Your Life Iowa
Iowa’s Suicide and Prevention Service
A resource for students, parents, and teachers
Your Life Iowa Support
Governor Terry E. Branstad
Remarks to the Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit
November 27, 2012
I am proud to announce the launch of a new bullying
and suicide prevention resource – Your Life Iowa. This
hotline and website, funded by the Iowa Department of
Public Health in partnership with Boys Town, the Iowa
Youth Advisory Committee and the Iowa Department of
Education, will provide help to Iowans 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
Every student should know that if they report being
bullied, adults will take them seriously and that other
students will stand up for them in a nonviolent way.
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Your Life Iowa-Partnership
 Funded by Iowa Department of Public
Health
 Services provided by Boys Town
 Additional Support provided by the State
of Iowa Youth Advisory Council (SIYAC)
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
What is Your Life Iowa?
• Anti-bullying and youth suicide prevention service for the
state of Iowa
• Provide support, information and resources to students,
parents and professionals;
– 24/7 Hotline
– Text Messaging Service
– Website
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Your Life Iowa Services
Hotline
 1-855-581-8111
 Trained Crisis Counselors available 24/7
Texting
 Text TALK to 85511
 Text Services available from 4-8pm, 7 days a week
Website
 www.yourlifeiowa.org
 Resources for adults and students
 Online chat services
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Your Life Iowa
Bullying & Suicide Prevention Overview
A resource for students, parents, and teachers
What is Bullying?
 An unfair use of power
 Behavior is intentional with the
purpose of hurting someone
 Behaviors are repeated over time
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Definition of harassment and
bullying in the Iowa law*:
Any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or
conduct toward a student which is based on any actual
or perceived trait/ characteristic of the student and
which creates an objectively hostile school environment
that meets one or more of the following conditions:
–
–
–
–
Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or
property.
Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's academic
performance.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student's ability to participate
in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
*Definitions are currently being reviewed in the Iowa Legislature (HSB196)
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Types of Bullying
 Physical
 Verbal
 Social/Emotional
 Sexual
 Cyber-bullying
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
What can you do?
Don’t Blame the Target!
 Individuals that are the target of bullying behaviors are
already blaming themselves for what is happening to them
and often believe they deserve to be bullied or that it is their
own fault
 Minimizing or brushing it off as part of life can increase
feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
 However, we should help them to look at their own behavior
to see if there is something that they could do to help the
situation & strengthen their sense of well-being
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
How to help the person being
targeted:
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Connectedness - belonging to a peer group
Hobbies/Interests
Relationships Building
Journaling
Positive Thinking
Goal Setting
Daily Routine/Self Care
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Strategies to help the Situation:
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Be with others (connectedness)
Walk with awareness/confidence
Walk away/ignore it
Avoid places/people/situations
Ask the person to stop
Protect yourself
Adult awareness and involvement
Model appropriate behaviors
Keep a record
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Potential Consequences/Outcomes
of Bullying:
Research shows that persistent bullying in
youth* contributes to
– feelings of loneliness and isolation,
– serious mental health consequences including
depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and
suicide attempts
*(those who are bullied and those who bully others)
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Suicide: Behavioral Warning Signs
 Direct statements about their intention to end their
lives, or less direct comments about lack of hope
 Preoccupation with death or related themes
 Sudden changes in behavior –withdrawing/pulling
away from others or expressing relief/calm
 Somatic complaints – persistent physical complaints
in the absence of a medical cause
 Any type of “final preparation” – giving away
personal items
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Suicide Risk Factors
 Previous suicide attempts – in 4 out of 5 completed
suicides the person had made a prior suicide
attempt
 Mental health issues – as high as 90% of those who
have attempted suicide suffer from mental illness
 Substance Abuse
 Family instability/conflict
 Exposure to violence or abuse
 Authority problems
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Protective Factors
The following is a list of protective factors that can help
reduce the risk of suicide:
 Family stability
 Problem solving skills
 A sense of self-worth
 Connection to school, groups, activities
 Academic success
 Relationship with peers
 Seeks help from adults
 Religion and spirituality
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Awareness is Key!
 The problem of bullying is not new—the
outcomes are more complex
 Bullying does not cause suicide, but it may make
vulnerable youth more at risk and may become
a triggering event for suicide attempts
 If you are aware of bullying that is occurring or
are concerned for someone’s safety, speak up
and ask for help
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Bulling Behaviors Can be Stopped
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8wxce
pAxM
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention
Your Life Iowa
Hotline – 1-855-581-8111, available 24/7
Texting - Text TALK to 85511, 4-8pm daily
Website - www.yourlifeiowa.org
For additional information or resources contact;
Shellie Gomes, Program Manager @
shellie.gomes@boystown.org or 402-498-3223
Your Solution to Bullying
and Suicide Prevention