Life Crisis vs Daily Stress life crisis creates an extremely high level of stress Often, life crises are not in your control.

Life Crisis vs Daily Stress

life crisis creates an extremely high level of stress

Often, life crises are not in your control

People work through a crisis in the same way…although not always at the same pace

Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Well-adjusted people deal with disappointments and trauma BUT…adjust and move on.

This doesn’t mean they LIKE what happened…only that they will not allow the event to continue to affect them negatively.

Successfully working through difficult times help you become more emotionally mature.

Emotional maturity helps you deal with future disappointments in a positive way.

DEPRESSIONDEPRESSIONIs a NORMAL response to any Is a NORMAL response to any disappointment, crisis, personal lossdisappointment, crisis, personal loss

Depression that lasts two weeks or Depression that lasts two weeks or longer is NOT normallonger is NOT normal

Teen DepressionTeen Depression

Teenagers may Teenagers may exhibit several exhibit several symptoms of symptoms of depression and depression and yet be unaware yet be unaware that they are that they are suffering from suffering from depression.depression.


Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failureExtreme sensitivity to rejection or failure

Low self-esteem and feelings of guiltLow self-esteem and feelings of guiltFrequent complaints of physical illnesses Frequent complaints of physical illnesses such as headaches and stomachachessuch as headaches and stomachachesFrequent absences from school or poor Frequent absences from school or poor performance in schoolperformance in schoolThreats or attempts to run away from Threats or attempts to run away from homehomeMajor changes in eating or sleeping Major changes in eating or sleeping patternspatterns


Sad, blue, irritable and/or complains that Sad, blue, irritable and/or complains that nothing is fun anymore nothing is fun anymore

Trouble sleeping, low energy, poor Trouble sleeping, low energy, poor appetite and trouble concentrating appetite and trouble concentrating

Socially withdrawn or performs more Socially withdrawn or performs more poorly in school poorly in school

Can be suicidal Can be suicidal

LIFE’S GRAND ESSENTIALS

SOMEONE TO LOVE SOMETHING TO HOPE FOR SOMETHING TO DO

Suicidal people are often missing one or more of these elements for happiness

Suicide: a Suicide: a PERMANENT solution PERMANENT solution to a to a TEMPORARY TEMPORARY problemproblem

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Myths Versus Facts Myths Versus Facts About SuicideAbout Suicide

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Myths versus facts…Myths versus facts…

People who talk about suicide don’t complete People who talk about suicide don’t complete suicide.suicide.

FACT:FACT: Many people attempt/talk about suicide are just Many people attempt/talk about suicide are just trying to “reach out” to someone and hope they trying to “reach out” to someone and hope they understand their pain. It is called “parasuicidal understand their pain. It is called “parasuicidal intent”…they want to be heard.intent”…they want to be heard.

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Suicide happens without warning.Suicide happens without warning.

MYTH:MYTH:

Most suicidal people give many clues Most suicidal people give many clues and warning signs regarding their suicidal and warning signs regarding their suicidal intention.intention.

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Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.

MYTHMYTHMost suicidal people are undecided about Most suicidal people are undecided about living or dying – which is called suicidal living or dying – which is called suicidal ambivalence. A part of them wants to live, ambivalence. A part of them wants to live, however, death seems like the only way out however, death seems like the only way out of their pain and suffering. They may allow of their pain and suffering. They may allow themselves to “gamble with death,” leaving it themselves to “gamble with death,” leaving it up to others to save them.up to others to save them.

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Males are more likely to feel suicidal. Males are more likely to feel suicidal.

MYTHMYTHMen COMPLETE suicide more often than Men COMPLETE suicide more often than women. women. However, women attempt suicide three However, women attempt suicide three times more often than men.times more often than men.

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Asking a depressed person about suicide will Asking a depressed person about suicide will push him/her to complete suicide.push him/her to complete suicide.

MYTHMYTH Studies have shown that patients with Studies have shown that patients with depression have these ideas and talking about depression have these ideas and talking about them does not increase the risk of them taking them does not increase the risk of them taking their own life.their own life.

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Improvement following a suicide attempt or Improvement following a suicide attempt or crisis means that the risk is over. crisis means that the risk is over.

MYTHMYTH

Most suicides occur within days or weeks of Most suicides occur within days or weeks of “improvement” when the individual has the “improvement” when the individual has the energy and motivation to actually follow energy and motivation to actually follow through with his/her suicidal thoughts.through with his/her suicidal thoughts.

