Suicide
Alert
Technique:
Act on concern. If a teacher is alerted, verbally or intuitively it should
be followed by action. If a student says that suicide is being considered
or names another student who may be considering suicide, take it seriously
and get help.
Warning Signals
- Deep depression
- Drop in
grades
- Withdrawal
from family & friends
- Drop in
activities or sports
- Major
loss - steady boy or girlfriend
- Eating
or sleeping habits change
- Outbursts
or unusual or reckless behavior
- Giving
away treasured possessions
- Preoccupation
with subject of death, literature about death
- Neglect
of person and hygiene (if well groomed before)
- Talk of
suicide or worthlessness
Facts
About 5000 teens will kill themselves this year. 250,000 teens will attempt
suicide this year. Eight times as many girls as boys will attempt suicide.
Boys will succeed more. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among
young people. Twice as many teens commit suicide today as did ten years
ago. Teens who commit suicide are extremely unhappy but not necessarily
mentally ill. Suicide does not run in familiesâ and it is not a rich person's
problem. It is an individual behavior and is represented proportionately
in all social strata. Native American youth and students who believe they
may be gay are at greatest risk. Suicide typically occurs as the person
is beginning to recover and has found the energy to put morbid thoughts
into action. The start of counseling or drug relief and the following three
months are high risk. Most suicides are undecided and "gamble with
death." Suicidal people give many warnings and clues regarding their
intentions. Eight out of ten people who kill themselves gave definite warnings
of suicidal intentions. Many more of those who made attempts alerted others.
Suicidal ideas are fleeting. People can feel suicidal, get beyond the crisis
and not return to suicidal ideation. Successful teen suicide pacts may increase
suicidal behavior in a ripple effect.
From
Public Health Publication # 852, U.S. Government
Medical concerns: Never ignore a warning. GET HELP - DES, DPS,
Mental Health Agencies, 911, Family Doctor, Emergency Room, Principal.
Keep going until someone responds!
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