Hope Begins with You. Jeff Morris, Presenter

Hope Begins with You. Jeff Morris, Presenter

What do you want to learn? How to help someone who is depressed. How to help family members of a depressed person. How to identify students who are high-risk. How do I determine if a student is suicidal? How and where to refer someone who is depressed. How do I deal with students who joke about suicide? Dealing with the stigma of being depressed. Helping survivors of a suicide. Warning Signs.

Quiz It is for a person to experience stress, anxiety, and depression during their life. When a young person is having thoughts of suicide, they are most likely to tell. When a person is suicidal what they really want is. When you suspect someone is suicidal, the first thing you should do is.

Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Stress Normal to feel stress. Physical reaction to daily activities, pressures, etc. Can be positive. Must be able to cope with stress by finding positive ways to deal with it. Exercise, Reading, Talking, Sleeping, Activities, Drawing, Relationships.

Anxiety Persistent worrying about issues. Normal part of life. Some signs are: o Racing thoughts o Hard to make decisions o Negative thoughts about the future Must be dealt with or it can lead to tension, fear, headaches, or worse.

Depression Normal to feel down, sad, blue, etc. at times in life. Long periods of depression is not normal. Two types: o Organic and Situational Most people respond well to treatment. Treatments o Therapy and Medication

Suicide is not about wanting to die. It is about wanting to end the pain and suffering.

Statistics on Suicide According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC): Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for ages 10-24 (Accidents are 1 st ). Suicide is the THIRD leading cause of death for college-age youth and ages 12-18. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED. Each day in our nation there are an average of over 5,400 attempts by young people grades 7-12. When surveyed, 9 out of 10 teens say they would tell a friend how they are feeling.

Common Myths Asking someone if they are suicidal increases their risk. Only experts can prevent a suicide. People who are suicidal keep their plans to themselves. People who talk about suicide don t usually try to kill themselves. People who die by suicide are selfish or cowards.

Clues and Warning Signs More clues means more risk. Verbal Direct Clues o I am going to kill myself. o I wish I was dead. Indirect Clues o Who cares if I am dead? o I won t be around much longer. Joking

Warning Signs (cont.) Emotional Sad Depressed Hopeless Feeling Worthless Lonely Nobody Cares

Warning Signs (cont.) Behavioral Change in sleep patterns, weight, hygiene, dress Give stuff away Drop in grades Cutting Drug and alcohol use Reckless behavior Truancy

Warning Signs (cont.) Situational Previous attempts. Access to guns. Death of a family member or friend. Moving to a new place. Divorce.

Risk Factors may increase chances of a suicide attempt. Depression Abuse or Neglect Divorce Rural Terminal Illness Bullying Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual Youth

Protective Factors may help reduce suicide risk. Hobbies Counseling Religion Activities like sports, music, clubs, etc. Medication Family and Friends Connections with others. Pets

What do I say to someone who is depressed or suicidal? I am here for you. You are important to me. This is not your fault. I will go with you to get help. I will never leave you or abandon you. What kinds of thoughts are you having? Nothing at all (Just listen).

What not to say to someone who is Just get over it. depressed or suicidal. You just need to be tougher. Nobody said life is always fair. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Just don t be so selfish and make it all about you. I know how you feel. I was depressed for a few days one time.

QPR Question Persuade Refer

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

Question How to ask the question. If in doubt, just ask. Be persistent. Talk in private. Allow them to talk freely. Give them time. Have resources ready. How you ask is less important than that you ask.

How to ask the Suicide Question. Have you been unhappy lately? Do you ever wish you could go to sleep and never wake up? Are you thinking about killing yourself? If you can t ask the question, find someone who can.

Persuade How to persuade someone to stay alive. Listen to them and give them your full attention. Don t rush to judgment. Offer hope in any form. Suicide is not the problem, but is one solution to a perceived problem.

Persuade and ask: Will you go with me to get help? Will you let me help you get help? Will you promise me not to kill yourself until we have found you some help? Your willingness to listen and help can rekindle hope and make all the difference.

Refer Suicidal people often believe that they cannot be helped, so you may have to do more. Give them contact information to a doctor, counselor, psychologist, etc. Have them call the National Suicide Hotline. Take them to your school counselor, administrator, or some other trusted adult that you know they trust. Call 911. Take them to the hospital. Get other people involved in helping them get help.

For Effective QPR: Say I want you to live or I am on your side and I will help you get through this. Get others involved. Family, Friends, Doctor, Counselor, or anyone you think can help them. Follow up with a visit or a phone call. Let them know you care. Your job is to help them get help.

Quiz It is Normal for a person to experience stress, anxiety, and depression during their life. When a young person is having thoughts of suicide, they are most likely to tell a friend. When a person is suicidal what they really want is to end the pain. When you suspect someone is suicidal, the first thing you should do is ask them.

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. - Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption

Resources Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, MD No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine. Suicide Survivors Handbook: A Guide to the Bereaved and Those Who Want to Help Them by Trudy Carlson. Of Two Minds (http://www.oftwomindsmovie.com/links/) Boy Interrupted an HBO Documentary. http://www.afsp.org/coping-with-suicide/educationtraining/after-a-suicide-a-toolkit-for-schools http://www.qprinstitute.com/ Myths About Suicide by Thomas Joiner.

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