Time to ACT: An overview of the Signs of Suicide Program Lauren - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Time to ACT:

An overview of the Signs of Suicide Program

Lauren Canafax, DMS Counselor Jane Kea, CMS Counselor

Myth

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Myth

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It is a myth that talking about suicide will put the idea into someone’s head. Bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly can reduce anxiety and lead a person experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek help.

Source; The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation

Myth

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It is a myth that suicidal people keep their plans to

• themselves. Most suicidal

people communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt.

Myth

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Fact?

Source; The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation

Myth

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Fact?

Myth

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• Myth. Asking someone

directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety,

• pens up communication,

and lowers the risk of an impulsive act.

Source; The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation

Myth

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Myth

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• Myth. Suicide prevention is

everybody’s business, and ANYONE can help prevent the tragedy of suicide. Suicide is a preventable cause of death, and almost any positive action may save a life.

Source; The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation

10 Source; The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation

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Research reveals that seven out of ten young people who take their lives will tell a friend or show a warning sign, however in most cases those friends will not tell an adult.

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The SOS Curriculum

“SOS Signs of Suicide” is a universal, school-based prevention program designed for middle school and high school students.

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The SOS Curriculum

The goals of the program are…

• Decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing student knowledge

and adaptive attitudes about depression

• Encourage personal help-seeking and/or help-seeking on behalf of a

friend

• Reduce the stigma of mental illness and acknowledge the importance of

seeking help or treatment

• Engage parents and school staff as partners in prevention through

“gatekeeper” education

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What it Looks Like

• Counselors visit classrooms and...

○ Directly teach students some signs of depression and suicidal ideation. ○ Directly teach students their action steps in the event that they or someone they know is experiencing suicidal tendencies. ○ Show videos with examples of a teen showing a sign of suicidal thoughts or depression to a friend. During the video, the counselor will pause and point out what the friend does wrong and what the friend does right. ○ Guide students through a mental health screening and discuss the meaning of the results.

• After the lesson is implemented, counselors follow up with students as

needed based upon screening results

• Counselors reinforce knowledge of the action steps and warning signs

throughout the year.

SOS: What Students See

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Today you will be participating in the Signs of Suicide prevention program, which is used in thousands of schools throughout the

• country. Our goal today is to learn about depression and suicide

and to help you learn to recognize warning signs and how to act

• n your concern for yourself or a friend.

The purpose of this program is not to tell whether or not you are suffering from depression, but rather to tell you if you may have symptoms that indicate a need for a further evaluation.

The core message is ACT —

A: Acknowledge that you are seeing signs of depression in yourself or a friend and that it is serious; C: Care by letting your friend know how much you care about them and are concerned that they need help; T: Tell a trusted adult that you are worried about yourself or a friend.

SOS: What Students See

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Depression is more than just feeling “down.” It’s a medical condition that affects the body and mind. When that sad and hopeless feeling lasts for more than a couple of weeks, the condition is called depression which can lead to thoughts of death or suicide.

SOS: What Students See

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• Frequent sadness, tearfulness, or crying
• Hopelessness
• Decreased interest in activities; or
• inability to enjoy previously favorite activities
• Persistent boredom, low energy
• Social isolation, poor communication
• Low self-esteem and guilt
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
• Increased irritability, anger, or hostility
• Difficulty with relationships
• Frequent complaints of physical illnesses, such as headaches and

stomach aches

• Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school
• A major change in eating and/or sleeping patterns
• Talk of/or efforts to run away from home
• Thoughts or expressions of suicide or self-destructive behavior

Signs (Symptoms) of Depression

SOS: What Students See

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In this first clip, we will watch a girl who exhibits some, but not all, of the common warning signs of depression.

SOS: What Students See

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It’s not unusual for people to feel sad, upset, and angry about the loss of a relationship they value. These feelings can come and go

• ver time. However, her reaction was much more serious and not

a “typical” response to what was going on. What she experienced lasted over two weeks and involved changes in her mood, behavior, physical health, and thinking. A warning sign is an indication that an individual may be experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide. Most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals of their intentions.

Why was the younger sister’s reaction considered troubling and not just a “normal” response to a bad situation?

SOS: What Students See

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• Talking, reading, or writing about suicide or death
• Talking about feeling worthless or helpless
• Saying things like, “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were

dead,” or “I shouldn’t have been born”

• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
• Giving things away
• Organizing or cleaning one’s bedroom “for the last time”
• Developing a sudden interest in drinking alcohol
• Purposely putting oneself in danger
• Obsessing about death, violence, and guns or knives
• Previous suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts

Warning Signs for Suicide

SOS: What Students See

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• She blames her sister, saying “Just stop whining

and give it some time.”

• She minimizes the problem, saying, “Don’t you

think you’re being a little dramatic?”

• She ends the conversation abruptly by leaving

the room.

What about the older sister’s first

response made it “wrong”?

SOS: What Students See

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In the second clip, we watch the older sister use the ACT response when she recognizes signs and symptoms of depression and suicide.

SOS: What Students See

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• Acknowledge: She makes eye contact with her sister and

says, “I know you’re upset but saying that is pretty serious.”

• Care: The older sister offers to go to their mother together

when the younger sister seems scared. She also emphasizes her concern when she says, “I’m really worried about you.” At the end, she repeats, “I’ll be there with you.”

• Tell: The older sister won’t be sworn to secrecy. When her

younger sister asks to promise not to tell, she replies, “I can’t do that! I think you’re really depressed, and we have to talk to somebody.” She doesn’t give up when her sibling doesn’t want to talk to their mother. She even states, “Well if you don’t, I will.” The older sister also provides reassurance that it will be okay and that her younger sister isn’t crazy, she just needs help.

How does the older sister use the ACT technique in the “correct” response?

SOS: What Students See

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You can say something like:

• “I’m here for you.”
• “I’m really worried about you.”
• “Let’s go talk to someone.”

What should you say if a friend talks about suicidal feelings?

SOS: What Students See

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If your friend fell and broke his arm during athletics, would you go to a coach for help or would you try to help your friend on your own? If your friend fell down the stairs and injured herself while walking to class, would you run to a nearby teacher or would you try to deliver medical help on your own? You should provide comfort while you wait for medical help, but you should not try to solve a medical problem on your own. If you suspect a friend is depressed or suicidal, you should treat it as a medical concern. While you definitely have the power to help your friend see his/her worth, you alone cannot get them the help they need. You must tell a trusted adult.

Tell an adult? But that’s my friend’s personal business!

SOS: What Students See

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• Take the messages seriously.
• Follow ACT
• Go to your parent or guardian.
• Call emergency services on their behalf if no
• ne is home.
• Once you have contacted emergency

services, contact a trusted adult and let them know what is happening.

What are some things you could do if you see someone posts messages late at night that talk about harming themselves or others?

SOS: What Students See

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The BSAD Screening

• It is NOT a diagnostic tool
• It is NOT anonymous

SOS: What Students See

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HOPE Squads are the eyes and ears of our schools. They are comprised of students who are trained to watch for at-risk students and provide friendship, identify warning signs, and seek help from adults

SOS Parent Portal

• Facts about suicide and

suicide prevention efforts

• Example of the BSAD

Survey

• Resources for how to

identify warning signs and how to talk to your child if you see warning signs

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