Understanding Teen Suicide and How to Help
Myths and facts about teen suicide, including causes, warning signs, and what you can do to offer support. It emphasizes the importance of taking suicidal feelings seriously, providing hope, and involving safe adults in intervention.
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Presentation Transcript
YELLOW RIBBON Suicide is never an option.
Myths About Teen Suicide Talking about suicide will make it happen. Youth who talk about suicide rarely attempt it. Teenage suicides happen only at night. Suicidal people leave notes. If a person wants to commit suicide nothing can stop them.
Youth Suicide Facts Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- 19 year olds. (2009) In this age group, suicide accounted for 14.9% of all deaths. 90% of teens who complete suicide suffer from a diagnosable mental illness at the time of their death. Psychiatric symptoms developed more than a year prior to death in 63% of completed suicides. Suicide is not the unpredictable event we once thought it was.
Why Suicide? Relief from/Solution to problems End of a burden Anger/Revenge
Main Causes of Suicide Substance Abuse Mental Illness Feelings of insecurity Depression o Family crisis o Economic conditions
Social/School situations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGFh0mwrjM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5PZ_Bh-M6o
Warning Signs Missed school or poor school performance Changes in eating or sleeping habits Withdrawal from friends and activities Persistent sadness and hopelessness Indecision, lack of concentration, forgetfulness Poor self esteem or guilt Frequent physical complaints Anger or rage
Low energy, lack of enthusiasm Thoughts of death or suicide Sudden lifting of mood they may have a plan Depression in family member Major stress Questions about one s sexual orientation
What can you do to help? Take their feelings seriously. Do not judge or dare them. Help them remember the people and things that matter to them and remind them of who would miss them if they were dead. Offer hope that there are other choices. Involve safe adults. Remember that keeping a secret about someone who is suicidal could be deadly.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi
