Category: Teens - Suicide Prevention Coalition of Garfield County

Here's How Schools can Support Students' Mental Health

9/27/2016

About one in five children in the United States shows signs of a mental health disorder — anything from ADHD to eating disorders to suicide.

And yet, as we've been reporting this month, many schools aren't prepared to work with these students. Often, there's been too little training in recognizing the problems, the staff who are trained are overworked, and there just isn't enough money.
When there are enough people to handle the job, how should all the different roles fit together?

Many experts point to one model. It's got a bureaucratic name — the "multi-tiered system of supports" — but when you picture it, just imagine an upside-down pyramid, or maybe a funnel. It starts with support for everyone and moves on to more and more specialized help.

Read Full Article

By Meg Anderson, NPREd

Bullying, Excessive Internet Use Put Teens at Increased Suicide Risk, Study Finds

6/29/2016

Being bullied or spending an excessive amount of time on the internet could increase the risk of teen suicides, according to a new study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Though the overall suicide rate among teens has decreased since 1990, it was still worryingly high in 2013 -- 1,748 per 100,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 -- meaning suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens, according to the study.

In addition, boys were more likely to die by suicide but girls were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide, the study found.

And while suicide affects all racial groups, American Indian/Alaska Native males had the highest suicide rate and black females have the lowest rate of suicide, according to the study.

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By Gillian Mohney, ABC News

1 in 13 Young U.S. Adults Considered Suicide

6/24/2016

About one in 13 young adults in the United States had serious thoughts of suicide in 2013-2014, federal officials reported Thursday.

That rate of 7.4 percent translates into 2.6 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 25, researchers said.

"Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young adults, and it is preventable," said Kana Enomoto. She's principal deputy administrator at the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which released the report.

"We need to reach out to young people with the message that help is at hand, and promote effective programs for saving lives by treating people at risk whenever and wherever they need it," Enomoto added in an agency news release.

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By E.J. Mundell, HealthDay, CBS News

How Do You Help Someone Who Is At Risk Of Suicide?

5/2/2016

How do you help someone who is at risk of suicide?

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that suicide has been steadily increasing in the U.S. since 1999. Although men tend to kill themselves at higher rates than women, the biggest rate increase during that time has been among girls 10-14 years old, and the second biggest increase has been among women 45-64 years old.

But for every person who dies by suicide, there are many, many more who struggle with suicidal thoughts. "Lots of people think about it," says Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "Suicide attempts are less frequent. Fortunately, dying by suicide is even less frequent."

NPR talked with Harkavy-Friedman and Dr. Jitender Sareen of the University of Manitoba, both psychiatrists, about what is known about youth suicide and best practices for preventing suicide. Harkavy-Friedman studies teen suicide prevention, and Sareen studies suicide trends among Native people in the Arctic. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Read the Full Article with Dr. Sareen as he answers questions on how to help someone you are concerned about.

By Rebecca Hersher, NPR

How Data From a Crisis Text Line is Saving Lives

4/18/2016

When a young woman texted DoSomething.org with a heartbreaking cry for help, the organization responded by opening a nationwide Crisis Text Line for people in pain. Nearly 10 million text messages later, the organization is using the privacy and power of text messaging to help people handle addiction, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, sexual abuse and more. But there's an even bigger win: The anonymous data collected by text is teaching us when crises are most likely to happen — and helping schools and law enforcement to prepare for them.

By Nancy Lublin, Crisis Text Line
Visit Crisis Text Line

What Drives Larimer County Youths to Suicide?

2/29/2016

Gavin Holden's classmates at Webber Middle School told him to "just go kill yourself."

Again. And again. And again.

"When you hear that every day from multiple people, you start to believe it," he said.

Last year, 33 youths ages 17 and younger were admitted to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland following suicide attempts, a 6.5 percent increase from 2014. Banner Health, which also has a facility in Fort Collins, did not have similar data available.

By Sarah Jane Kyle, Coloradoan - Read Full Article

Bullying Prevention Training Course

2/19/2016

StopBullying.gov launched a new Bullying Prevention Online Course. The training provides guidance on how to take a public health approach to bullying prevention through the use of long-term, community-wide prevention strategies.

This is a self-study course and earning continuing education credit is available.

Read more and take the course

Many Depressed Teens Don't Get Follow-Up Care

2/11/2016

Depression can strike during the teen years, but too many U.S. teenagers with the illness are not getting proper follow-up care, a new study finds.

"These results raise concerns about the quality of care for adolescent depression," concluded a team led by Briannon O'Connor, who conducted the study while at New York University School of Medicine.
One expert wasn't surprised by the findings.

"Most adolescents who are depressed do not receive any treatment whatsoever for their impairments for many reasons, including lack of access to care, stigma, and a workplace shortage of trained child and adolescent psychiatrists," said Dr. Aaron Krasner, chief of the Adolescent Transitional Living Service at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn.

As the study authors explained, major depression affects 12 percent of teens, and as many as 26 percent of young people experience at least mild depression. Prompt treatment is crucial because failure to relieve depression increases the risk of recurrent depression and more impaired functioning in the long term, the researchers said.

By Healthfinder.gov - Read Full Article

Handling Special Occasions After a Suicide Loss

12/11/2015

The holiday season is upon us and celebrating special occasions after a suicide loss can be difficult. They may bring up painful memories, but they can also provide an opportunity to honor your loved one.

Below are a few suggestions from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Anticipating the Event Can Be Harder than the Event Itself
Know that worrying about the event in the time leading up to the event is often more difficult than the event itself.

Communication is Important
Friends and family need to know how to be supportive. If you find it comfortable to talk about your loved one, or would rather grieve in a private way, talk openly with them in advance so that everyone knows what to expect.

It’s Okay to Take a Break
If the event proves to be too much, talk a short walk. Make sure you have a way to leave early if you need to. Sometimes having an exit strategy can make you feel more at ease.

Consider Traveling
If you have friends or family living in a different city, consider visiting them – a change in scenery might be helpful.

Keep Traditions, or Start New Ones
If holding to longstanding traditions proves too painful, consider developing new family traditions. For example, if you used to cook holiday meals, instead make dinner into a potluck.

Volunteering is a Great Way to Heal
Look online for volunteering opportunities in your area. Many people find meaning in helping others, and it’s a great way to honor your loved one.

Sometimes Special Occasions are Just Difficult
Even without the loss of a loved one, occasions like holidays can be stressful. Do the best you can, and remember that healing takes time, and the experience is different for everyone.

Take Care of Yourself
Get enough sleep, eat well, don’t drink too much, and practice healthy self-care. See our 10 Things You Can Do for Yourself in the Aftermath of a Suicide Loss.

For more information visit - AFSP

Take Action to Prevent Bullying & Suicide

10/8/2015

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Bullying involvement - including bullying others and getting bullied - can have increased risk for suicide-related behaviors.

Learn more about the relationship between bullying and suicide
Visit VetoViolence for more information