Preventing Suicide: Review f Safety Prtcl fr Suicidal Students Maureen Cper Jamie Andersn
Fast Facts abut Suicide 2013, students in grades 9-12: 17% seriusly cnsidered attempting suicide in the previus 12 mnths 13.6% made a plan in the previus 12 mnths 8% attempted suicide ne r mre times in the previus 12 mnths 2.7% made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, pisning, r an verdse that required medical attentin Kann, L., Kinchen, S., Shanklin, S.L. et al. (2014). Available at www.cdc.gv/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6304a1.htm
Cntagin Effect Prcess in which the suicidal behavir r suicide f an individual influences an increase in the suicidal behavirs r suicides f thers. (U.S. Department f Health & Human Services, 2008). Rare but mst prevalent amng adlescents Accunt fr 1-5% f teenage suicides r 100-200 deaths annually (Guld, M. S. 2004). Prximity t the victim & predispsed vulnerability creates greatest risk. Gegraphic prximity Media r sensatinalized cverage can increase prximity Psychlgical prximity Example: victims f bullying, team members, classmates, members f the same schl, any ther similar r unifying characteristic Scial prximity Example: family member, acquaintance, neighbr Zenere, F. (2008). Pathway f Cntagin: The Identificatin f a Yuth Suicide Cluster. Cmmuniqué, 37(4).
13 Reasns Why series increases prximity fr students and is nt recmmended fr vulnerable yuth. What educatrs can d: Be a supprtive adult t help students prcess Help students articulate perceptins when viewing cntrversial cntent Reinfrce that schl mental health prfessinals are available t help Ensure parents, teachers, and students are aware f suicide warning signs Take warning signs seriusly and never prmise t keep them a secret Use established reprting prtcls Reinfrce resiliency factrs: Peer supprt and clse scial netwrks Schl and cmmunity cnnectedness Cultural r religius beliefs that discurage suicide and prmte healthy living Adaptive cping and prblem-slving skills, including cnflict reslutin General life satisfactin, gd self-esteem, and a sense f purpse Family supprt and chesin, including gd cmmunicatin Easy access t effective medical and mental health resurces Natinal Assciatin f Schl Psychlgists. (2017). 13 Reasns Why Netflix series: Cnsideratins fr educatrs [handut]. Bethesda, MD: Authr.
Risk Factrs Previus suicide attempt(s) Islatin and alneness Nn-suicidal self-injury (e.g., cutting) Mental illness including depressin, cnduct disrders, and substance abuse Family stress/dysfunctin Family histry f suicide Envirnmental risks, including presence f a firearm in the hme Situatinal crises (e.g., the presence f a gun in the hme, bullying and harassment, serius disciplinary actin, death f a lved ne, physical r sexual abuse, breakup f a relatinship/friendship, family vilence, suicide f a peer) Natinal Assciatin f Schl Psychlgists, 2015
Warning Signs Suicidal threats in the frm f direct (e.g., "I am ging t kill myself") and indirect (e.g., "I wish I culd fall asleep and never wake up again") statements Suicide ntes and plans (including nline pstings) Making final arrangements (e.g., giving away prized pssessins) Preccupatin with death Changes in behavir, appearance, thughts, and/r feelings. Natinal Assciatin f Schl Psychlgists, 2015
Prtcl IMMEDIATELY reprt cncerns t a licensed mental health prfessinal in the building D NOT wait until the end f the day and always reprt the SAME day If pssible d nt leave the student until yu have cnnected with supprt staff Licensed mental health prfessinals are: scial wrkers, psychlgists, and cunselrs At NEC: Jamie Andersn, Bryce Merriman, Kelly Betzld, Lyla Petersn, Kelly Mwei, Chad Jayasekera, Shaina Feingld, Maureen Cper, Braden Schmitt, Quinn Meyer, Kristin Karlsn, and Steve Higgins Prvide all relevant infrmatin t mental health prfessinal If yu are in an emergency situatin with the ptential fr imminent harm, call 911 immediately
Risk Assessment If student is nt in imminent danger, schl mental health prfessinal will cmplete a risk assessment Mental health prfessinal will determine level f risk: Lw, Mderate, r Imminent Mental health prfessinal will take apprpriate fllw up steps based n level f risk (fr example, cntacting parent, call Hennepin Cunty Crisis) Suicide Risk Assessment Frm
Safe Messaging fr Students Suicide is never a slutin, it is an irreversible chice regarding a temprary prblem. Talk t friends abut tugh emtins and let them knw yu care.. Be an upstander and take actins t reduce bullying and increase psitive cnnectins amng thers. Reprt cncerns. Never prmise t keep secret behavirs that represent a danger tward anther persn. Suicide is preventable. Never leave smene alne, seek ut a trusted adult immediately. Natinal Assciatin f Schl Psychlgists. (2017). 13 Reasns Why Netflix series: Cnsideratins fr educatrs [handut]. Bethesda, MD. Authr.