Name:______________________

The Scope of the Problem

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. It is the sixth leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds
• 9% of 12th grade students reported attempting suicide in the past year
• 24% of 12th grade students reported considering suicide in the past year

Stressors and Warning Signs

• Risk factors for suicide include:
  • Some personality traits
  • Family stresses
  • Prior suicidal behavior
  • Biochemical and genetic factors
  • Stressful life events
  • Social and cultural factors
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Behavioral factors
  • Exposure to attempted or completed suicides
• The greater the number of risk factors, the greater the suicide risk
• It is difficult both to predict and to prevent many suicides. However, in 80% of cases, young people committing suicide have expressed their intent prior to the actual act. The duration and intensity of, as well as changes in, behavior are important indicators. Some observable signs of suicide risk include:
  • Marked decline in school performance, skipping classes, dropping out of activities
  • Death themes in art or written work
  • Giving away prized possessions
  • Sudden changes in relationships, withdrawing from friends
  • Apathy
  • Risk-taking behavior
  • Statements such as "I wish I were dead" or "No one cares"
  • Loss or disappointment
  • Stressful episode or chronic stressful life situation at home, with peers
  • Signs of mental illness

Causes of Suicide

Causes of suicide are not clearly understood. There are two general models for thinking about the causes:

• Depression Model - requiring mental health interventions
• Stress Model - requiring social interventions. Causes of suicide also focus on motives such as revenge (desiring to create guilt in those left behind), loss or perceived loss or failure, depression.

Signs of Depression and Mental Illness

• Depression alone or in combination with aggressive behavior and substance abuse or anxiety is found in more than half of all suicides
• Psychiatric diagnoses are present in 90% of suicides
• Signs of depression include:
• Depressed mood
• Change in eating and sleeping patterns
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach or guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness
• thoughts of death, suicide or wishes to be dead
• Extreme anxiety, agitation or enraged behavior
• Isolation
• Excessive drug and/or alcohol use or abuse
• History of physical or emotional illness
• Feelings of hopelessness or desperation

Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs on Depression and Suicide

• Alcohol and cocaine abuse are present in 2/3 of suicides among 18-19 year old males; they are not commonly associated with female teens or younger male teen suicides.
• Research reported in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence (December 2, 1996) indicates that the major depression does not cause alcohol abuse; rather, shared genes and shared family experiences cause both depression and alcohol abuse. Alcohol, acting as a depressant, worsens the depression.

Getting Help

Stress three things students can do if they suspect that someone is thinking about committing suicide.

• Question - Ask the person if he or she is thinking about suicide; this awareness in itself can have a calming effect
• Persuade - Talk with the person about the problem, the permanency of death, or about anything to get him or her off the edge of the cliff
• Refer or Report - Students should immediately tell a trusted adult of their suspicion; don't ignore it

QPR - "QPR" can be related to "CPR" as another life-rescue measure. Understand what types of professionals can help - doctors, psychologists, counselors, therapists, psychiatrists. Know community resources and how to access them.