Adolescent Suicide:
Prevalence; Circumstance;
and Conditions of
Recognition
Barri Sky Faucett, MA
ASPEN Project
Director
SUICIDE
Intentional Self-Inflicted
Death
Just the Facts
•Every 13.7 minutes another life is lost to
suicide, taking the lives of more than 38,364
Americans every year.
•Every day 105.8 Americans take their own life
•Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of
death in America; Homicide is 15th.
•For young people 15-24 years old, suicide
is the third leading cause of death.
OUR Youth

In 2010, there were 4,600
reported youth suicides in the
United States.

Each day there are
approximately 12 youth suicides

Most common method is
firearms followed by
suffocations

Males complete 4 times more
than females; females attempt
four times more than males.

1 out of every 53 high school
students (1.9 percent)
reported having made a
suicide attempt that was
serious enough to be treated
medically (CDC, 2010a).

Approximately 1 out of every
15 high school students
attempts suicide each year
(CDC, 2010a).

For every completed suicide,
there are 100-200 attempts
among adolescents.
Suicide Attempts
Suicide in Adolescents
 Research
shows that most adolescent
suicides
occur after
school hours and
Suicide
in Adolescents
in the teen’s homes
 Most adolescent suicides are
precipitated by interpersonal conflict
 Within a typical high school classroom,
it is likely that three students (one boy
and two girls) have made a suicide
attempt within the last year.
How Does WV Compare?
•Since GLS WV ranks 40th in the nation
with a rate of 8.9/100,000 vs. the national
average of 10.5 (CDC 2010).
WV Youth
Suicide is the 2nd
leading cause of death
for WV Youth ages 1524!
Suicide:
West Virginia Suicides by county
Ages 15-24
2000-2009
Rate per 100,000 Population
Hancock
4 (12.26)
A PREVENTABLE
DEATH IN OUR STATE
Brooke
4 (12.56)
Ohio
WV Average Rate 13.2/100,000
320 Deaths by Suicide
7 (10.81))
Marshall
12 (29.79)
Wetzel
Monongalia
3 (15.30)
10 (3.97)
Tyler
Marion
5 (46.92)
Harrison Taylor
0 (0.00)
Wood
Dodd- 13
ridge
Ritchie
10 (9.68)
Barbour
18 (10.32)
5 (15.89)
2 (20.60)
Fayette
16 (27.19)
Greenbrier
8 (20.23))
Logan
9 (20.92)
Raleigh
10 (10.55)
Mingo
3 (8.81)
1 (13.19)
Wyoming
Summers
1 (3.47)
2 (13.69)
Mercer
McDowell
2 (6.68)
12 (160.5)
Hardy
3 (20.28)
Pendleton
0 (0.00)
Pocahontas
4 (14.53)
2 (6.79)
Grant
2 (16.07)
12.26 – 16.39
Nicholas
Lincoln
2 (7.78)
3 (26.51)
4 (30.34)
47 (20.96))
Hampshire
18.15 – 46.92
Webster
Clay
Boone
7 (20.00))
Lewis
Kanawha
5 (9.63)
Mineral
Tucker
1 (13.66) Cal- Gilmer 2 (10.22)
houn 2 (12.97)
Upshur Randolph
Jackson
2
4 (10.52)
3 (8.30)
(22.25)
3 (9.01)
Roane
Braxton
1 (5.34)
2 (11.34)
Putnam
Cabell 10 (16.14)
Wayne
6
(16.39)
1 (9.88) (15.36)
4 (19.02)
Mason
Berkeley
11 (9.89)
5 (26.13)
4 (34.13))
Wirt
3 (10.07)
3 (18.15)
Preston
11 (12.38)
Pleasants
Morgan
Monroe
0 (0.00)
10.07 – 11.34
0.00 – 9.89
Jefferson
6 (9.75)
2011 West Virginia
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Percentage of students who seriously considered
attempting suicide during the 12 months before the
survey. (9th- 12th )
Year
US
WV
2011
15.8
13.0
Percentage of students who made a plan regarding how
they would attempt suicide
Year
US
WV
2011
12.8
10.1
Percentage of students who attempted suicide one or
more times during the 12 months before the survey.
Year
US
WV
2011
7.8
5.5
Identity Confusion
 Erickson
Developmental StageLearning Identity Versus Identity
Confusion (Fidelity)
Learning Intimacy Versus Isolation
(Love)
The Teenage Brain



Adolescence is a time of
profound brain growth.
Greatest changes to the
brain that are responsible
for impulse control,
decision making,
planning, organization,
and emotion occur in
adolescence (prefrontal
cortex).
Do not reach full maturity
until age 25.
What do teens deal with?

