warning of their intentions to a friend or family member. This activity is designed to help you think about and describe what behaviors might be displayed or demonstrated by a person approaching crisis. For example, what does agitation look like? Once the signs are recognized then help can be sought for the person in crisis. Complete the warning sign chart on your TASK SHEET to help you think about different ways warning signs might be visible. On the left is the warning sign for possible suicidal behavior. On the right, describe how the sign might be visible to you in the actions of someone else. These warning signs can be direct and obvious, or indirect and rather subtle.
Warning Signs
1. Hopelessness
2. Rage or uncontrolled anger
3. Acting recklessly
4. Withdrawing from others or activities
5. Anxiety, agitation or sleep changes
6. Giving away prized possessions, closure
Warning Signs
1. Hopelessness
2. Rage or uncontrolled anger
3. Acting recklessly
4. Withdrawing from others or activities
5. Anxiety, agitation or sleep changes
6. Giving away prized possessions, closure
Part 3 - How Do You Respond?
Knowing what to say to a person in or nearing crisis is important. Please get help! Don't keep suicidal thoughts a secret and tell a trusted adult. There are people who will help. Please review the resources and video found below to learn more about how to respond and keep yourself and others safe.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp.aspx
SAVE A FRIEND! Tips for Teen Suicide Prevention
http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/save-a-friend-tips-for-teens-to-prevent-suicide
My3 App
http://www.my3app.org/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/gethelp.aspx
SAVE A FRIEND! Tips for Teen Suicide Prevention
http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/save-a-friend-tips-for-teens-to-prevent-suicide
My3 App
http://www.my3app.org/
TASK # 5 Imagine you have a friend that is exhibiting behavior that makes you concerned the he/she is in crisis. Based on the information provided at the links above and the video, develop your own 5 Step Plan for how you would help or react. What would you say? What would you do? What resources do you think would be most helpful? What adults might you turn to for help? Be sure to carefully review the resources provided as you create your list.
Part 4 - Protective Factors and Resilience
Protective factors are the positive conditions, personal and social resources that promote well-being and reduce the potential for youth suicide as well as other related high-risk behaviors. Resiliency is described as a person's capacity to cope with changes and challenges and to 'bounce back' during difficult times.
Maine has developed some great strategies for increasing protective factors and resilience.
http://maine.gov/suicide/youth/healthylifestyles/index.htm
http://maine.gov/suicide/youth/healthylifestyles/index.htm
TASK # 6 - Select THREE of the tips/strategies found on the website above that are your favorite(http://maine.gov/suicide/youth/healthylifestyles/index.htm). Then search the Internet to find an important quote or a great meme that you think really relates to or exemplifies the strategy and explain why you selected it. This will help you to remember these strategies in the future. If you select a quote, write the quote and the source or person who said it. If you select a meme, you can either copy/paste it into the document or your can print and attach it. You can't use any of the examples already provided.
Sample Response:
Strategy from Website: Set One Achievable Goal Each Day
Quote I Selected: "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." - Zig Ziglar
Why I Selected It: I think that setting and achieving goals is sometimes about proving to yourself that you can do things or get through difficult times if you really work at it. We aren't powerless and setting and meeting a goal helps us feel like we have some control over that one thing. It is great to feel success at something!
Strategy from Website: Set One Achievable Goal Each Day
Quote I Selected: "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." - Zig Ziglar
Why I Selected It: I think that setting and achieving goals is sometimes about proving to yourself that you can do things or get through difficult times if you really work at it. We aren't powerless and setting and meeting a goal helps us feel like we have some control over that one thing. It is great to feel success at something!