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Once a person attempts suicide the pain and Once a person attempts suicide the pain and shame will keep them from trying again.shame will keep them from trying again.

MYTHMYTH

The most common psychiatric illness that ends The most common psychiatric illness that ends in suicide is Major Depression, a recurring in suicide is Major Depression, a recurring illness. Every time a patient gets depressed, illness. Every time a patient gets depressed, the risk of suicide returns.the risk of suicide returns.

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MythsMyths versus facts. . .versus facts. . .

Sometimes a bad event can push a Sometimes a bad event can push a person to complete suicide.person to complete suicide.

MYTHMYTHSuicide results from serious Suicide results from serious

psychiatric disorders not just a psychiatric disorders not just a single single event. Major disappointments event. Major disappointments

just add “fuel to the fire”just add “fuel to the fire”

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Myths versus facts. . .Myths versus facts. . .

Suicide occurs in great numbers around Suicide occurs in great numbers around holidays in November and December. holidays in November and December.

MYTHMYTHHighest rates of suicide are in April Highest rates of suicide are in April while the lowest rates are in while the lowest rates are in December. December.

Youth Youth SuicideSuicide

3rd leading cause of 3rd leading cause of death for youth in the death for youth in the

United StatesUnited States

ONE MILLIONONE MILLION youth attempted youth attempted suicide last yearsuicide last year

That averages to That averages to 112 112 attempts attempts each minute!each minute!

ObjectivesObjectives

Certain risk factors increase Certain risk factors increase thoughts of suicidethoughts of suicide

Recognizing signs may prevent a Recognizing signs may prevent a suicidesuicide

Community resources exist to help Community resources exist to help anyone with suicidal thoughtsanyone with suicidal thoughts

WHY…would someone want to end their life? Divorce, isolation, frequent moves,

dysfunctional families, drug use, the fast pace of life, change in finances, pressure to succeed, “throw-away” society, violence in the media, easy acquisition of firearms, and a lack of parental involvement (90% said that their parents “don’t understand me”)

Four out of Five Four out of Five young people who young people who

attempt suicide have attempt suicide have given clear warnings.given clear warnings.

Suicidal ThreatsSuicidal Threats ““There’s no point in going on”There’s no point in going on” ““I can’t take it anymore”I can’t take it anymore” ““I have nothing left to live for”I have nothing left to live for” ““I can’t stop the pain”I can’t stop the pain” ““I can’t live without _______”I can’t live without _______” ““My life keeps getting worse and My life keeps getting worse and

worse”worse” ““I might as well kill myself”I might as well kill myself”

Previous suicidePrevious suicide attempts attempts

Sudden Sudden ChangesChanges

In BehaviorIn Behavior

Making final Making final arrangementsarrangements

ex. Giving away ex. Giving away possessions, “making possessions, “making peace” with others, peace” with others, gathering means for gathering means for

suicidal actionsuicidal action

Preoccupation with Preoccupation with death and morbiditydeath and morbidity

Others…..Others…..

Intolerance for praise or rewardIntolerance for praise or reward poor performance in schoolpoor performance in school increase in substance useincrease in substance use bored, indifferentbored, indifferent withdrawn or isolated from withdrawn or isolated from

friendsfriends

Factors that raise Factors that raise the risk of suicidal the risk of suicidal

thoughtthought

LowLow Self –esteemSelf –esteem

DepressionDepression

Being a victim of Being a victim of abuse, molestation, abuse, molestation,

or neglector neglect

Abuse of drugs Abuse of drugs and alcoholand alcohol

Alcohol and SuicideAlcohol and Suicide

Alcoholics have a Alcoholics have a suicide rate 50 times suicide rate 50 times higher than the higher than the general populationgeneral population

Alcohol dependent Alcohol dependent persons make up 25% persons make up 25% of all suicidesof all suicides

18% of alcoholics 18% of alcoholics eventually complete eventually complete suicidesuicide

PerfectionistsPerfectionists

Changes in Changes in school or social school or social

statusstatus

LonersLoners

How Do I How Do I Help?Help?

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You can help. . .You can help. . .

Know warning signsKnow warning signs

InterventionIntervention

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Most suicidal people don’t really want Most suicidal people don’t really want to die – they just want their pain to to die – they just want their pain to end. end.

