The Deadly Silence VS.

Involvement Therapy
The Deadly Silence
Suicide: Our relatives and friends are killing themselves and we are
afraid to talk about it.

Why did I not hear

his pain?
There are a
thousand things I
could have done
differently.

Whats everyone going

to think when they find
out he killed himself

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Nothing makes me
happy I hate my
life... I hate myself!

I cant tell
anyone, theyll
just think Im
crazy

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence VS

Involvement Therapy
There is a Deadly Silence in our society
today and its killing us.
Involvement therapy is a therapy that
suicide survivors can use to aid them in
their grieving process and help with their
recovery. It will also assist in ending the
Deadly Silence.
April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Why?
The Deadly Silence VS
Involvement Therapy
Purpose to open dialogue
Stimulate action

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence

Myths, Stigmas & Taboos
Survivor Silence
Best solution - Involvement Therapy

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy

Involvement therapy is:

Examples of Involvement therapy
Survivor survey
Therapy comparison
Why it works, the brain
Other disease examples
April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence

Myths, Stigmas and Taboos
Talking about it may give someone the idea
So many died by suicide to go to haven that the
church made it a sin
1660 Massachusetts General court outlawed
suicide

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence

Survivor Silence
Pain whenever you think about the suicide
Aware of the myths, stigmas and taboos
The guilt associated with the what if
question. What if I had done differently,
would the suicide have not happened.

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence

Best solution - Involvement Therapy
Survivors have the stories to tell
Survivors have the energy to expend
Survivors are in all parts of our society and able
to make the personal contacts to educated in
suicide prevention.

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy
Involvement therapy is a technique for
coping with life after suicide.
Three basic activities: one or more
1) Involvement in memories of the suicide
person
2) Working toward suicide prevention
3) Attending and working with suicide survivor
groups
April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy
1) Involvement in memories of the suicide
person
Write memories in any form. Ask friends and
relatives for their memories
Create a private memorial - grieving work together
Establish a special place for remembering
Start new traditions or acquire new mementos to
help with special family times.
April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy
2) Working toward suicide prevention

Educate yourself in suicide prevention

Work with advocacy groups
Speak out publicly about the Deadly Silence
Work with prevention groups
If there is not a prevention group locally, create
one.

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy
3) Attending and working with suicide
survivor groups.
Talk about memories
Understand your own grief
Opportunity to help others by listening and
sharing

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Involvement Therapy
Examples

SPAN - Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network

Started January 1996 - Dedicated to the creation of an effective national suicide
prevention strategy.

SA\VE - Suicide Awareness\Voices of Education

Started August 1989 - The purpose is to educate the general public about the
cause of suicide, to present methods for reducing the number of suicides and to
speak for survivors of suicide

Yellow Ribbon
Founded 1994 - Cards to help teens in crisis

Washington State Youth Suicide Prevention Committee

Started 1993 - The mission is to reduce the suicide and suicidal behavior among
youth in the state of Washington

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Survivor Survey

Greetings;

We are preparing a paper to present at the American Association of Suicidology

conference in April 1998. We would appreciate your assistance in answering the two
questions below. A return, self addressed, stamped envelope is enclosed.

How has your involvement in suicide prevention/awareness affected your recovery?

X only one
It has affected my recovery in a positive way very much.
It has affected my recovery in a positive way somewhat.
It has not affected my recovery at all.
It has affected my recovery in a negative way somewhat.
It has affected my recovery in a negative way very much.

What is your perception of the stigmas and taboos about suicide?

X all applicable
I have not perceived any stigmas or taboos related to suicide and talk about suicide
openly
I have perceived the stigmas and taboos but do not let them affect my choice of whether
to speak about suicide or not
I have perceived some stigmas and taboos related to suicide and on occasion it affects my
willingness to speak about suicide.
I only talk about suicide to people who understand my feelings about suicide.
I do not talk about suicide because of the stigmas and taboos related to suicide
Please feel free to write any comments that you wish.
These forms will be kept anonymous. Please do not put any identification on this paper
or use a return address.
Thank you for your assistance.

