To recognize the symptoms of suicide and to find out how to help a young person contemplating suicide.

OVERVIEW

For the purposes of this intervention guide, suicide includes the verbal expression of one’s thoughts about and/or intention to commit suicide (42% of teenage girls and 25% of teenage boys in one recent nationwide survey admitted having thought seriously about taking their lives [Dryfoos, Adolescent at Risk, p. 22]), as well as a failed attempt to end one’s life (the estimates range in the hundreds of thousands annually).

INFORMATION

Regarding postvention in the lives of the survivors of the 6,000 or 7,000 completed teenage suicides, see: "Peer Survivors of Adolescent Suicide: Perspectives on Grieving and Postvention" by Gary W. Mauk and Claudia Weber in the Journal of Adolescent Research (Vol. 6, No. 1, January 1991); John Hewett’s After Suicide (The Westminster Press, 1980); and Intensive Care by Rich Van Pelt (Zondervan, 1988). Also, contact Compassionate Friends, P.O. Box 3696, Oak Brook, IL 60522.

Additional current information will come from organizations devoted to the study and promotion of suicide prevention and intervention. Among these include the following: American Association of Suicidology, 2459 South Ash Street, Denver, Colorado 80222; The National Committee on Youth Suicide Prevention, 67 Irving Place, South, New York, New York 10003; Youth Suicide National Center, 18251 Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006; Teen Suicide Prevention Taskforce, P.O. Box 76463, , Washington. D.C. 20013; and Suicide Information Center, 6377 Apopka Place, San Diego, California 92119.

EVIDENCES OF THE PROBLEM

Besides suicide attempts, threats, and other verbal expressions, many factors may indicate that a young person is considering ending life: depression, preoccupation with themes of death, giving away valued possessions, changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns, negative changes in school performance, withdrawal from friends and family, personality changes, sudden interest in dangerous activities or uncharacteristic risk-taking, inattention to personal hygiene, and even a recent upswing in effect. Risk factors include: the recent suicide of a friend or relative; other losses; previous suicide attempts; physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; other longstanding pain; living in a high-pressure environment, homosexuality; drug and/or alcohol use; and mental disorders.

EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEM

The effects of suicidal thoughts or actions include withdrawal, injury, and death.

CRITICAL INTERVENTION BY PARENTS

If a parent has reason to suspect that his or her child is considering suicide, immediate action is necessary: listen attentively and empathetically, and assess the risk of suicide (raise the question, discover the plan, assess lethality/availability of method, judge disturbance, explore past history).

CRITICAL INTERVENTION BY A SIGNIFICANT ADULT

If a significant adult has reason to suspect that a teen is considering suicide, immediate action is necessary: listen attentively and empathetically, and assess the risk of suicide (raise the question, discover the plan, assess lethality/availability of method, judge disturbance, explore past history).

COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND REFERRALS

Local resources include school counselors, psychiatrists and other medical doctors, psychologists, ministers, police, teachers, coaches, etc. National hotlines include: Covenant House 1-800-999-9999; Bethany Services 1-800-BETHANY (238-4269 except 2pm- 8pm); First Call for Help 1-800-356-8998; and the National Teen Runaway Switchboard (federally funded 1-800-621-4000).

GOALS AND REINFORCEMENT FOR GROWTH

Find hope, union, and significance.

David Buck cCYS