Suicide: Prevention and Education
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month:
September 2014
Purdue University Calumet Counseling Center
Gyte Room 5
(219) 989-2366
Counseling Center Website
Table of Contents
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1. Facts about suicide
2. Myths About Suicide
3. Suicide Warning Signs
4. How to Help: What to Do & What NOT to do
5. Talking to a Person w/suicidal Thoughts
6. Resources
*Clicking on the links will take you to that particular section.
Facts about Suicide
• 2nd leading cause of death for college students.
• 3rd leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.
• #1 risk factor for suicide is untreated depression.
• On average, one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes.
Information obtained from:
http://www.suicide.org/index.html
Facts about Suicide
• Between 20%- 50% of people who complete suicide had previously
attempted suicide.
• Those who have made suicide attempts are at higher risk for actually
taking their own lives.
• About 75% of people who complete suicide give some clue as to their
intentions before they make an attempt.
• 60%-70% of completed suicides are completed on their first attempt and
had no know history of prior attempts.
Information obtained from the contact crisisline.org
Kleespies, P. M., & Dettmer, E. L. (2000). An evidence-based approach to evaluating
and managing suicidal emergencies. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(9), 1109-1130.
Myths about Suicide
• "People who talk about suicide won't really do it."
• Almost all people who commit suicide exhibit warning signs
beforehand. Do not ignore suicide threats even if told jokingly.
• "Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy."
• Most suicidal people are not “crazy”. They may be suffering from
depression, feelings of grief, and hopelessness. Suffering from
extreme distress and emotional pain are not indications of being
mentally ill.
Information obtained from the crisisline.org
contactcrisisline.org
• "If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop
him/her."
• Most individuals waiver until the very last moment between wanting
to die and wanting to live. Suicide is usually driven by a desire for
the pain to stop, not to die. The impulse to commit suicide does not
last forever.
• "Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.“
• False. In fact, broaching the topic of suicide and discussing it openly
is one of the most helpful things one can do.
Suicide Warning Signs
• Threatening or talking
about hurting or killing
oneself
• Looking for ways to kill
oneself by seeking access
to firearms, available pills,
or other means
• Talking or writing about
death, dying, or suicide
when these actions are out
of the ordinary for the
person
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling rage or
uncontrollable anger or
seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging
in risky activities-seemingly
without thinking
• Feeling trapped-like there’s
no way out
Information obtained from: suicide prevention
lifeline.org
Suicide Warning Signs continued:
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends,
family, and society
• Losing interest in activities
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or
unable to sleep or sleeping all
the time
• Experiencing dramatic mood
changes
• Seeing no reason for living or
having no sense of purpose in
life
• Giving away prized personal
possessions
• Sudden sense of calm
-A sudden sense of calm and
happiness after being extremely
depressed can mean that the
person has made a decision to
commit suicide.
What to Do
• Suicide Prevention #1: Speak up!
• Ways to start a conversation about suicide:
-I have been feeling concerned about you lately.
-Recently, I have noticed some differences in you and
wondered how you are doing.
-I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t
seemed yourself lately.
What To Do Continued..
• Questions you can ask:
-What you can say that helps:
-You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.
-You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will
change.
-I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but
I care about you and want to help.
-When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off
for just one more day, hour, minute whatever you can
manage.
What to do continued
• What you can say that helps:
-You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.
-You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will
change.
-I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care
about you and want to help.
-When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just
one more day, hour, minute—whatever you can manage.
Remember; always take thoughts of suicide or plans for suicide
seriously.
Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts
• Do:
• Be yourself. Let the person know you care, that he/she is
not alone. The right words are often unimportant. If you
are concerned, your voice and manner will show it.
• Listen. Let the suicidal person unload despair, ventilate
anger. No matter how negative the conversation seems,
the fact that it exists is a positive sign.
• Be sympathetic, non-judgmental, patient, calm,
accepting. Your friend or family member is doing the
right thing by talking about his/her feelings.
Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts
• Offer hope. Reassure the person that help is available
and that the suicidal feelings are temporary. Let the
person know that his or her life is important to you.
• If the person says things like, “I’m so depressed, I can’t go
on,” ask the question: “Are you having thoughts of
suicide?” You are not putting ideas in their head, you are
showing that you are concerned, that you take them
seriously, and that it’s OK for them to share their pain
with you.
Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts
• But DO NOT:
• Argue with the suicidal person. Avoid saying things like:
"You have so much to live for," "Your suicide will hurt
your family," or “Look on the bright side.”
• Act shocked, lecture on the value of life, or say that
suicide is wrong.
• Promise confidentiality. Refuse to be sworn to secrecy. A
life is at stake and you may need to speak to a mental
health professional in order to keep the suicidal person
safe. If you promise to keep your discussions secret, you
may have to break your word.
Talking to a person w/suicidal thoughts Continued
• Offer ways to fix their problems, or give advice, or make
them feel like they have to justify their suicidal feelings.
It is not about how bad the problem is, but how badly it’s
hurting your friend or loved one.
• Blame yourself. You can’t “fix” someone’s depression.
Your loved one’s happiness, or lack thereof, is not your
responsibility.
How to Get Help
If you, a friend, or loved one is a registered PUC student:
• Visit the PUC Counseling Center, located in Gyte 5. Call
219-989-2366 or stop in to make an appointment.
• Fall & Spring Hours
• Monday – Thursdays: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Fridays: 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Resources
• Self-Evaluator:
-You can use the anonymous Self Evaluator to learn if a treatable
mental health problem could be affecting you or a friend.
U life line evaluator
• Half of Us:
-A website dedicated to educating the public on different mental
health issues through video sharing, etc.
Half of us.com
Resources
• Jed Foundation
-Jed Foundation.org
-Provides resources, information, and promotes emotional
health for college students. It also provides campus
professionals, parents, and supporters with information and
resources on how to get involved on campus to help fight
suicide and promote emotional health.
Purdue University Calumet Counseling Center
Website
Twitter
Facebook
How to Get Help continued:
• If you, a friend, or loved one is not a PUC student or if the Counseling
Center is closed:
• Visit the nearest hospital emergency room
• Call 911
• Call the Suicide Prevention Hotline
• 1-800-273-TALK
• 1-877-SUICIDA (spanish)
• Suicide prevention .org
• If you are in Northwest Indiana call the Crisis Center
• 1-800-519-0469
• 1-219-938-0900
How to Get Help continued:
• If you, a friend, or loved one is not a PUC student or if the
Counseling Center is closed you may contact the following local
mental health facilities,
• Edgewater Systems (Gary)
• 219-885-4264
• Porter Starke (Porter/Starke Counties)
• 219-531-3500
• Regional Mental Health Center (Lake County)
• South Lake County: 219-736-7200
• North Lake County: 219-392-6001
• Swanson Center (LaPorte County)
• 219-879-0676
• 1-800-982-7123
• Wabash Valley (Newton/Jasper Counties)
• 765-463-2555
• 1-800-859-5553
Internet Resources on Suicide
Prevention
• http://www.ulifeline.org/schools/puc
• http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/suicide/DS01062
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/suicide/MH00054
• http://www.save.org/
• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_suicide_prevention_day/en/
• http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/index.html
• http://www.iasp.info/
• http://www.suicide.org/index.html
• http://contactcrisisline.org/resources/suicide/