Not alone: What we know from the YRBS 2019 Youth Risk Behavior - PDF document

9/1/2020 1 Not alone: What we know from the YRBS 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Wisconsin high school students: ● 49% had significant problems with feeling very anxious, nervous, tense, scared, or like something bad was going to happen Of those, 24% said they can usually get the help they need for their feelings ● 22% were bullied on school property; 17% were bullied electronically ● 16% seriously considered attempting suicide; 7% said they did attempt in the past year 2 1

9/1/2020 Students turn to peers for support ● According to the YRBS, 51% of Wisconsin students said they’re most likely to seek emotional support from a friend or sibling; 34% would turn to a parent, teacher or other adult; others were not sure ● 2012 study of about 3,000 high schoolers in New York and North Dakota found that less than a third of students who thought about suicide told an adult or sought help. But just over half did tell a friend. 3 Peer-based approaches show success Programs include: ● Sources of Strength ● Hope Squad ● NAMI ● Generations Against Bullying ● REDgen ● Honest Open Proud 2015 University of Rochester study found student-led presentations via Sources Of Strength made peers more likely to reach out to adults for mental health support. 4 2

9/1/2020 Framing matters Werther/copycat effect: When content is associated with increase in suicide ● Sensationalized, detailed descriptions of suicides ● Lack of context for suicidality as a treatable health issue Papageno effect: When content is associated with decrease in suicide ● Information about causes of suicide, warning signs and ways to get help ● Stories of those who survived suicidality and offer hope 5 6 3