Teenage Suicide
Chapter 9
Lesson 2 & 3
Pages. 230-237
Suicide Prevention and Getting Help
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Objective 1: List the warning signs of suicide
Objective 2: Determine strategies to prevent suicides
and strategies for coping with depression.
Objective 3: Tell early detection and warning signs
that prompt individuals of all ages to seek mental health
care.
Objective 4: Describe methods for addressing critical
mental health issues.
Objective 5: Select available mental health services in
the community.
Facts & Myths on Suicide
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People who talk about suicide don’t commit suicide
Suicide happens without warning
Suicidal people are fully intent on dying
Once a person is suicidal, they are suicidal forever
Improvement following a suicidal crisis means that a
suicide risk is over
Every person who commits suicide is mentally ill.
Suicide is more common among the lower socioeconomic groups
Suicide is caused by one very traumatic loss in the
victims life.
There is nothing you can do to stop a suicide.
Teenage Suicide
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Suicide: The intended taking of one’s own life.
The rate of reported suicides among young people
has nearly tripled in the last 30 years and continues
to increase
 More than 90% of the people who kill themselves
are suffering from depression or another mental
disorder or are abusing alcohol/drugs (pg.230).
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MSNBC Video (Teenage Suicide)
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/265
14390#26514390
Causes of teen suicide
(yellow text book 117)
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Deep Gloom
Loneliness
Hopelessness of Depression
Young people may attempt suicide because they
think that life’s bad feelings will last forever.
Having an unrealistic, romantic view of death
Feeling like a failure
Inability to express anger or pain
Other reasons teens may attempt
suicide (Yellow textbook 117)
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Lacking firm values or rules on which to base
life decisions
Suffering a loss and seeing no end to deep grief
Having a relative or friend commit suicide
Trying to impress another person with the
urgency of their feelings.
video, “Myspace Suicide”
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=46
24609n&tag=mncol;lst;4
The vast majority of those who
attempt suicide do not want to
die; they are suffering and are
making a plea for help!
Did you know?
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Four males commit suicide to every 1 female,
and represent 79.4% of all U.S suicides.
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Females attempt suicide 2-3 times as often as
males do
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Firearms are the most commonly used method of
suicide among males (57.6%)
Poisoning is the most common method of suicide
for females (39.1%)
http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/Suicide-DataSheet-a.pdf
Recognizing the verbal warning
signs (pg. 231)
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Direct statements (I want to die, I don’t want to
live anymore, I wish I were dead)
Indirect statements (I won’t have to put up with
this much longer, they’ll be sorry when I’m
gone, soon the pain will be over)
Writing poems, songs, or diary entries that deal
with death
Suicide threats or insinuations
Recognizing the nonverbal or
behavioral signs (pg. 231)
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An unusual obsession with death
Withdrawal from friends
Giving away personal belongings
Deterioration in schoolwork or recreational
activities.
Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene, or
appearance.
Substance abuse
Use C.L.U.E.S. to remember how to
help someone suffering emotionally
(pg. 232)
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Connect (make contact)
Listen (active listening skills)
Understand (empathize with their feelings)
Express concern (say that you care and stay with
the person)
Seek help (encourage the person to talk to an
adult and you tell an adult yourself)
Getting Help
pg. 234
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Knowing when to get help!
You feel trapped or you worry all the time
 Your feelings affect your sleep, eating habits or
school work
 Your friends and family express concern
 You are becoming involved with alcohol and drugs
 You are becoming increasingly aggressive, violent or
reckless
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Activity
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What would you do in these Scenario's?
Scenario #1: You are on the phone talking to
your friend and he/she tells you that they are
having another horrible day and that they are
going to commit suicide.
Scenario #2: You and your friend are in the
hallway and he/she tells you again that they feel
no love from his her parents and that he/she
hopes that they miss me when I’m gone.
Worksheets
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Pass out worksheet, “Warning Signs”
Pass out worksheet, “Active Listening”
Interactive Study Guide
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http://glencoe.mcgrawhill.com/sites/dl/free/0078726549/359992/Int
erActCh9Ls2.html
Online Quiz
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http://glencoe.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0078726549/student_view0/chap
ter9/online_quizzes.html