Increased school pressures as they progress
through higher grades

Possibly first romantic relationships

Exploring increased independence and identity

Experimenting with substance use

Puberty and Hormone fluctuation

Bullying
Peer Problems

Several studies have found
relationships between suicidal
behavior and social isolation,
sexual orientation, and peer
rejection.

70% of suicide completions
and attempts occur following
the loss or conflict with family
and peers.
Sexual Identification

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual
youth are 1 ½ - 7 times more
likely to have reported ideation.
 LGB Youth in multiple studies
are found to be 3-4 times more
likely to attempt suicide.
 58% of LGB youth who had
attempted suicide reported they
really hoped to die vs. 33% of
heterosexuals who attempted
and reported really hoping to
die.
 Have elevated risk factors and
lower protective factors
Bullying:
3 defining characteristics:
1. Intentional—behavior is
deliberately harmful or
threatening
2. Repeated—a bully
targets the same victim
again and again
3 .Power Imbalanced—a
bully chooses victims he
or she perceives as
vulnerable
YRBHS, 2011 (9th-12th)
Percentage of students who reported being bullied
on school property
Year
US
WV
2011
20.1
18.6
Percentage of students who have ever been
electronically bullied.
Year
US
WV
2011
16.2
15.5
Percentage of students felt sad or hopeless for
greater than 2 weeks so that they stopped some
general activities.
Year
US
WV
2011
28.5
24.5
Cyberspace
CYBERSPACE is the new
environment where "
youth are forming
communities.
Cyber bullying





93% of teens ages 12-17
are on the Internet.
75% of teens own a cell
phone.
A typical teen sends about
>100 text messages a day.
Most teen cell phone users
make just 1-5 calls per
day.
82% of online teens ages
14-17 are on social
network sites
What makes Cyberbullying
different?
 Distance
 24/7
 Multiple

methods
Text messages;
video clips;
Websites; Social
Media; IM; Emails;
Chat rooms
 Anonymous
 Expanded
Audience
Bullying effects









Withdraws socially; has few or no
friends.
Feels isolated, alone, and sad.
Feels picked on or persecuted.
Feels rejected and not liked.
Complains frequently of illness.
Doesn’t want to go to school;
avoids some classes or skips
school.
Brings home damaged
possessions or reports them “lost.”
Cries easily; displays mood
swings and talks about
hopelessness. Has poor social
skills.
Talks about running away/suicide.
Bullying risks for suicide:

 Verbal
 Physical
 Relational

Both victims and
perpetrators of bullying
are at a higher risk for
suicide than their peers.
Children who are both
victims and perpetrators
of bullying are at the
highest risk
One study found that
victims of cyberbullying
had higher levels of
depression than victims
of face-to-face bullying
Bullying and Suicide
 Billy
 Phoebe
 Hope
 Megan
SUICIDE: Myth or Fact
 Confronting
a person about suicide will
only make them angry and increase
the risk of suicide.
• Asking someone directly about
suicidal intent lowers anxiety,
opens up communication and
lowers the risk of an impulsive act
Myth or Fact
•Those who talk about suicide don’t do
it.
• People who talk about suicide may
try, or even complete, an act of
self-destruction.
Myth or Fact
•If a suicidal youth tells a friend, the
friend will access help.
•Most young people do not tell an
adult
SUICIDE- Risk Factors,
Warning Signs, Protective
Factors
•Risk Factors- characteristics that will may
it more likely that an individual will
consider, attempt, or die by suicide
•Warning Signs- behaviors that indicate
signs of immediate risk
•Protective Factors- characteristics that
make it less likely that individuals will
consider, attempt, or die by suicide.
Risk Factors- IS PATH WARM










