Helping Give Away Psychological Science/Suicide Prevention in Schools

Subject classification: this is a psychology resource.

Benefits of early intervention in schools

• Lower risk of relapse
• Reduced risk of suicide
• Reduced vocational/developmental disruption
• Reduced family stress
• Improved recovery
• Reduced need for hospitalization

Destigmatizing mental health

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1-800-950-6264
• Steps to cope with stigma

1. Get treatment
2. Don't let stigma create self-doubt and shame
3. Don't isolate yourself
4. Don't equate yourself with your illness
5. Join a support group
6. Get help at school
7. Speak out against stigma

School Safety Hotline 1-877-729-7867

• Anonymously report weapon violations, bomb threats, drug misuse, bullying, etc.

Self-Esteem

• Psychoeducation on self-esteem and helpful worksheets to address/improve self-esteem
  • https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Self-Esteem
• Eating Disorders
  • https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Disordered-Eating
• Depression
  • https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Depression
• Anxiety
  • https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Anxiety

Self-harm (NSSI)

Crisis Text Line

• Text 741741; Text HOME to connect to a crisis counselor
• https://www.crisistextline.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness

• What is self-harm?
• Why do people self-harm?
• Treatment and coping
• What to do when someone else self-harms
• https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/self-harm

Suicidality

Crisis Text Line

• Text 741741; Text HOME to connect to a crisis counselor
• https://www.crisistextline.org

Educating Parents

• Common reasons teens consider suicide
• Learn to recognize the warning signs
• How to help if you notice warning signs
• https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=teen-suicide-learning-to-recognize-the-warning-signs-1-1696

Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)

• reduce access to lethal means (firearms, medication, sharp objects, lighters, etc) to prevent suicidal behavior
• 48% of those who attempted suicide reported having first started thinking about making that attempt within 10 minutes before the attempt.
• 83-90% of firearm suicide attempts are lethal
• Firearms represent 51% of the fatal suicide attempts in the US

Lethal Means Counseling

• assess suicide risk
• explain risk to patient and parent/support person
• collaborate on a plan to reduce access to lethal means
• agree on roles and timetable and document the plan
• follow up within 24 hours and at next appointment

Safety Plan

• identify warning signs
• coping strategies to distract from negative thoughts
• people one can reach out to for help
• professionals / agencies one can contact in a crisis
• how to make the environment safe/limit access to lethal means

Seek counseling services within schools and outside schools in the community to address suicidality

• contact your school counselor and/or school social worker for psychological services
• speak with your teachers about mental health resources within the school
• speak with your parents about seeking community-based mental health services (individual and/or group therapy)

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) 2017 Findings on High School Students' Suicidal Behavior [1]

• 17.2 % of students nationwide had seriously considered attempting suicide in last 12 months
• Prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide was higher among females (22.1%) than males (11.9%)
• 13.6% of students nationwide had made a suicide plan in last 12 months
• 7.4% of students nationwide had attempted suicide at least once in last 12 months

Bullying

Stomp Out Bullying HelpChat Live

• https://www.stompoutbullying.org/get-help/helpchat-line

6 Ways to be an ally (English and Spanish)

1. Support targets, whether you know them or not
2. Don't participate
3. Tell aggressors to stop
4. Inform a trusted adult
5. Get to know people instead of judging them
6. Be an ally online

• https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/6-ways-to-be-an-ally-en-espanol

YRBS Findings on Students' experience with Bullying [2]

1. 14.9% of students nationwide have been electronically bullied (texts or any form of social media) in the last 12 months
2. 19% of students nationwide have been bullied on school property in the last 12 months

Gender and Sexuality (LGBTQIA+)

Trevor Project

• https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now

CDC Page on Resources for LGBTQIA+ youth

• https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm

Resources via GLAAD for LGBTQIA+ community

• https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist

YRBS Findings on LGBTQIA+ students [3]

1. 14.6% of students nationwide did not identify as heterosexual
2. 20.5% of non-heterosexual students nationwide reported having been threatened or injured with a weapon on school property
3. 49.1% of non-heterosexual students nationwide reported having been electronically bullied
4. 57.3% of non-heterosexual students nationwide reported having been bullied on school property
5. 38.9% of non-heterosexual students nationwide reported having experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months
6. 63.6% of non-heterosexual students nationwide reported having made a suicide plan in the last 12 months

Substance Misuse

https://www.abovetheinfluence.com

• text ABOVE to 741741 for 24/7 anonymous free crisis counseling via Crisis Text Line

How does drug use affect high school grades?

• Lower grades
• Higher rate of absenteeism from school
• Heavy marijuana use in teen years and continued into adulthood
• Higher rates of school drop out
• https://www.justthinktwice.gov/how-does-drug-use-affect-your-high-school-grades

YRBS Findings on Students' experience with Substance Misuse [4]

1. 5.5% of students nationwide who drove a car had driven a car when they had been drinking alcohol
2. 13% of students nationwide who drove a car had driven a car when they had been using marijuana
3. 9.5% of students nationwide had first tried cigarette smoking before age 13
4. 9.7% of students nationwide who currently smoke cigarettes reported smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day
5. 42.2% of students nationwide reported having used an electronic vapor product
6. 15.5% of students nationwide had their first drink of alcohol before age 13
7. 13.5% of students nationwide reported having had 4 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (females) or 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (males) at least one day in the last month
8. 36.5% of students nationwide have used marijuana one or more times

Athletic Pressures

How to help a teen athlete deal with Sports Pressure

• Encourage a balanced life
• Change the mindset to "embrace the pressure and thrive"
• Relaxation techniques
• Recognize an injury
• Don't allow sports to become your identity
• Watch for substance misuse
• https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-help-a-teen-athlete-deal-with-sports-pressure-4057989

YRBS Findings on students' health [5]

• 54.3% of students nationwide reported having played on at least one sports team in the last 12 months
• 47.1% of students nationwide reported trying to lose weight
• 31.5% of students nationwide identified as being slightly or very overweight
• 15.1% of students nationwide had a concussion one or more times in the last 12 months

Trauma

Experiences with bullying, wanting to run away, homelessness, feeling unsafe

• https://www.1800runaway.org

Immigrants' Rights

• ACLU's "know your rights" outlined
• https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

• text 1-800-787-3224

National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 1-866-331-9474

• text "loveis" to 22522
• online chat: https://www.loveisrespect.org

Finding a Safe Place

• text "safe" and your current location to 4HELP (44357)
• reply "2chat" to talk with a trained counselor
• https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/txt-4-help

YRBS Findings on Students' experience with traumatic events [6]

1. 6.7% of students nationwide reported having not gone to school on at least one day due to feeling unsafe at school, or on their way to school
2. 7.4% of students nationwide reported having been forced to have sexual intercourse when they did not want to
3. 8% of students nationwide who reported having dated someone reported having been physically hurt on purpose by partner