Mental Health & Suicide

Prevention in Schools August 2018

How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a
Lifetime
ACES MODEL – Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Facts – National Statistics on Adolescent
Mental Health

1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have, or will have a serious mental illness.

The Facts

• 20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition.

• 11% of youth have a mood disorder
• 10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder
• 8% of youth have an anxiety disorder
 Impact of Mental Illness in adolescence

50 %
50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by 14 and 75% by age 24.

This means that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness have begun to
manifest themselves by middle school.
Impact

10 YEARS
The average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention

is 8-10 years.
Impact

50%
Approximately 50% of students age 14 older with a mental illness
will drop out of high school.
Impact

70%
70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a
mental illness.
Why is this information important for
teachers?

• These students will be in your classes

• Though full onset of a mental illness is generally between the ages
of 14-24, we begin to see symptoms and concerns in elementary
school.
• It is important to be aware that your students are coming to you
with a lot their on their plates, and your classroom can be a safe,
nurturing environment.
Why is this information important for
teachers?

• Having this knowledge gives us a better framework for

understanding why some kids behave the way they do.
• While these statistics don’t apply to all kids, they do apply to
some kids in every classroom.
The link between mental illness and suicide

90%
90% of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness
The Facts

Every 12 minutes, one death by

suicide occurs in the U.S.

Every 40 seconds, one death by

suicide occurs worldwide.

Suicide transcends all races,

genders and education levels.
Youth Suicide: The Numbers

According to a 2015 study, suicide is the

SECOND leading cause of death in youths
ages 10-24.

1 out of 6 students (Grades 9-12) seriously

considered suicide in the past year
Youth Suicide: The numbers

More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from
cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke,
pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.

Each day in our nation, there are an average of over

5,240 attempts by young people grades 7-12.
Youth Suicide: Hispanic Youth

Hispanic students in grades 9-12

- 18.9% have seriously considered attempting
suicide
- 15.7% have made a plan about how they would
attempt suicide
- 11.3% have attempted suicide
- Latina youth are especially at risk
Youth Suicide: LGBT-Q Youth

- LGBT youth are 4 times more likely, Q youth are 3 times more
likely to attempt suicide

- Suicide attempts are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury,

poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment by a doctor

- Nearly 50% of transgender people have seriously

thought about taking their lives

- 25% of transgender people have made a suicide

attempt
Why talk about suicide and mental health in
school?

Maintains a safe school Student’s mental health

environment affects academic performance

Youth Suicide
A student suicide can
significantly impact students, Schools have been sued for
the school, and the negligence
community
A Survivor’s Story
Myths of Suicide
Myths of Suicide

Suicidal people are fully intent on dying.

FACT:
The nature of suicide is fleeting for some, likely because most
are undecided about dying. A part of them wants to live but
they may feel the only option to end their pain is suicide.
Myths of Suicide

Suicide increases around the holidays.

FACT:
The highest rates of suicide are in May or June. The lowest
rates are in December.

Why?
Myths of Suicide

Suicide happens without warning.

FACT:
Most suicidal people give signs, some more subtle than
others, but still communicating intent.
Myths of Suicide

Asking a depressed person about suicide will push them to

it.

FACT:
Studies show that talking about suicidal thoughts does
not increase the risk of an attempt.
Myths of Suicide

People who talk about suicide don’t complete suicide.

FACT:
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has
given some clue or warning.
How are kids talking about it?

A study of suicide
completions showed: “You'll be sorry when I'm
dead”
Half of adolescents
considering suicide
communicated with a
"I can't see any way out”
family member about their
suicidal thoughts.
Risk & Protective Factors
Risk Factors for Suicide

• Environment • Previous suicide attempts

• Suicide contagions • History of alcohol or substance

abuse
• History of childhood trauma
• Impulse or aggressive
tendencies
• Family history of suicide
• Lack of access to mental health
• Perfectionism care/unwillingness to seek help

• Victimization by peers at • Feelings of hopelessness

school
 Risk Factors (cont’d)

• Perception of weight • Poor problem-solving skills

• Physical illness • Poor interpersonal capacity –

isolation
• Homelessness
• English is not spoken in the
home
• Relationship breakup
• Sexual Orientation (students
• Academic crisis who identify as homosexual are
at a much higher risk for
• Loss (relational, social, work, suicide)
financial)
 Protective Factors

• Access to medical and mental health care

• Connectedness to family, school and community

• Support from ongoing medical and mental health

care relationships

• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and

nonviolent ways of handling disputes

• Self-confidence

• Willingness to seek help

 Risk Protective
Factors Factors

Perfectionism Family Support

Academic Crisis Self-Confidence
Homelessness
Lack of mental health care
Feelings of hopelessness
 Recognize the Warning Signs

• Making threats “You’d be • Impulsivity, daring/risk-taking

better off without me.” or behavior
“Maybe I won’t be around”
• Increased alcohol/drug use
• Seeking access to means
• Depression, withdrawing from
• Anger, rage, revenge (Look friends and family
what you made me do!)
• Dramatic mood changes,
personality changes
 Recognize the Warning Signs

• Difficulty making decisions • Having several accidents resulting

• Resistant to change
• Attention seeking
• Self defeating thoughts
• Many children believe that
when others die it is
permanent, but if they die,
in injury
• Expressions of hopelessness and
helplessness
• Previous suicide attempts
• Giving away prized possessions
• Lack of interest in future plans
 Our students-Our community

• Approximately 40,600
students in MISD • 8% of all
National
• High rates of poverty Statistics
students
• 10.6% female
• Low accessibility to mental • 5.4% male
health care

GRAPHIC:
• 3,244
Students who attempted MISD
potential
Potential students
suicide 1 or more times in • 343 female
previous 12 months • 175 males
MISD Protocol
What you can do, everyday:

1. Be aware that many students struggle with suicidal thoughts.

2. Pay attention to your students’ behaviors and watch for

changes.

3. Watch out for the lonely kids, the kids who are frequently
isolated or who struggle to make friends.

4. If you are concerned, trust that feeling, and report your

concerns to a counselor or administrator.
What are you required do?

If a student makes a suicidal outcry to you:

• Stay calm.

• Listen to the student; let them talk about their feelings.

• Stay with the student until you can get them to the counselor.

• Immediately, report this to a counselor at your campus.

Never….
• Never wait to report a suicidal
outcry. Waiting could have dire
consequences.
• Never take suicidal statements
lightly.
• Never leave the person alone
• Never swear to secrecy
• Never argue or blame
• Never act shocked or
judgmental
• Never counsel the person
yourself
• Never transport a student in
your car who has made an
outcry of suicidal thoughts.
Questions?