YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION:

STATISTICS TO INTERVENTION

YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION: Statistics to Intervention

Ginny Trainor, LCSW

Suicide is a deliberate act to take one’s own life

Suicide is the #1 preventable cause of death in the United States

Suicide is a major public health issue, taking life without regard to age, income, education,

social standing, race, or gender

What is suicide?

Overall, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans

It is 2nd leading cause of death for adults ages 25-34, and for

youth ages 15-24

Suicide went from the 3rd to 2nd leading cause

of death for youth in 2014 passing homicide for the first time.

The legacy of suicide continues long after

the death, impacting bereaved loved ones

and communities.

State and local prevention efforts are

having a positive impact, as shown by

decreasing suicide rates among teenage and

elder males, two of the hardest hit groups.

• Increase awareness of youth suicide

• Recognize symptoms of depression

• Learn steps you can take towards

prevention

GOALS FOR TODAY

Each year in the United States we

lose about 5000 young people to

suicide

STATISTICS

That translates to about

100 per week

Every day there is an average of

4,200 suicide attempts by those

between the ages of 12-19.

Girls attempt suicide 3x more

often than boys.

Why?

Boys complete suicide 4x more often

than girls.

What’s the reason for the difference?

Boys account for 81% of completed

youth suicides.

The reason for the gender discrepancy is

method

In 2013, the top three methods of suicide

for youth, ages 10-24, were:

Firearms – 48% (68% for ages 15-24)

Males 49.1%, Females 25.0%

Suffocation – 41% Males 37.9%, Females 50.7%

Poisoning – 8.5% Males 5.7%, Females 16.4%

As of the data taken in 2012 by the CDC, Chicago had the

highest rate of teen suicide in the nation

CHICAGO STATISTICS

One in six (15.8%) high school students in

Chicago have attempted suicide in the past 12

months, according to a Youth Risk Behavior

report from the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. This is the highest rate of 21

urban school districts surveyed.

Nearly one in five female Chicagoans (19.8 percent)

said they seriously considered attempting suicide

during the 12 months before the survey.

One in ten males (10.8 percent) surveyed in Chicago

said they had seriously considered suicide.

This is an increase over 2011 data and the first for

suburban Cook County, which showed 13 percent of

all students had considered suicide.

Teenagers face a multitude of pressures, from puberty to self-

identification and fitting in. As they transition into adulthood,

there is often conflict with parents and authority figures as they

try to assert their independence.

Because of these, and other issues, it isn’t always easy to

differentiate between depression and typical teenage moodiness.

Making things even more complicated, teens with depression do

not necessarily appear sad, nor do they always withdraw from

others. For some depressed teens, symptoms of irritability,

aggression, and rage are more prominent.

RECOGNIZING YOUTH DEPRESSION

▪ Sadness or hopelessness ▪ Restlessness

▪ Irritability ▪ Feelings of worthlessness

▪ Anger, hostility or guilt

▪ Withdrawal from friends ▪ Lack of motivation

and family ▪ Fatigue/ lack of energy

▪ Loss of interest in activities ▪ Difficulty concentrating

▪ Changes in eating/sleeping ▪ Expressing thoughts of

habits death or suicide

▪ Complaints of physical ailments ▪ Persistently “blue”

▪ Changing friends ▪ Change in physical

appearance

SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

A person who is thinking of suicide

does not want to die. They want the

feelings of pain, hopelessness and

despair to end.

Like all matters related to health, whether

physical, emotional or mental, the best

indicator of recovery is early intervention.

PREVENTION

7 STEPS OF PREVENTION

FOR PARENTS

American Psychological Association, 2013

KNOW YOUR FACTS

Information is power and too much

misinformation about suicide can have tragic

consequences. Separating myth from fact can

empower you to help your teen in distress.

Myth – Suicide in youth is not a problem

Truth – Suicide is a major problem affecting youth; it is the

2nd leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds

Myth – Asking about suicide causes suicidal behavior

Truth – Addressing the topic of suicide in a caring,

empathetic, and nonjudgmental way shows that you

are taking your child seriously and responding to their

emotional pain

Myth – Only a professional can identity a child at risk for

suicidal behavior

Truth – Parents and other caregivers often are the first to

recognize warning signs and most able to intervene in

a loving way

Studies who that 4 out of 5 teen suicide attempts

are preceded by clear warning signs. A warning

sign does not mean your child will attempt suicide,

but do not ignore warning signs. Respond to your

child immediately, thoughtfully and with loving

concern.

Don’t dismiss a threat as a cry for attention!

