| A | B |
|---|
| 3 ways to help a person who is thinking about suicide | 1. give active emotional support, 2. encourage positive action-exercise, keep busy, improve conditions, 3-seek professional help from a crisis center, doctor, mental health center, school counselors, etc. |
| What is suicide? | the deliberate ending of one's own life |
| Problem of suicide includes | serious suicidal thoughts/threats, and attempts to commit suicide |
| Facts in America | 25,000-35,000deaths because of suicide yearly and young people betw. 15-25 attempt suicide more often |
| How can you tell if someone is thinking about suicide? | previous attempts, threats, extreme depression, changes in personality/behavior, making preparations for death(will, giving away possessions, experience a sudden lift in spirits |
| Key facts about suicide | more women than men attempt but more men than women acutally kill themselves, women are likely to use drugs rather than violence, men use quick, violent means, adolescent girls with emotional problems are most likely to attempt, highest suicide rate per capita is among elderly aged 85 plus, highest total number aboung young people 20-24 |
| Groups most at risk | elderly, young adults, professionals, native americans, minorities, children |
| When helping a suicidal person | do trust your feelings, take threats seriously, listen carefully, find professional help |
| When helping a suicidal person | don't dare, don't argue or analyze, don't leave person alone |
| Causes of suicide | Guilt, helplessness, worthlessness, rejection, depression |
| # of attempts | 10 attempts for every one suicide |
| male vs. female | females 3x more likely to attemp, males more likely to commit |
| talking about suicide | most talk about it before and give clues |
| incidence of teen suicide | doubles in last 15 yrs. |
| Fact/income | suicide represented across all income levels |
| Fact/time of day | early in morning(5-6:00 am) |
| Fact/time of year | highest rates in spring, next around Christmas |
| Fact/age of victim | highest rate with elderly, highest number in 15-24 yr. olds |
| Fact/cause of death | 2nd leading cause of death in 10-24 yr. olds |
