1 / 19

Intervening on Suicide: Skills , education, and resources for helping a young person in need

Intervening on Suicide: Skills , education, and resources for helping a young person in need. Presented by Christian D Haase, MA, NCC. Before we begin…. The skills we learn here today are in effort to support youth who are in need

Download Presentation

Intervening on Suicide: Skills , education, and resources for helping a young person in need

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Intervening on Suicide: Skills, education, and resources for helping a young person in need Presented by Christian D Haase, MA, NCC

  2. Before we begin… • The skills we learn here today are in effort to support youth who are in need • These skills are not intended to replace professional help or to teach you how to treat someone who is depressed and or suicidal • Always consult with a medical or mental health professional if you encounter someone who is suicidal

  3. Professionals That Can Help • Medical doctors, pediatricians, and neurologists • Psychiatrists • Psychologists • School or community based social workers, counselors, and therapists • Nurse practitioners • Peer support providers or specialists

  4. Identifying Supports • Hotlines • Crisis services • Supporting websites • Community mental health clinics • Their primary doctor • Familiarize yourself with your surrounding supports *Slides at the conclusion of the presentation provide specific supports

  5. Prevalence • Nearly 1 in 6 youth between the ages of 12-17 have seriously considered suicide; and 1 in 12 haveattempted it. • Youth suicides outnumber youth homicides. • Boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide. About 4 in 5 completed suicides are males. Girls, however, are more likely to report attempting suicide than boys. • Up to 80 percent of Arlington teens who are depressed do not receive the needed treatment.

  6. Causes for TeenDepression and Suicide • Why do young people become depressed and or suicidal? • School performance and or grades • Social status with peers • Sexual orientation • Family life • Bullying • Trauma (Ex: abuse, death in family, witness to violence, ect) • Relationship or break-up issues

  7. Signs & Symptoms of Depression • Apathy • Difficulty concentrating and making decisions • Excessive or inappropriate guilt • Irresponsible behavior -- for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, skipping school • Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain • Preoccupation with death and dying • Rebellious behavior • Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness • Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day • Sudden drop in grades • Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity • Withdrawal from friends

  8. Signs & Symptoms of Suicide • Making suicidal statements. • Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing. • Giving away belongings. • Withdrawing from friends and family. • Having aggressive or hostile behavior. • Neglecting personal appearance. • Running away from home. • Risk-taking behavior, such as reckless driving or being sexually promiscuous. • A change in personality (such as from upbeat to quiet).

  9. How to help • If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help: • Step 1: Support

  10. Support • How to offer support: • Make a connection • Be kind, calm, and compassionate • Find out what’s going on • Listen reflectively • Let them know that you’re there for them • Hold back from asking a lot of questions or figuring out a solution • Pair up! Time to practice – CASE EXAMPLES

  11. How to help • If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help: • Step 1: Support • Step 2: Ask about suicide

  12. Ask About Suicide • How to ask about suicide: • Make sure you have established a connection before moving forward • Summarize what you have heard • Ask directly about suicide • Don’t give up if the youth shuts you out • Talking about depression and suicide can be very tough for teens • Common fear: Talking about suicide will give youth “ideas” • Be respectful of your of the youths comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen • Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

  13. How to help • If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help: • Step 1: Support • Step 2: Ask about suicide • Step 3: Validate feelings

  14. Validate Feelings • How to validate: • Don’t try to talk your teen out of his or her feelings, even if his or her feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. • Acknowledge the pain and sadness he or she is feeling. • Don’t attempt to “fix” the situation. • Provide validation for the courage it took to talk. • Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

  15. How to help • If you notice that a young person is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression and or suicide then here is what you can do to help: • Step 1: Support • Step 2: Ask about suicide • Step 3: Validate feelings • Step 4: Connect

  16. Connecting • How to connect: • Inform the youth that together you will come up with a plan to seek help • The plan should include: • Telling parents or caregivers about their thoughts of suicide • Identifying at least one professional resource to reach out to • To call 911 or crisis services if the feelings of suicide intensify (don’t forget to give them that information)

  17. Connecting Continued • As the helper remember to: • Follow up with a professional • Follow up with the youth within 24 to 48 hours if possible • Take care of yourself! • IMPORTANT! If the youth does NOT demonstrate commitment to safety, contact crisis or emergency services immediately. • Pair up! Time to practice – Continue w/ CASE EXAMPLES

  18. Resources • Arlington’s 24/7 Emergency Mental Health Services: • (703) 228-5160 • Crisis Link 24/7 Suicide Hotline: • 1 (800) 273-8255 or (703) 527-4077 • Children's Regional Crisis Response (mobile crisis services) • (844) 627-4747 • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline • http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ • Youth Suicide Prevention Program • http://www.yspp.org/

  19. Thanks! • Contact me with questions or comments @: • chaase@arlingtonva.us - Prevention Specialist

More Related