THE TRADESMAN
| Volume 9 No. 2 | -- A NEWSPAPER by and for DIMAN STUDENTS -- | January, 2006 |
Tips for How to Handle Adolescent Suicide
Submitted by Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Sundby
The teen years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions-difficult for teens, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression (among the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age, and the past decade has seen teen suicide rates double.
To proactively address this issue, our school is offering a depression screening and suicide prevention training. One part of the training involves impressing upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.
The following is a guide for you on what to do if a student approaches you asking for help. We will begin our program at the 9th grade level, presenting this week to the health classes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us! Thank you for your assistance.
What To Do When Approached by Students Asking for Help
Once a student has disclosed the need for help (whether directly, or indirectly through someone else or even in a writing assignment) DO NOT LEAVE THE STUDENT ALONE!
Listen to what the student has to say, observe his or her demeanor and avoid making the student feel guilty or that they have no reason to feel this way.
Offer words of encouragement but DO NOT PROMISE CONFIDENTIALITY. * Acting to prevent a potential suicide always overrides the need to honor confidentiality between that individual and the student.
Advise the student that you are going with him/her to Pupil Personnel Services or you may contact PPS at ext. 1500 and request that a counselor come to your room. The student's guidance counselor will know what needs to be done to make sure that the student will get the professional help they need to deal with these feelings safely.**
The guidance counselor will immediately contact the student's parents or guardian and work with them to make whatever treatment referral is necessary.
* Oddone, Angela, M. "Saving Kids from Suicide: Contributing to Students' Mental Health Resiliency." NEA Today, April 2000
** STAR Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, "Intervening with the Adolescent and Deliberate Self -Harm," 1999.
SIGNS (SYMPTOMS) OF DEPRESSION
- " Depressed mood (can be sad, down, grouchy or irritable)
- " Changes in sleeping patterns (too much, too little or disturbed)
- " Change in weight or appetite (decreased or increased)
- " Speaking and/or moving with unusual speed or slowness
- " Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- " Withdrawal from family and friends
- " Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach or guilt
- " Diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness
- " Thoughts of death, suicide, or wishes to be dead
Other Indications of Depression
- " Extreme anxiety, agitation or enraged behavior
- " Excessive drug and/or alcohol use or abuse
- " Neglect of physical health
- " Feelings of hopelessness or desperation
(Adapted from: Worried about a Friend or Loved One? Created by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. for National Depression Screening Day.)
