Yellow Ribbon International Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training for Adults

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Yellow Ribbon International Suicide
Prevention Gatekeeper Training for Adults
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Why Address Suicide?

• 3rd leading cause of death for ages 15-24.
• The fastest growing age group is the 10-14 year
  olds.
• Approximately 750,000 Americans attempt suicide.
  
• Approximately 30,000 people die. It is estimated
  that suicides may be two to three times greater
  than official statistics. (American Psychiatric
  Association,1985)2

1CDC Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet
www.cdc.gov/ncipc.factsheets.suifacts.htm 2ERIC
Digests www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed34015
2.html
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Why Address Suicide?
Nationally 4,135 suicides (ages 15-24) in 2000
8,270 Parents (2 each) 12,405 Siblings (3
each) 16,540 Grandparents (4 each) 24,810 Friends
and Classmates (6 each) 28,945 Teachers and
(SROs) (7 each) 90,970 Lives are directly
affected
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How does YR Address Suicide?

• With a universal prevention strategy target
  everyone
• With a community-based approach to Increase
  Protective Factors and to Decrease Risk Factors
• YR does not displace or replace any
  professional, rather we work as adjunct
  organization

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How does YR Address Suicide?
With Be-A-Link!? Gatekeeper Training for adults
and Ask4Help Suicide Prevention Program for
youth. Gatekeepers are School personnel,
SROs, parents, grandparents, public safety,
medical people, youth leaders and community
members. Building gatekeeper LINKS in the
community
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Links of Suicide Prevention

• Awareness (Stay) Yellow Ribbon Gatekeeper
• Respond (Listen) Yellow Ribbon Gatekeeper
• Take Action (Get for Help) YR Gatekeeper

Be A Link

• Assessment Partner / Community Professional
• Referral Partner / Community
  Professional

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Suicide Myths and Facts
Talking about suicide may cause someone to try it
People in crisis need to talk - it helps relieve
the terrible isolation that can lead to suicide.
(D. Bergman, M.D. Kids on the Brink 1990)
People who talk about killing themselves rarely
follow through they are only looking for
attention
Every suicide statement must be taken seriously!
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Suicide Myths and Facts
Suicidal people want to die no one can stop them
Most suicidal crisis lasts a short period of time
and people often call for help immediately
following a suicide attempt.
Suicidal people keep their plans secret
Most suicidal people send out warning signs
during the week before their attempt
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Suicide Myths and Facts
Friends shouldnt do anything in a suicidal
crisis, only professionals can prevent suicide
As with First Aid and CPR, assisting in a crisis
is critical. Professionals cant do anything
until we LINK them to those in crisis.
There is no correlation between substance abuse
and suicide
50 of youth who complete suicide have a history
of recent use
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Situational
Warning Signs Clues

• Depression - A medical illness of the brain
• Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or
  activities that were once enjoyed
• Marked change in weight
• Fatigue / loss of energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering and
  making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms (headaches,
  stomachaches)

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Situational
Warning Signs Clues

• Previous suicide attempt
• Loss of health, major illness, relationships
• Lack of support system sense of isolation
• Sexual orientation - gender identification
  issues
• Abuse being teased, bullied or excluded
• Disciplinary crisis

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Warning Signs Clues
Behavioral

• Writing a will, making funeral plans
• Giving things away, saying goodbye
• Acquiring lethal means acquiring or obsession
  with guns or knives or stockpiling pills
• 60 of all people who complete suicide use a
  firearm

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Warning Signs Clues
Behavioral

• Writing or drawing about death and/or suicide
• Risk-taking behavior or self-harm (cutting,
  burning)
• Irritability, angry outbursts
• Isolating, withdrawal friends, family or
  favorite activities
• Increased use of drugs or alcohol - 50 of people
  who attempt suicide are under the influence at
  the time.