Scot & Leah Simpson

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Survivor Survey Results

Total

74 survey forms mailed

Responses
34 - It has affected my recovery in a positive way very much 50 surveys returned
13
3
0
0

It has affected my recovery in a positive way somewhat

It has not affected my recovery at all
It has affected my recovery in a negative way somewhat
It has affected my recovery in a negative way very much

1 - I have not perceived any stigmas or taboos related to suicide and talk about
suicide openly
38 - I have perceived stigmas and taboos but do not let them affect my choice
of whether to speak about suicide or not.
14 - I have perceived some stigmas and taboos related to suicide and on
occasion it affects my willingness to speak about suicide.
1 - I only talk about suicide to people who understand my feelings about suicide
0 - I do not talk about suicide because of the stigmas and taboos related to suicide

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Therapy Comparison
Combinations of Concepts
Becks Cognitive Therapy
objectively scientific manner
breakdown of negative patterns

Gestalt Therapy
release emotional being
complete their wholeness

Carl Rogers Client-centered Therapy

listener creates client-centered therapy

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Mind
After Trevors Suicide

Family

Girlfriend

Past

Hurt

Friendship

Sports
Morning

Showers
Sunshine

Home
Love
Money

Grass

Trevor

Brother
Mother

Grandfather

School
Weekend

Food

Vacation
Hope

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Mind
With Involvement Therapy

Family

Girlfriend

Past

Hurt

Friendship

Sports
Morning

Showers
Sunshine

Home
Love
Money
Involvement

Grass

Trevor

Brother
Mother

Grandfather

School
Weekend

Food

Vacation
Hope

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Other Disease Examples

Cancer - American Cancer Society
Started 1913
2 million volunteers
1996 - 93 million dollars in research

Diabetes - American Diabetes Association

Founded 1940
Over 1 million volunteers
To date $100,000,000.00 in research

Alzheimers - Alzheimers Association

Founded 1980
200 local chapters, 35,000 volunteers

Drunk Driving - MADD

Started 1980
600 chapters nationwide

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

Federal Money Spent On Selected Diseases

Compared with Deaths 1995

Percentages
of all diseases
and deaths

Federal Money Spent In Dollars

1
Heart Disease

2
Cancer

3
Diabetes

4
Pneumonia& Influenza

5
HIV Infection

6
Depression

65,616,845,000 36,782,154,000 21,621,967,000 13,759,720,000 12,709,420,000 4,402,588,000

30.9%
17.3%
10.2%
6.5%
6.0%
2.1%

Deaths
1
Heart Disease

2
Cancer

3
Diabetes

Pneumonia & Influenza

5
HIV Infection

6
Suicide

737,563
31.90%

538455
23.30%

59254
2.60%

82923
3.60%

43115
1.90%

31284
1.40%

35.0%
30.0%
25.0%

Federal
Money Spent
1995
Deaths 1995

20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%

Source:
Report to House Committee on Appropriations, 1998; Dept. of Health and Human
Services, Office of the Secretary. "HHS and Costs For 13 Diseases And Condition"
and Johnson, Judith A., CRS Report for Congress, 97-917 STM, Oct. 3, 1997 .
"Disease Funding and NIH Priority Setting"
.

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Scot & Leah Simpson

The Deadly Silence VS.

Involvement Therapy
The Deadly Silence
Suicide: Our relatives and friends are killing themselves and we are
afraid to talk about it.

Why did I not hear

his pain?
There are a
thousand things I
could have done
differently.

Whats everyone going

to think when they find
out he killed himself

April 17,

Suicide Across the

Nothing makes me
happy I hate my
life... I hate myself!

I cant tell
anyone, theyll
just think Im
crazy

Scot & Leah Simpson