RECOGNIZE THE WARNING

SIGNS

• Changes in personality: sadness, withdrawal, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, indecision

• Changes in behavior: deterioration in social relationships and school and/or work performance, reduced involvement in positive activities

• Sleep disturbance: insomnia, oversleeping; nightmares

• Changes in eating Habits: loss of appetite, weight loss, or overeating

• Fear of losing control: erratic behavior, harming self or others

• Giving away prized possessions

• Saying good-bye

WARNING SIGNS

There is no such thing as a, “suicidal type” of

youth. However, there are elevated risk factors

that of which we want to be aware.

KNOW THE RISK

FACTORS

• History of previous suicide attempts (15% more

likely to make another attempt within 12 months)

• Family history of suicide

• History of depression or other mental illness

• Alcohol or drug abuse

• Stressful life event or loss

• Easy access to lethal methods

• Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others

• Incarceration

SUICIDE RISK FACTORS

• Perfectionists

• Loners

• Bullying (3-4x more likely)

• LGBTQ (3.4x more likely)

• Victims of abuse (3x more likely)

• Those with a learning disability

• Changes in school status

• Exposure to violence (2x more likely)

MORE RISK FACTORS

Just as Risk Factors increase the probability of suicide,

Protective Factors encourage positive outcomes.

Protective Factors are those things within the person

that tend to have the greatest impact on a person’s ability

to overcome suicidal thoughts. They help improve the

youth’s response to stress and crisis and build resilience.

KNOW THE

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Connectedness—to family, friends, school, a pet…

Feeling connected conveys hope

Cultural beliefs

Religious beliefs

Lack of access to means of suicide

Good health

Access to mental health services

Supportive peers

Problem solving skills

Community connection

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

You are not powerless! There are ways to

help guide your child against the possibility

of suicide.

TAKE PREVENTATIVE

ACTION

• Interact with your teen positively (give consistent

feedback, compliments for good work.)

• Increase his/her involvement in positive activities

(promote involvement in clubs/sports)

• Appropriately monitor your teen’s whereabouts and

communications (texting, Facebook, Twitter) with the

goal of promoting safety

• Be aware of your teen’s social environment (friends,

teammates, coaches) and communicate regularly with

other parents in your community.

• Communicate regularly with your teen’s teachers to

ensure safety at school

• Limit your teen’s access to alcohol, prescription pills,

illegal drugs, knives and guns

• Talk with your teen about your concerns; ask him/her

directly about suicidal thoughts

• Explain the value of therapy and medication to manage

symptoms.

• Address your concerns with other adults in your child’s

life (teachers, coaches, family)

• Discuss your concerns with his/her pediatrician to seek

mental health referrals

Talking to your child about suicide can seem

intimidating and almost impossible. Even if

it seems one-sided, it is important that we

are communicating openly.

TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT

SUICIDE

• Talk in a calm, non-accusatory manner

• Express loving concern

• Convey how important he/she is to you

• Focus on your concern for your teen’s well-being and

health

• Make “I” statements to convey you understand the

stressors he/she may be experiencing

• Encourage professional help-seeking behaviors (locate

appropriate resources)

• Reassure your adolescent that seeking services can

change his/her outlook

You do not need to manage this on your

own. Utilize the experts when you have

questions or concerns.

SEEK MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

DO NOT FALL INTO THE,

“NOT MY CHILD”

SYNDROME!

1) Take appropriate action to protect your child

If you feel that something is “just not right”

If you notice warning signs

If you recognize your child has many of the risk factors

and few of the protective factors listed above

2) Find a mental health provider who has experience with

youth suicide

Choose a mental health provider with whom your child and

you are comfortable

Participate actively in your child’s therapy

To those who have lost their lives by suicide,

To those who struggle with thoughts of suicide,

To those who have made an attempt on their lives,

To those caring for someone who struggles,

To those left behind after a death by suicide,

To those in recovery, and

To all those who work tirelessly to prevent suicide and suicide attempts in our

nation.

We believe that we can and we will make a difference.

DEDICATION

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK

(8255)

LGBT Youth Support Line 1-800-850-8078

National Hope Network 1-800-784-2433

Suicide Awareness/Voices of Education (SAVE):

www.save.org

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/

RESOURCES

*Riveredge Hospital, 708-209-4181

Inpatient and Outpatient Behavioral Health

*Thrive Counseling Center, 708-383-7500

Outpatient Therapy

*NAMI MetroSuburban, (708) 524-2582

Support and Education

Call 911 if your child is in imminent danger!

LOCAL RESOURCES