Youth Suicide Prevention

What to Know.  What to Do.  You Can Help.

As remote learning and social distancing continue into the winter months, sustained isolation and darker and shorter days can all contribute to increased difficulties for students to maintain a sense of social and emotional equilibrium. With this in mind, we hope you will find the information included below helpful in knowing how to stay attuned for signs of crisis and the best practices for talking with youth and young adults in your life when it comes to the topic of suicide.

In Washington state, suicide (primarily by firearm) is the second leading cause for youths aged 10-24. According to the 2018 Washington Healthy Youth Survey, 32% of eighth graders, 40% of 10th graders, and 41% of 12th graders felt so sad or hopeless for 2 weeks or more that they stopped doing their usual activities. 16% of 8th graders, 18% of 10th graders, and 18% of 12th graders reported making a suicide plan.

Every parent should take suicide seriously. Many times, adults avoid the topic because they do not feel well equipped to discuss and handle talking about suicide. However, we can all do our part to feel more confident by learning how to prevent suicide among the teens in our lives.

The MI Forefront team works in collaboration with the UW Forefront Suicide Prevention Program to provide our community with training and tools to reduce youth suicide.  The UW Forefront Suicide Prevention Program is focused on reducing suicide by empowering individuals and communities to take sustainable action, championing systemic change, and restoring hope.

Upcoming Training Program

Check the calendar for upcoming events for Youth Suicide Prevention for Parents programs.  This program is presented by MI Parent Edge & the MI Forefront Team.

Resources & Education

Familiarize yourself with the LEARN® Saves Lives Suicide Prevention tips developed by Forefront.  These 5 steps will help you recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and how to connect them with immediate help.

• LOOK for Signs
• EMPATHIZE and Listen
• ASK Directly About Suicide
• REMOVE the Dangers & Safely Store All Firearms
• NEXT STEPS

Learn the warning signs:

• Talking or writing about suicide or death
• Giving direct verbal cues, such as “I wish I were dead” and “I’m going to end it all”
• Giving less direct verbal cues, such as “You will be better off without me,” “What’s the point of living?”, “Soon you won’t have to worry about me,” and “Who cares if I’m dead, anyway?”
• Isolating themselves from friends and family
• Expressing the belief that life is meaningless
• Giving away prized possessions
• Exhibiting a sudden and unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed or withdrawn
• Neglecting his or her appearance and hygiene
• Dropping out of school or social, athletic, and/or community activities
• Obtaining a weapon (such as a firearm) or another means of hurting themselves (such as prescription medications)

Online Training

If you are unable to attend the Nov. 19th training for the Mercer Island community, watch UW Forefront’s free LEARN® Saves Lives Suicide Prevention Training for parents/caregivers webinar on suicide prevention.  The recording is 1 hour and 20 minutes and well worth your time to potentially save a life.

In Crisis?

Here are organizations that can assist:

• King County 24-Hour Crisis Line, 866-4CRISIS (866-427- 4747)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255); Crisis Text Line, text HEAL to 741741
• Washington State Youth Suicide Prevention
  
• Teen Link www.teenlink.org  866-833-6546
• Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Confidential Intake Line: (206) 275-7657

Brought to you by MI PTA Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) Committee, IMS PTSA, MIHS PTSA, MISD, and MIYFS.