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Warning Signs Clues
Verbal

• Direct Statements
• Im going to kill myself
• I wish I were dead
• If (such and such) happens, Ill kill myself
• I dont want to live

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Warning Signs Clues
Verbal

• Indirect Statements
• Nobody needs me
• You wont have to be around me much longer
• You would be better off without me
• I just cant take it anymore

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Warning Signs Clues
The most commonly cited warnings

• extreme changes in behavior
• a previous suicide attempt
• a suicidal threat or statement
• signs of depression

ERIC Digests ED340152, www.cdc.gov/databases/ERIC_
Digests/ed340152.html
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Protective Factors

• Family and Community (Peer)
• Support - a sense of connectedness to
  others
• Access to resources and mental health Services
• Learn Lifeskills (the Ask for Help lifeline card)

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Protective Factors
Ask 4 Help!? Card

• Began in 1994 when teens responded to Mike
  Emmes parents when they said, Please dont
  attempt suicide, please ask for help!
• Ask for Help!? cards with message of help, hope
  and resources were created
• Teens mailed cards everywhere
• Global awareness with publication of Chicken
  Soup for the Soul - 3rd Serving and CS for
  Teenage Soul

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Protective Factors
Ask 4 Help!? Card
Tells you what to do to ask for help for
yourself or a friend
Dont have to have a card to ask for help

• American Association of Suicidology study reports
  that 78 of adolescents go to peers for help
  before they go to an adult

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Protective Factors
Ask 4 Help!? Card
Step 1 Stay with the person Unless there is
risk of harm to yourself.
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Protective Factors
Ask 4 Help!? Card

• Step 2 Listen - really listen. You are that
  persons lifeline
• It is OK to say
• What can I do to help?
• Who can we call that you would like to talk to?
• Lets call the hotline (or walk down to the
• counselor) together and see what they
• suggest for the next step to getting us
  help.

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Protective Factors
Ask 4 Help!? Card

• Step 3 Get, or call for Help Immediately
• Call your parent, their parent, school
  counselor, pastor or rabbi or crisis
  hotlines
• 1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) or
  1-800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or
• 911

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Talk to your teen/youth...
Protective Factors

• Show them the Yellow Ribbon card
• Tell them what youve learned about suicide
  today
• Ask them Do you know about the YR
  program?
• Do you know anyone who has thought of
  suicide?
• Do you know anyone who has ever attempted
  suicide?

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Talk to your teen/youth...
Protective Factors

• ? Ask them
• Have you ever thought about attempting
  suicide?
• What can I do to help?
• We can get through this together.
• I m with you, and we will find help.
• Will you go with me to get help?

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Coping Strategies
Protective Factors

• Spend time with family and friends
• Consider the role of spirituality in your life
• Get involved with after-school activities
• Believe in yourself
• Laugh, keep your sense of humor
• Volunteer, you are needed
• Exercise regularly
• Eat right. Chocolate is good! ?

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After responding to a cry to help

• Debrief after helping suicidal person
• OK if you have feelings of being upset, scared
  or tense
• Professional response specialists debrief too.
• Talk to someone you trust - counselor, clergy

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Be A Link!? Protocol
Protective Factors

• Many schools do not have suicide specific
  crisis protocols
• Most states have laws requiring educators to
  seek help for a student who is a danger to
  himself/herself or others Setting the
  protocol into action will help relieve the
  educator of potential liability.
• There is liability in doing nothing after
  becoming aware of someones risk.

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Be A Link!? Protocol for Schools
Person in Crisis
Trusted Adult
Crisis Team Member Contact name and number
Additional Team Member Contact name and number
Designated Site Administrator Contact name and
number
Parent / Guardian Contact name and number
Local professional Contact name and number
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Postvention and Prevention
Doing prevention work in the postvention time is
vitally important and does save lives. It
addresses the needs in the aftermath of
suicide(s) or suicidal crisis and can impact the
new high risk group with lifesaving tools.
The Yellow Ribbon Postvention handbook guide
helps schools prepare a clear and effective
postvention plan for staff, students, parents and
media.
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Do's and Don'ts

• DONT...
• Leave the person alone
• Be sworn to secrecy
• Keep it a secret
• Be glib or dismissing of the problem
• Counsel - your role is to Be-A-Link

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Do's and Don'ts

• DO REMEMBER
• Those who talk about suicide often DO kill
  themselves
• Be aware. Learn the warning signs and to
  listen
• To be non-judgmental, reassuring and positive
• That If you suspect suicide ideation, ask about
  it !
• To offer hope that alternatives are available

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Continue Suicide Prevention
Protective Factor

• Talk about suicide prevention in classrooms,
  church youth group or adult forums
• Be a sponsor to a Yellow Ribbon Club
• Wear, use and display the Yellow Ribbon symbol
• Participate support annual Yellow Ribbon
  events
• Keep a supply of cards brochures available

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The Yellow Ribbon Card has no expiration
dateStan Collins, President Yellow Ribbon
International Youth Council His statement when
testifying before U.S. Senate Sub Committee
Hearing on Children and Family - May 2001