Suicide Prevention Community Edition-Shortened Version

8/14/2019 Suicide Prevention Community Edition-Shortened Version

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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention IntroductionIntroduction

Objectives:n The scope and importance of suicide preventionn The negative impact of myths and misinformationn How to identify a person at risk-signs symptomsn How to effectively communicate with a suicidal

personn How to gain information to help the personn How to refer a person for evaluation and

treatment


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Suicide in the U.S .

n 13.5 % of all Americans reported a history of suicidalideation or thinking

n 3.9 % actually made a suicide plan that included adefinite time, place and method

n 4.6 % reported actual suicide attemptsn 50 % of those who attempted suicide made a serious

attempt

Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention Brief overviewBrief overview


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SuicideSuicide PreventionPrevention Brief overviewBrief overview

Suicide in the veteran population

n Male veterans are twice as likely as civilians of either gender to commit suicide

n 1000 suicides occur per year among veteransreceiving VA care

n 5000 suicides occur per year among all livingveterans


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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention Brief overviewBrief overview

What do the statistics mean?

n Veterans may be at higher risk for suicide.n We need to do more to reduce risk.n Suicides are preventable in most cases.


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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention

Program approachesProgram approaches VA National Initiatives

n Researchn Best practices in identification and treatmentn Educating employees at every leveln

Partnering with community based organizations andthe armed forcesn Veterans Suicide Hotline


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Myths and MisinformationMyths and Misinformation n Myth: Asking about suicide will plant the idea in a

persons head.

n Reality: Asking a person about suicide does notcreate suicidal thoughts any more than asking aboutchest pain causes angina. The act of asking thequestion simply gives the person permission to talk

about his or her thoughts or feelings.


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Myths and MisinformationMyths and Misinformation n Myth: There are talkers and there are doers.

n Reality: Most people who die by suicidehave communicated some intent. Someonewho talks about suicide gives the guideand/or clinician an opportunity to intervenebefore suicidal behaviors occur.


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Myths and MisinformationMyths and Misinformation n Myth: He/she really wouldn't commit suicide

becausen

he just made plans for a vacationn she has young children at homen he made a verbal or written promisen she knows how dearly her family loves her

n Reality: The intent to die can override any rationalthinking. No Harm or No Suicide contracts havebeen shown to be ineffective from a clinical andmanagement perspective. A person experiencingsuicidal ideation or intent must be taken seriouslyand referred to a clinical provider who can furtherevaluate their condition and provide treatment as

appropriate.


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Suicide PreventionSuicide PreventionOperation S.A.V.E.Operation S.A.V.E.

Operation S. A. V. E. will help you actwith care and compassion if youencounter a person who is suicidal.

The acronym SAVE summarizes thesteps needed to take an active andvaluable role in suicide prevention.

n

S igns of suicidal thinkingn Ask questionsn Validate the persons experiencen Encourage treatment and Expedite

getting help


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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention Operation S.A.V.E.Operation S.A.V.E.

Importance of identification

n Suicidal individuals are not always easy toidentify.

n There is no single profile to guide recognition.n There are a number of warning signs and

symptoms.n

Some of the signs of suicidality are obvious,but others are not.n Signs and symptoms do not always mean the

person is suicidal but:n When you recognize signs, it is important to

ask the person how they are doing because

they may mean that they are in trouble.


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SS igns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking

Signs and Symptoms:

n Threatening to hurt or kill self n Looking for ways to kill self n Seeking access to pills, weapons or other

meansn Talking or writing about death, dying or

suiciden Hopelessnessn

Rage, angern Seeking revengen Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities


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SS igns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking

n Feeling trappedn Increasing drug or alcohol abusen Withdrawing from friends, family and societyn Anxiety, agitationn Dramatic changes in moodn No reason for living, no sense of purpose in

lifen Difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the timen Giving away possessionsn Increase or decrease in spirituality


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AA sk questionssk questions To effectively determine if a person is suicidal,one needs to interact in a manner thatcommunicates concern and understanding. As

well, one needs to know how to managepersonal discomfort(i.e., anxiety, fear,frustration, personal, cultural or religiousvalues) in order to directly address the issue.

Know how to ask the most importantquestion

The most difficult S. A. V. E. step is asking themost important question of all


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AA sk questionssk questions How DO I ask the question?

n DO ask the question after you have enoughinformation to reasonably believe the personis suicidal.

n DO ask the question in such a way that isnatural and flows with the conversation.

DONT ask the question as though you are lookingfor a no answer. You arent thinking of killing yourself are you?


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AA sk questionssk questions Things to consider when you talk with theperson:

Remain calmListen more than you speakMaintain eye contactAct with confidenceDo not argue

Use open body languageLimit questions to gathering informationcasuallyUse supportive and encouragingcommentsBe as honest and up front as possible


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VValidate the veteransalidate the veteransexperienceexperience Validation means:

n Show the person that you are following what

they are sayingn Accept their situation for what it isn You are not passing judgmentn Let them know that their situation is serious

and deserving of attentionn Acknowledge their feelingsn Let him or her know you are there to help


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EE ncourage treatment andncourage treatment and EE xpeditexpeditegetting helpgetting helpFor the cooperative person: Tips for encouraging treatment:

5. Explain that there are trained professionalsavailableto help them.

8. Explain that treatment works.10. Explain that getting help for this kind of

problem is no

different than seeing a specialist for othermedicalproblems.

14. Tell them that getting treatment is his or herright.

17. If they tell you that they have had treatmentbefore and it has not worked, try asking:


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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention EE ncourage treatment andncourage treatment and EE xpeditexpeditegetting helpgetting help

Tips for expediting a referral:

3. Assist the person in getting to a care facility bypersonally taking them or arranging fortransportation.

4. Call the VA Suicide Hotline number with theveteran to get a referral started. 1-800-273-

TALK push 1.5. Call the local facility Suicide Prevention

Coordinator you make access this personfrom the information desk at any VA.


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EE ncourage treatment andncourage treatment and EE xpeditexpeditegetting helpgetting help For uncooperative people or those in immediate crisis:

As you encourage the person to seek help, somesituations may involve people who are hostile and

aggressive.

Here are some useful safety guidelines for workingwith seriously and acutely distressed people: [These rules are both for the persons safety and yours.]

n If you are not in face-to-face contact but are speakingoverthe phone with a person who expresses intent toharm self or others - call 911 for assistance.


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Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention OperationOperation S. A.V. E.S. A.V. E.

SUMMARY

Operation S. A. V. E. can save lives by helping you

become aware of:S igns of suicidal behavior and giving you the skillsto:

A sk questionsV alidate the persons experience and to

Encourage treatment and E xpedite getting help


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By participating in this training you havelearned:

n The scope of the problem of suicides amongthe veteran population

n The importance of suicide preventionn The negative impact of myths and

misinformationn How to identify a person who may be at riskn Some of the signs and symptoms of suicidal

thinkingn How to effectively communicate with asuicidal person

n How to gain information to help the personn How to refer someone for evaluation and

treatment


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There are plenty of resources available tosomeone who is suicidal but we need you topartner with us in identifying the suicidal personand getting them into treatment.


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Suicide Prevention Community Edition-Shortened Version

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Transcript of Suicide Prevention Community Edition-Shortened Version