Ideation
Substance Abuse
Purposelessness
Anxiety
Trapped
Hopelessness
Withdrawal
Anger
Recklessness
Mood Changes
Problems that increase Suicide Risk





Prior suicide attempts
Mental health disorders
History of trauma or abuse
Family history of suicide
Lack of social support
Situations that increase suicide risk
•Major physical illnesses
•Losses
•Bullying
•Easy access to lethal
means
•Local clusters of suicide
Access to means




Firearms are used in 58%
of successful suicides
The rate of completed
suicides is fives times
higher in houses with
firearms.
Firearms are even more
prevalent in suicides
involving alcohol.
65% of WV homes have
firearms.
Warning Signs:







Acquiring a gun or stockpiling pills
Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
Impulsivity/increased risk taking
Giving away prized possessions
Self-destructive acts (i.e., cutting)
Increased drug or alcohol abuse
Talking about no reason to live
Protective Factors
•Treatment for MH/SA, physical disorders
•Increased access to interventions
•Restricted access to highly lethal means
•Strong connections to family and community
support
•Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution
skills
•Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage
suicide and support self-preservation.
Indirect or “Coded” Verbal
Clues:






“I’m tired of life, I just can’t go on.”
“My family would be better off without me.”
“Who cares if I’m dead anyway.”
“I just want out.”
“I won’t be around much longer.”
“Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about
me.”
What to Do for the Individual
Take it seriously
Almost 80% of all suicides had
given some warning of their
intentions
Ask Directly
If you think that someone is
suicidal, ask them about it
Tips for Asking the Question






If in doubt, don’t wait, ask the question
If the person is reluctant, be persistent
Talk to the person alone in a private setting
Allow the person to talk freely
Give yourself plenty of time
Have your resources handy; QPR Card, phone numbers,
counselor’s name and any other information that might help
Remember: How you ask the question is less
important than that you ask it
What to do – Be Genuine
Be Genuine
•Listen and don’t show shock or
disapproval
•Show that you care, it is more
important
than saying “the right thing.”
•Avoid trying to explain away the
feelings…(saying things like “you have
a lot to live for” or “you are just
confused right now”)
What to Do
Stay
There
 Don’t leave them alone.
Seek Help -Be actively
involved in seeking
professional help
Plan for Safety







KEEP SAFE Agreement
Safety Contact (s)
Safe/no use of alcohol
and drugs
Link to resources
Disable the suicide plan
Link to services
Plan for Life
Potential Assessments
 Patient
Health Questionnaire Modified for
Teens (PHQ-9 Modified)


12-18 years of age
Less than five minutes to complete and score
 Adolescent
Suicide Assessment Protocol
(ASAP-20)


Semi- structured clinical interview
Addresses 20 items associated with suicide
risk
Offerings

SOS Curriculums/ASPEN Workshop for Students






Evidence-Based Middle School and High School
programs
Brief Introductory Training
25 minute Video
Guided Discussion
Screening Instrument
Jason Foundation Kits


Orientation towards suicide prevention
ASK CARE TELL cards for students
ASPEN Offerings cont.

ASPEN Presentation for your schools:





Presentation- 35 minutes workshop for students
Video Viewing- 13 minute movie regarding adolescent
suicide
Depression Screening- with active parental consent
ASAP-20 Follow-up for at-risk youth
Postvention services:


Response support to school systems
Sudden Traumatic Loss Toolkit
Trainings

Awareness and QPR

Adolescent Suicide
Assessment Protocol
(ASAP-20)

PCP Toolkit Training

Implementation of Suicide
Prevention Toolkit

Applied Suicide Intervention
Support Training (ASIST)
For More Information








www.suicidology.org
www.sprc.org
www.afsp.org
www.spanusa.org
www.wvaspen.com
www.wvsuicidecouncil.org
www.jasonfoundation.org
www.jedfoundation.org
WV Contacts
Barri Faucett, MA
Project Director
(304)-341-0511 ext 1691
(304)-415-5787
barri.faucett@prestera.org
Bob Musick
Executive Director
WV Council for the Prevention
of Suicide
(304) 296-1731
bmusick@valleyhealthcare.org