Suicide Prevention Training for Returners A Booster Suicide Prevention Training
Dec 25, 2015
Suicide Prevention Training for Returners
A Booster Suicide Prevention Training
Today’s Goals
Training on crisis response and suicide prevention
• Review your knowledge• Statistics• Warning signs• Asking about suicide• Preparation to respond and refer
Today’s Training
INTERACTIVE!!!• Share thoughts, feelings, and
reactions• Ask questions
The Why: Suicide Stats and Facts
• Definitions• One of the leading causes of death• Prevalence• Race/Ethnicity• Gender• Importance to recognize the
individual
• In the past year, USC students:– 40.3% experienced hopelessness– 55.5% reported feeling very sad– 25.2% felt so depressed it was difficult
to function– 5.7% seriously considered suicide
(approx. 1,783 students)– 1.2 % attempt suicide (approx. 375
students)
Facts About USC Students (NCHA*)
*American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment 2013
• Felt so depressed that it was difficult to function
*American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment 2013
Facts: Depression & USC Students*
Percent (%) Male Female Total
No, Never 57.3 48.2 51.1
No, not last 12 months
21.6 24.8 23.6
Yes, last 2 weeks 6.4 7.4 7.3
Yes, last 30 days 4.9 5.3 5.1
Yes, in last 12 months
9.8 14.3 12.9
Any time in the last 12 months
21.1 27.0 25.2
Facts: Intentionally Self-harmed*
Percent (%) Male Female Total
No, Never 87.1 82.1 83.7
No, not last 12 months
9.1 13.6 12.1
Yes, last 2 weeks
0.9 0.8 0.9
Yes, last 30 days
0.8 0.4 0.6
Yes, in last 12 months
2.1 3.1 2.8
Anytime within the last 12 months
3.8 4.3 4.2
*American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment 2013
Intentionally cut, burned, bruised, or otherwise injured yourself:
Seriously Considered Suicide Percent (%)
Male Female Total
No, Never 82.3 81.5 81.7
No, Not last 12 months
11.5 13.3 12.6
Yes, last 2 weeks 1.1 0.3 0.7
Yes, last 30 days 0.6 0.9 0.8
Yes, in last 12 months 4.5 4.1 4.2
Any time within the last 12 months
6.2 5.3 5.7
Facts: Suicidal Thinking & USC Students*
*American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment 2013
• Attempted Suicide
*American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment 2013
Facts: Suicide Attempts*
Percent (%) Male Female Total
No, Never 92.1 92.5 92.3
No, not last 12 months 6.2 6.6 6.6
Yes, last 2 weeks 0.8 0.0 0.2
Yes, last 30 days 0.4 0.0 0.1
Yes, in last 12 months 0.6 0.8 0.8
Any time in the last 12 months
1.7 0.8 1.2
Discussion
• Myths and Facts about suicide• What have you experienced in the
past year?• What questions or concerns do you
have regarding responding to a suicidal person or students in crisis?
Why do people consider suicide
• Life events– Relationship problems– School problems– Friend problems– Financial problems– Alcohol/drug problems– Sexual Assault– Relationship violence– Death of loved one, illness, legal, conflict
regarding sexual orientation
Why do people consider suicide
• Emotions– Sad– Lonely/isolated– Hopeless– Helpless– Anxious/Agitation– Angry– Guilty
Why do people attempt suicide
• “Permanent Solution”• Perspective (dark?)• Pain and resources for coping• Role for gatekeepers
Review
• Warning Signs• How to respond to warning signs• Resources• How to ask about suicide? • Challenges
Warning Signs• Definition/meaning• Two Tiers: IS PATH WARM• Ideation: Threatening to hurt or kill him or
herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself
Warning Signs• Substance Abuse: Increased alcohol or drug use• Purposelessness: Expressing no reason for living or no sense of
purpose in life• Anxiety: Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the
time• Trapped: Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out• Hopelessness• Withdrawal: Withdrawing from friends, family, and society• Anger: Rage, uncontrolled anger, or seeking revenge• Recklessness: Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities,
seemingly without thinking• Mood Changes: Dramatic mood changes
Interview by Drawing
Asking Someone if They Are Thinking
of Suicide
How?Why don’t we?
Concerns
• What concerns do you have about asking someone directly about suicide?
• What do you need to know to empower you to be able to do this?
• Comfort and ability in responding
Making a Referral• Emergency/Immediate Attention
– USC Campus Police 803-777-4215 or 911
– Inform supervisor and fill out BIT report• Tier one
– Requires a mental health evaluation• CHDC 803-777-5223 during hours• After hours contact supervisor on duty to
contact CHDC on-call clinician or discuss if first responders are needed
• Complete BIT report
Making a Referral• Tier two
– Express care/concern– Ask directly about suicidal thinking– Helpful to speak to mental health
professional– Acknowledge any concerns – Validate
Practice
Self Care• Set boundaries• Know your limits• Make sure you are getting enough
sleep, eating regularly, exercising, and socializing
• Get therapy for yourself, if needed• Use your supervisors
• Losing someone to suicide can place a vulnerable individual at risk
• The community response can have a big impact in lowering this risk– If the community responds poorly, a vulnerable
individual can be a greater risk
• If you learn about a suicide death in the USC community, contact Jennifer Myers [email protected] or Tobin Lovell [email protected] 803-777-5233
Postvention
Counseling and Human Development Center 7th Floor Byrnes Building www.sa.sc.edu/shs/chdc 803-777-5223
• USC Police – 7-911 or 803-777-4215
• Thomson Student Health Center– www.sa.sc.edu/shs 803-777-3175
• Behavioral Intervention Team– www.sc.edu/bit 803-777-4333
• Student Disability Services– 803-777-6142
• Student Ombudsperson 803-777-4172
Campus Resources
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline– 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)– www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Trevor Project (GLBT Youth) – 1-866-488-7386 www.thetrevorproject.org
• Mental Health Resources– www.activeminds.org Active Minds– www.twloha.com To Write Love on Her Arms– www.halfofus.com Half of Us– www.afsp.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Additional Resources
• Any Questions or Comments?
• The evaluation form will be emailed to you
• “Like” Suicide Prevention Facebook– www.facebook.com/preventsuicideusc
– http://vimeo.com/33328332
Thank you!