MINNESOTA National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness QPR. For Youth. Ask A Question, Save A Life

Transcription

1 QPR For Youth Ask A Question, Save A Life

2 QPR For Youth Question, Persuade, Refer

3 QPR QPR is intended to offer hope through positive action. QPR is not intended to be a form of counseling or treatment.

4 Suicide Myths and Facts Myth Fact Myth Fact risk Myth Fact No one can stop a suicide, it is inevitable. If people in a crisis get the help they need, they will probably never be suicidal again. Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide. Asking someone directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the of an impulsive act. Only experts can prevent suicide. Suicide prevention is everybody s business, and anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide

5 Suicide Myths and Facts Myth Fact Myth Fact Myth Fact Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves. Most suicidal people communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt. Those who talk about suicide do not do it. People who talk about suicide may try, or even complete, an act of self-destruction. Once a person decides to complete suicide, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them. Suicide is the most preventable kind of death, and almost any positive action may save a life. How can I help? Ask the Question...

6 QPR Myths And Facts About Suicide Myth If a suicidal youth tells a friend, the friend will access help. Fact Most young people do not tell an adult.

7 Warning Signs Can Be Direct or Indirect If you are unsure if something said or done is a suicide warning sign, apply QPR. The more warning signs observed, the greater the risk. Take all signs seriously.

8 Suicide Warning Signs (Clues) Threats to hurt or kill him or herself Current talk of suicide/making a plan Strong wish to die/preoccupied with death Anxious and depressed, not sleeping Abusing substances

9 More Warning Signs No reason to live, no purpose in life Feeling trapped with no way out Withdrawing from friends, family and society Anger, irritability, engaging in high risk behavior apparently without thinking Statements of hopelessness and despair

10 Direct Verbal Warning Signs I ve decided to kill myself. I wish I were dead. I m going to commit suicide. I m going to end it all. If (such and such) doesn t happen, I ll kill myself.

11 Indirect Verbal Warning Signs I am tired of life, I just can t go on. My family would be better off without me. Who cares if I m dead anyway. I just want out. I won t be around much longer. Pretty soon you won t have to worry about me.

12 Behavioral Warning Signs Any previous suicide attempt Acquiring a gun or stockpiling pills Impulsivity/increased risk taking Giving away prized possessions Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting) Unexplained anger, aggression and irritability Chronic truancy, running away

13 Situational Clues Being expelled from school /fired from job Family problems/alienation Loss of any major relationship Death of a friend or family member, especially if by suicide

14 More Situational Clues Diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness Financial problems (either their own or within the family) Sudden loss of freedom/fear of punishment Feeling embarrassed or humiliated in front of peers Victim of assault or bullying

15 Other Areas of Concern and Signs of Distress Change in interaction with family and friends Recent disappointment or rejection Sudden decline or improvement in academic performance Increased apathy These may not be suicide warning signs but do require some explanation and concern

16 Other Areas of Concern and Signs of Distress Physical symptoms Eating disturbances Changes in sleep patterns Chronic headaches Stomach problems Menstrual irregularities These may not be suicide warning signs but do require some explanation and concern

17 HOW TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT SUICIDE

18 Tips for Asking the Question When in doubt, don t wait, ask the question If the person is reluctant, be persistent Talk to the person alone in a private setting Allow the person to talk freely Give yourself plenty of time Have your resources handy; nearest hospital with psychiatric unit, county crisis team number, doctor s and counselor s phone numbers and any other information that might help Remember: How you ask is important, but more important is that you ask

19 Less Direct Approach Have you been unhappy lately? Have you been very unhappy lately? Have you been so very unhappy lately that you have been thinking about ending your life? Do you ever wish you could go to sleep and never wake up?

20 Direct Approach You know, when people are as upset as you seem to be, they sometimes wish they were dead. I m wondering if you are feeling that way, too? You look pretty miserable, I wonder if you re thinking about suicide? Are you thinking about killing yourself? NOTE: If you cannot ask the question, find someone who can

21 HOW NOT TO ASK THE QUESTION You re not suicidal, are you? You wouldn't do something stupid, would you? Suicide is a dumb idea, you re not thinking about killing yourself, are you?

22 Persuade Listen to the problem and give them your full attention Remember, suicide is not the problem, only the solution to a perceived insoluble problem Do not rush to judgment Offer hope in any form

23 Persuade Say: I m concerned about you. Then ask: Will you go with me to get help? Will you let me help you get help? NOTE: Show you care, be patient, be persistent

24 Refer Suicidal young people often believe they cannot be helped, so you may have to do more. The best referral involves taking the person directly to someone who can help. If the person refuses help, you may need to get others involved. While arranging for help, stay with the person

25 What else can we do? Research shows us that restricting access to lethal means during a crisis can make a remarkable difference in suicide rates

26 1. Coal Gas Before 1960, domestic gas was the leading method of suicide in the United Kingdom. From 1958 to1971, the carbon monoxide content of domestic gas dropped steadily to near zero as new non-toxic (and cheaper) sources of gas replaced the toxic coal gas. Suicide rates dropped by nearly a third. Carbon monoxide (CO) suicides dropped; non-co suicides increased slightly. Kreitman 1976, Brit J Prev Soc Med.

27 2. Pesticides Sri Lanka Pesticides are the leading suicide method in Asia, with an estimated 300,000 deaths annually worldwide In Sri Lanka, suicide rates rose 8-fold from 1950 to Restrictions were placed on sales of the most highly human-toxic pesticides in the late 90s Suicide rates dropped 50% from 1996 to 2005 Nonfatal poisonings and suicide by other methods did not drop Gunnell Int l J of Epidemiology.

28 3. Firearms Israeli Military The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is a population-based army with mandatory draft for year-olds in Israel Suicide was a leading cause of death; most by firearm, many on weekends In 2006, IDF required soldiers to leave their weapons on base during weekend leaves The suicide rate decreased by 40% Weekend suicides dropped significantly Weekday suicides did not Lubin 2010, Suic & Life-Threat Behavior.

29 The acute phase of a suicidal crisis is often (not always) brief Harvard School of Public Health and the Means Matter Campaign

30 When do people take their lives? Among people who nearly died in a suicide attempt, 24% said less that 5 minutes elapsed between deciding on suicide and making the attempt Another 47% said under an hour Only 13% said one day or more

31 For more information on means restriction The Means Matter Website a project of the Harvard School of Public Health

32 Donna Fox Program Director Extension 101 This workshop is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health

33 NAMI Minnesota 800 Transfer Road, Suite 31 St. Paul, MN