Members of the Whidbey community concerned about youth suicide will have an opportunity next week to learn more about recognizing its signs and helping prevent it.
A forum on youth suicide prevention will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 7 at South Whidbey High School, presented by Sue Eastgard, director of the Youth Suicide Prevention Program in Washington State.
Eastgard will talk about childhood depression and suicide and will answer questions often asked by adults and even young people: “How do we recognize an imminent suicide? What do we say or do when we are concerned about a young person who may be at risk? Where can we turn for help? What can our community do to create a safety net for our children?”
Eastgard has been involved for many years in efforts to increase awareness of youth suicide. She is the immediate past president of the American Association of Suicidology and was the program chair for the 1997 National Healing after Suicide Conference. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington.
Eastgard was also was a member of the advisory council convened in 1994 to formulate the statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Program.
“We learned that youth suicide has touched the lives of too many of our youth and their families,” reads the program summary. “In Washington, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15-24 years. Almost 100 to 120 young people kill themselves each year, an average of two youth suicides each week.”
According to the YSPP, the reasons youth give for seriously considering or attempting suicide are varied: feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and depressed; using alcohol and drugs to deal with their emotions; serious family fights.
“The picture shows clearly that youth suicide is neither random nor inevitable,” Eastgard writes. “Factors such as depression and substance abuse are key risk factors; whereas family support, social support resources at school, and a sense of personal efficacy protect youth against suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”
During the past year the Washington State PTA joined forces with the Youth Suicide Prevention Program to address the issue.
“We understand that most parents are not knowledgeable about youth suicide and so are not prepared to identify or intervene with an at-risk young person,” Eastgard said.
Eastgard has presented programs at schools throughout Western Washington. A YSPP Web site was established to provide educational resources about the prevention of youth suicide behaviors. Since its inception the site has had nearly 185,000 visits and has won six online awards for design, content and usability.
An orientation kit has been produced, readily available, that includes information on suicide statistics, warning signs, emergency crisis intervention resources, suggestions for ways to develop a crisis response plan for a school.
Eastgard will expand on this information during the forum Tuesday at South Whidbey High School, reminding her audience of things to be aware of, including talk of suicide, preoccupation with death, or giving away prized possessions.
That’s what one Edmonds 16-year-old did just before he committed suicide. His parents, Scot and Leah Simpson, write:
“Trevor was an intelligent, athletic, volatile child. He played varsity football, won awards in chemistry, geometry and the arts. He wasn’t involved in drinking or drugs, but he was quick to anger, easily frustrated, a perfectionist and impulsive.
“We now know that he was upset about losing his girlfriend, had talked with a friend about suicide and, in anticipation of his death, he had given away his favorite baseball cap.”
Eastgard will talk about these warning signs but also about the need to build a safety net for the young people of South Whidbey.
“Whether your own kid is depressed, or you don’t have a kid, you need to come together as a community, be proactive,” she said.
Information is the first step, she said. If people ask the question, “What can we do?” she can help them in the next stage.
A task force could be organized including people from across the community, bringing groups and individuals together to begin a course of action.
“How do you make people aware of the problem?” Eastgard said. “Is information enough? Do the kids need a place to hang out? What are the resources? These things need to be determined by the community. My job is to be the catalyst.”
Eastgard said one of the biggest changes in recent years is that people are now talking about teen suicide, and there is a new awareness about it.
“Let’s look at our attitudes,” she said. “Why is it so hard to do? It’s not a bad issue to talk about. But it’s been in the back corner for a long time. “
We can’t do prevention after the death has happened, she said.
“Let’s not wait for a kid to die.”
Myths about youth suicide
Myth:
A youth threatening suicide is really not serious about completing suicide.
Fact:
Those young people who talk about suicide or exhibit suicidal behaviors are serious suicide risks. As a friend, parent or professional caregiver, it is better to overestimate the risk of suicide and intervene than to ignore or minimize the behaviors.
Myth:
Suicide cannot be prevented because, somehow, a suicidal youth will find a way to do it.
Fact:
The majority of the time youth who kill themselves have given definite signs or talked about suicide. The keys to prevention are recognizing the warning signs and knowing what to do to help. Remember that most suicidal youth do not really want to die, they just want their pain to end.
Myth:
Talking about suicide will cause someone to attempt suicide.
Fact:
Talking about suicide does not create or increase risk; it actually reduces it. If you have observed any of the warning signs, chances are the youth is already thinking about suicide. Be direct in a caring, non-confrontational way; ask the question, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Open talk and genuine concern are a source of relief and key elements in preventing the immediate danger of suicide.
Youth suicide in Washington state
• In 1998, 95 youths killed themselves; seven of them were between the ages of 5 and 14.
• In 1997, 116 young people committed suicide in the state. For 1997-98 there was an average of two youth suicides every week in Washington.
• Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people age 15-24. The only cause of more deaths in this age group is unintentional injuries, primarily vehicle accidents.
• The rate of youth suicide in Washington is higher than the rate of youth homicide.
• The suicide rate among young men is seven times higher than the rate for young women. Young women have a much higher rate of nonfatal suicide attempts resulting in hospitalization.
Some numbers to call
Island County Care Crisis Response Services
425-258-4357 or 1-800-584-3578
TTY:1-800-846-8517
Teen Link
206-461-4922 or 1-888-431-8336
National Youth Crisis Hotline – Hope Network
A 24-hour crisis line 1-800-784-2433 (800-SUICIDE)
Youth Suicide Prevention Program Web site: www.yspp.org
Source: State Department of Health