About 80% of the time people who kill About 80% of the time people who kill themselves have given definite themselves have given definite signals or talked about suicide.signals or talked about suicide.

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You can help. . . You can help. . .

How to Intervene How to Intervene Three Basic StepsThree Basic Steps

1.1. Show you careShow you care2.2. Ask about suicideAsk about suicide3.3. Get helpGet help

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You can help…You can help…

Show you careShow you care Take ALL talk of suicide seriouslyTake ALL talk of suicide seriously

If you are concerned that someone may take If you are concerned that someone may take their life, trust your judgment! their life, trust your judgment!

Listen carefullyListen carefully Reflect what you hearReflect what you hear Use language appropriate for Use language appropriate for

age of person involvedage of person involved Do not worry about doing or saying exactly the Do not worry about doing or saying exactly the

“right” thing. Your genuine interest is what is “right” thing. Your genuine interest is what is most important.most important.

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Be GenuineBe Genuine Let the person know you really Let the person know you really

care. Talk about your feelings care. Talk about your feelings and ask about his or hersand ask about his or hers..

““I’m concerned about you…about how you feel.”I’m concerned about you…about how you feel.” ““Tell me about your pain.”Tell me about your pain.” ““You mean a lot to me and I want to help.”You mean a lot to me and I want to help.” ““I care about you, about how you’re holding up.”I care about you, about how you’re holding up.” ““I don’t want you to kill yourself.”I don’t want you to kill yourself.” ““I’m on your side…we’ll get through this.”I’m on your side…we’ll get through this.”

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You can help. . . You can help. . .

Intervention Step Two:Intervention Step Two:Ask About SuicideAsk About Suicide

Be direct but non-confrontationalBe direct but non-confrontational Don’t hesitate to raise the subject.Don’t hesitate to raise the subject.

Talking with people about suicide won’t put the Talking with people about suicide won’t put the idea in their heads.idea in their heads. Chances are, if you’ve observed Chances are, if you’ve observed any of the warning signs, they’re already thinking about any of the warning signs, they’re already thinking about it. Be direct in a caring, non-confrontational way. Get it. Be direct in a caring, non-confrontational way. Get the conversation started.the conversation started.

What NOT to Say…What NOT to Say…

• ““It’s just a phase”It’s just a phase”• ““You’ll snap out of it”You’ll snap out of it”• ““Stop being so selfish”Stop being so selfish”• ““You’re just trying to get You’re just trying to get

attention”attention”• ““Get over it”Get over it”

When should you NOT stay When should you NOT stay with a suicidal person?with a suicidal person?

When there is a danger to YOU!When there is a danger to YOU!

Steps teens can takeSteps teens can take

1.1.Take your friend’s actions seriouslyTake your friend’s actions seriously

2.2.Encourage your friend to seek Encourage your friend to seek professional help, accompany if professional help, accompany if necessarynecessary

3.3.Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t be Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t be alone in helping your friend.alone in helping your friend.

44. . Don’t keep the secret.Don’t keep the secret.

Things to avoid:Things to avoid: Do not ignore the warning signsDo not ignore the warning signs Do not refuse to talk about suicide with Do not refuse to talk about suicide with

your friendyour friend Do not react with disapproval or repulsionDo not react with disapproval or repulsion Do Do not not offer false reassurances like offer false reassurances like

“Everything will be all right”“Everything will be all right” or comments or comments like “you have a great life and you should like “you have a great life and you should be thankful for…”be thankful for…”

Do not abandon your friend after you get Do not abandon your friend after you get them help. them help.

Where do I go for HELP?Where do I go for HELP?

Call 911Call 911 1-800-suicide1-800-suicide Blue pages of phone directoryBlue pages of phone directory Trusted adultsTrusted adults

Resiliency is a “protective factor” against life crises

Involvement in school and community activities

Ask for support when you need it Avoid harmful coping behaviors Deal with difficult issues as they

arise

Surround yourself with supportive friends

Have a close relationship with a “mentor”

Have a close relationship with your family

Remember…you are NEVER alone!

No matter the problem,

there IS a solution!

Life Crisis vs Daily Stress life crisis creates an extremely high level of stress Often, life crises are not in your control.

Documents

suicide dont complete

suicide attempt

mythmost suicidal people

mythmen complete suicide

suicidal intention

suicidal ambivalence

factssuicidal people

people attempttalk