Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention Greater Littleton Youth Initiative

1. Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention Greater Littleton Youth Initiative 10.08.10 Jarrod Hindman, MS (jarrod.hindman@state.co.us; 303.692.2539)

3. Model of Suicide Risk Desire for Suicide Perceived Burdensomeness Acquired Capacity for Suicide Thwarted Belongingness High risk for suicide completion or serious attempt Figure 1: Thomas Joiner’s model of suicide risk, 2006

4. Status of Mental Health Care in Colorado 1 in 5 Coloradans needs mental health services each year. Of those, less than one-third receive care. In 2006, Colorado ranked 33rd among states for per capita spending on publicly funded mental health care. NAMI, Grading the States 2006 Estimates suggest that 90-95% of those who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental health issue Suicide Prevention Resource Center

5. Treatment is Effective 80 percent success rate for the treatment of depression. 70-90 percent success rate for panic disorders. 60 percent success rate for schizophrenia. From Mental Health America of Colorado

7. The Top 10 In 2007, Colorado had the 6th highest suicide rate of any state in the U.S 6 – Colorado (16.7/100,000) 7 – West Virginia 8 – Arizona 9 – Oregon 10 – Kentucky * National (11.5) 1 – Alaska (21.8) 2 – Montana 3 – New Mexico 4 – Wyoming 5 – Nevada

8. Suicide deaths by age group and gender: Colorado residents, 1999-2008

9. Who is at risk? In 2009: 77 percent of suicide deaths in CO were male 85 percent White Non-Hispanic 10 percent Hispanic 3 percent Black 1 percent Asian 1 percent American Indian

10. Is suicide really a problem in CO? In 2009, there were: 61 HIV deaths 190 Homicides 553 Motor vehicle deaths 608 Influenza & Pneumonia deaths 778 Diabetes deaths 940 deaths by Suicide Suicide is the 7th Leading cause of death in Colorado for all ages Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for those ages 10-24

11. Suicide Deaths in Colorado Ages 10-14 (2000-2009) Overall suicide rate 2.5/100,000 80 total suicide deaths 76% male 31% by firearm Overall U.S. suicide rate – 1.22/100,000 (’00-’07)

12. Suicide Deaths in Arapahoe/Douglas Ages 10-14 (2000-2009) Overall suicide rate 1.4/100,000 8 total suicide deaths (5 in Arapahoe) 63% male 38% by firearm Overall CO suicide rate – 2.5/100,000 Overall U.S. suicide rate – 1.22/100,000 (’00-’07)

13. Suicide Deaths in Colorado Ages 15-18 (2000-2009) Overall suicide rate 11.2/100,000 301 total suicide deaths 77% male 42% by firearm Overall U.S. suicide rate – 6.67/100,000 (’00-’07)

14. Suicide Deaths in Arapahoe/Douglas Ages 15-18 (2000-2009) Overall suicide rate 10.6/100,000 48 total suicide deaths (36 in Arapahoe) 77% male 48% by firearm Overall CO suicide rate – 11.2/100,000 Overall U.S. suicide rate – 6.67/100,000 (’00-’07)

15. 2009 ALL AGES Number of deaths in 2009 – 17% increase over next highest year (2007) Rate in 2009 – 9% increase over the next highest year (2005); 16% higher than 2008 rate

16. 2009 BY AGE

17. BY AGE CONT.

18. Hospitalizations for Suicide Attempts by age group and gender: Colorado residents, 1999-2008

19. Suicide Hospitalization in Colorado Ages 10-18 (2000-2009) Overall hospitalization rate 71.9/100,000 4,342 total hospitalizations for suicide attempts 66% female 76% by solid/liquid drug overdose * missing data. . .

20. 2009 Youth Risk Behavior SurveyCompleted by 9th through 12th graders in public high schools in Colorado(The data are weighted, and therefore representative) 25.4 percent reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities during the past 12 months. 13.7 percent reported seriously considering attempting suicide during the past 12 months. 7.6 percent attempted suicide one or more times during the past 12 months.

21. Suicide Postvention Guidelines (AAS) Suggestions for Dealing with the Aftermath of Suicide in the Schools GOALS: Prevent further suicides – Contagion is a real danger Help students, faculty and staff cope with trauma and grief Assist the school in returning to a normal routine

22. Suicide Postvention Guidelines (AAS) Suggestions for Dealing with the Aftermath of Suicide in the Schools ACTION STEPS: Plan in advance Select and train a crisis team Disseminate information to faculty, students and parents Arrange for counseling rooms in the school building Provide counseling or discussion opportunities for faculty Arrange for students and faculty to be excused to attend the funeral Coordinate or consult on memorial plans by the school Link with the community as appropriate Follow-up with continued counseling or refer for outside treatment

23. Suicide Prevention in Schools – Is it safe? Fear of potential harm of suicide prevention and/or screening in schools 2005 Randomized Controlled Trial found that: Students exposed to suicide questions were no more likely to report suicidal ideation after the survey than unexposed students High risk students were neither more suicidal nor distressed than high-risk youth in the control group Depressed students and previous suicide attempters in the experimental group appeared less distressed and suicidal, respectively, than high-risk control students Gould, et al, JAMA, 2005

24. Suicide Prevention in Schools – School-based Programs in Colorado American Association of Suicidology Accreditation Program Yellow Ribbon SAFE:TEEN SOS Signs of Suicide Lifelines Sources of Strength The Second Wind Fund Safe2Tell Suicide Postvention Guidelines (American Association of Suicidology)

25. Suicide Prevention in Schools – Other programs (do they impact suicidal behavior?) School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Bullying prevention programs Substance abuse prevention programs (Botvin’s Life Skills) 40 Developmental Assets Positive youth development programs

26. “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.