Suicide Postvention. Ellie Martinez, M.A. Stephen E. Brock, Ph.D, NCSP. Suggested Procedures During the Aftermath of a Student Suicide

Transcription

1 Suicide Pstventin Suggested Prcedures During the Aftermath f a Student Suicide Ellie Martinez, M.A Western Placer Unified, Lincln, CA Stephen E. Brck, Ph.D, NCSP Califrnia State University, Sacrament

2 Outline Intrductin Definitin f Terms Special Cnsideratins Suicide Prtcl Cnclusin

3 Intrductin In 2005, suicide id was the third leading cause f death amng yuth aged Females have a higher rate f suicide attempts, yet males are five times as likely t die by suicide. Other factrs assciated with higher rates f suicide include age, ethnicity, sexual rientatin, and access t firearms. It is estimated that six peple are directly affected by a cmpleted suicide. These individuals are cnsidered Survivrs f Suicide. American Assciatin f Suicidlgy (2005); Brck, S.E., Sandval, J., & Hart, S.R. (2006)

4 Intrductin Survivrs typically experience an array f emtinal reactins: Shck, guilt, despair, denial, anger, disbelief, e pain, shame, hpelessness, rejectin, cnfusin, and self-blame. Suicide is assciated with stigma, guilt, denial, and limited scial supprt. Survivrs are at an increased risk f suicide cntagin. American Assciatin f Suicidlgy (2007); Parrish & Tunkle (2005); Debski, Spadafre, Jacn, Ple, & Hixsn (2007); Sakinfsky (2007).

5 Definitin f Terms Siid Suicide Pstventin Prcedures aimed at identifying thse affected by a suicide in rder t decrease negative reactins and increase adaptive cpying. Survivrs f Suicide Individuals directly affected by a cmpleted suicide. Affected individuals include: family members, classmates, friends, teachers, girl/byfriend. American Assciatin f Suicidlgy (2005); Brck et. al (2005); Parrish et. al (2005).

6 Special Cnsideratins Special factrs that need t be cnsidered d when implementing pstventin services. Suicide Cntagin Brck (2002) Increase f suicidal behavirs shrtly after a cmpleted suicide typically due t imitatin. T decrease cntagin, sensatinalism, glrificatin, i and rmanticizatin i i shuld ldbe avided.

7 Special Cnsideratins Assessing the Need Fr and Prviding Supprt Physical, emtinal, and tempral prximity i t the suicide act. Specific attentin shuld be given t the siblings f the suicide victim. Parrish et. al (2005); Sakinfsky (2007)

8 Special Cnsideratins Scial Stigma Survivrs may be shunned r avided by friends and/r family members because f an inability t cmfrt survivrs r in fear f cntagin. Survivrs may be reluctant t seek ut help frm mental health prfessinals, cmplicating the bereavement prcess. Parrish et. al (2005); Brck (2002)

9 Special Cnsideratins Prviding Infrmatin Infrmatin shuld be prvided t facilitate understanding and clarificatin. Fllw the students schedule Present infrmatin simultaneusly as sn as pssible. Sensalizatin, glrificatin, and rmaticizatin f the suicide id act shuld be avided d t alleviate cntagin. Brck et al. (2006); Brck (2002); Debski et. al (2005)

10 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Gals Assist survivrs with the grief prcess Identificatin and referral f students at-risk fr psychpathlgy Reducing cntagin Prviding apprpriate infrmatin Are pstventin services always needed? Brck (2003); Brck (2002)

11 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Verify the death hhas ccurred Mbilize the crisis interventin team Assess the suicide ss impact and level f services needed Ntify ther schl persnnel Cntact the family f the suicide victim Determine what and hw t share infrmatin Interventin services Memrials and funerals Dealing with the media Debriefing

12 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Verify that a death hhas ccurred Plice r sheriff departments, hspitals, family f suicide victim, crner s ffice Label the death a suicide nce it s been fficially determined. Medical examiner r crner s ffice. Mbilize the crisis team Schl Psychlgists are the Crisis Interventin Crdinatr Identify individuals in need f pstventin services Facilitate cmmunity based mental health supprt

13 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Assess the suicides impact and level f services needed Physical Prximity i Emtinal Prximity TmprlPr Tempral Prximity Other factrs that cntribute t the level f services needed: When, by whm, and where the death tk place

14 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Ntify ther invlved schl persnnel District ffice Other ptentially affected schl sites Staff members at the schl affected by the death Cntact the family f suicide victim Shuld be made in persn, within 24 hurs Offer empathy, pstventin services, and identify thers affected dbyd death

15 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Determine what and dhw t share infrmatin i Befre death is classified a suicide After death is classified a suicide Gal: T prvide factual infrmatin withut glrifying r vilifying suicide victim. Rumrs need t be dispelled as sn as pssible. Talking t students Factual infrmatin delivered simultaneusly in classrms r small grups Talking t parents By letter Parent meeting

16 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Interventin services Initiated within 24 hurs Schl Based: Walk-thrughts, drp-in cunseling, individual/grup cunseling, classrm activities/presentatins, parent/staff meetings. Cmmunity Based: Outside mental heath referrals rr fr students needing psychtherapeutic supprt. High-risk students and level f supprt will be cntingent n the impact f the suicide n the schl site.

17 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Memrials and dfunerals D Encurage affected students t attend the funeral service Develp suicide preventin prcedures, including better ways t cpe with emtin. Dn t Send all students t funeral Cancel f change the schl schedule Permit physical memrials n schl grunds Fly flag at half-staff, have assemblies r yearbk dedicatins fr victim, r mments f silence.

18 Suicide Pstventin Prtcl Dealing with the media D Wrk with press t dwnplay the suicide act Stry n inside f paper Prvide infrmatin abut cmmunity resurces Dn t Include a picture r suicide in captin Prvide details abut the suicide Rmanticize the death Debriefing Prcess emtinal reactins Evaluate perfrmance Plan fr future pstventin services

19 Cnclusin In suicide id pstventin, ne size des nt fit all. Suicide Preventin is key. Pstventin is preventin fr the next Generatin! Questins

20 Ellie Martinez, M.A Schl Psychlgist Western Placer Unified, Lincln CA Stephen E. Brck, Ph.D, NCSP Assciate Prfessr Califrnia State University, Sacrament