Adolescent Depression and Suicide:
What Social Workers Need to Know
Sharon S. Issurdatt, DCSW, ACSW, LCSW
NASW Social Work Practice Department
May 12, 2011
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
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Overview
• Recognize symptoms of depression and risk
factors for suicide in adolescents.
• Understand the dynamics of bullying and how to
work with children involved.
• Learn how to manage a suicidal adolescent.
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
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Poll:
How many social workers participating today feel
confident managing a suicidal adolescent?
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Suicide
In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death among young
people ages 15 to 24 (MIMH, 2010).
Unintentional
Accidents
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Homicides
Suicide
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Statistics
• Bullied teens are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, more likely to
skip school and more likely to be depressed (Health and Human
Services Office of HIV/AIDS Policy on Bullying and Teen Suicide,
2010).
• More than 90% of people who die by suicide have depression, other
mental disorders or a substance-abuse disorder (National Institute on
Mental Health, 2010).
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According to a 2009 report by NASW:
• Young people who acknowledge using alcohol or illicit
substances evidence a higher likelihood of committing
suicide.
• More than three-fourths of adolescent suicide deaths are
associated with mental illness.
• There is one suicide for every 100 to 200 attempts among
15 – 24 year-old young adults.
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NASW 2009 report continued…
• Suicide occurs 33 percent more often than homicide in
the general population.
• State governments spend about $900 million dollars per
year on medical costs associated with completed
suicides, and suicide attempts by individuals up to 20
years old.
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Who is at risk?
Research has shown that young females are more
likely to ATTEMPT suicide while young males are
more likely to COMMIT suicide.
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The National Adolescent Health Information Center’s
2006 Fact Sheet on Suicide of Adolescents and Young
Adults
• American Indian/Alaskan Native male
adolescents have the highest suicide rate.
• Female Hispanic adolescents are more likely to
attempt suicide than their peers.
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
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The National Adolescent Health Information Center’s
2006 Fact Sheet on Suicide of Adolescents and Young
Adults continued…
• Suicide rates increase dramatically between early
adolescence and young adulthood.
• The suicide rates for young adult males have
fallen sharply in the past decade.
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Risk Factors and Symptoms
Changes in
Mood
Changes in
Eating Patterns
Changes in
School
Achievement
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Changes in
Sleeping
Patterns
Changes in
School
Attendance
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Risk Factors and Symptoms
Changes in
Interest in
Social
Interactions
Changes in
Personal
Hygiene or
Dress
Running Away
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Violence
Drug and/or
Alcohol Use
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Risk Factors and Symptoms
Physical
Complaints
Inability to
Tolerate Positive
Interactions or
Praise
Fatigue and/or
Lethargy
Sense of
Hopelessness
Having a Family
Member Who
Has Committed
Suicide
Taking
Excessive Risks
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Characteristics of Bullying Behavior:
Hurtful
Actions or
Words
Intentional
Repeated
Aimed to
Intimidate
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Aimed to
Humiliate
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Bullying is different from normal conflict.
Repetitive
Intent to
Harm
Imbalance
of Power
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Invokes
Terror
Abusive
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Cyber bullying
Stop Bullying Now (2010) defines cyber bullying as
bullying through the use of the internet, mobile
phones, or other forms of cyber technology.
Can be in the form of mean text messages, emails,
or instant messages, posting obscene pictures or
messages in blogs or websites, including social
networking sites.
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Who is at risk of being bullied?
Every student has the risk of being bullied during
their school years.
Students often experience participating in bullying
behaviors AND being the person who is bullied.
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Students often most at risk:
• Nearly one-fourth of students in elementary through high
school have reported that they have been harassed or
bullied on school property because of their race, ethnicity,
gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
• More than 91% of LGBT students say they hear
homophobic slurs or expressions frequently or often.
• More than 64% of LGBT students say they feel unsafe at
school because of their sexual orientation.
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Responses to bullying behaviors are often
guided by:
A misunderstanding
of the dynamics of
bullying
Fear of something
tragic happening
Viewing students
who bully other
students as “bad
kids” from “bad
families”
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Responses to bullying behavior are often:
A “one size fits
all” approach
Limited and rigid
Punitive
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Aimed at only
eliminating
maladaptive
behaviors
Disengaging to
students
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Responses that have been proven effective in
managing bullying behaviors
Decline the use of
labels of “victim”
and “bully”
Approach students
individually for
discussion of
events
Use approaches
that foster schoolstudent
connectedness
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Adolescent Depression and Suicide: What Can
Social Workers Do?
Be comfortable
talking about the
topic
Utilize a Team
Approach
Provide education
to parents
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
Provide teachers
and school
personnel with
specific training
Begin anti-bullying
and suicide
awareness
programs
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Adolescent Depression and Suicide: What Can
Social Workers Do?
Provide Clinical
Services
Offer Resources
Network with
community
agencies
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Collaborate with
other
professionals
Stay current
with shifting
trends regarding
youth
23
Essential Methods
Take every suicide
warning seriously.
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Manage suicide risk with
other professionals.
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Resources to Know
• American Educational Research Association has conducted
research regarding keeping schools safe and preventing youth
violence. www.aera.net
• National Center for Youth Issues addresses social, emotional and
psychological dimensions of child development and offers information
regarding bullying and school violence on their website. www.ncyi.org
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, 24 hour hotline
available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are
routed to the nearest crisis center. There is a network of 140 crisis
centers nationwide. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
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Resources to Know
• Stop Bullying Now is a campaign through the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services that educates parents, children and
teachers about bullying and what can be done to stop it.
www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov
• Issurdatt, S. (2010). A shift in approach: Addressing bullying in
schools. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
• Issurdatt, S. (2011). Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk: How
social workers can make a difference. Washington, DC: NASW
Press
©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.
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Question and Answer
Session
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