Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

What are the warning signs of suicide? The most common signs are (a) making a suicide attempt; (b) verbal and written statements about death and suicide; (c) fascination and preoccupation with death; (d) giving away prized possessions; (e) saying goodbye to friends and family; (f) making out wills; (g) being overwhelmed and exhibiting dramatic changes in behavior and personality. What should I do if I believe someone to be suicidal? Listen to them, support them and let them know that they are not the first person to feel this way. There is help available, and mental health professionals, such as counselors and psychologists, have special training to help young people who are suicidal. Do not keep a secret about suicidal behavior. Save a life by getting adult help, as that is what a good friend does; someday your friend will thank you. How does the crisis helpline work? We are very fortunate to have a nationally-certified Suicide Prevention Lifeline that is available 24 hours a day and can be reached via 800-Suicide or 800-273-TALK (8255) . Smartphones can easily connect suicidal individuals with the Lifeline, for example, on an iPhone, if you tell Siri you are suicidal, she immediately offers to connect you with the Lifeline. A national mental health emergency number 988 will be available sometime in 2022. Additionally, many young people today use the 24-hour Crisis Text Line by texting HELP or HOME to 741741 ( crisistextline.org ) . How can I make a difference in suicide prevention? Know the warnings signs, listen to your friends carefully, do not hesitate to get adult help, remember that most youth suicides can be prevented, and become aware of ways to get involved with suicide prevention. Older high school students can volunteer in some cities and be trained to answer the Teen Line. Contact the local Crisis Lifeline for more information. One person can make the difference and prevent a suicide! Where can I go for more information about preventing suicide? Contact the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) at suicidology .org , the Jason Foundation at jasonfoundation.com, the Trevor Project at thetrevorproject.org , the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program at yellowribbon.org , the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at afsp.org , the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at sprc.org , or Nova Southeastern University (NSU) at nova .edu/suicideprevention . NSU has three training videos that focus on suicide awareness, suicide assessment, and postvention in schools. How well do families who lost a child to suicide cope with the loss? The literature documents well the devastating effect of suicide on the family and how family members often feel isolated. Research studies conducted 15 months after the suicide indicate that the families have resumed normal functioning; they are, however, profoundly affected, especially when there is little explanation for the suicide of their loved one. Family members may experience anger toward those they believe are somehow responsible, loss of interest in their employment or schoolwork, increased absences, disrupted sleeping and eating patterns, grief, helplessness, abandonment, isolation, loneliness, shame, and guilt. Suicide survivors have more difficulty with the grieving process than survivors of losses from other causes than suicide. Survivors often reported feeling uncomfortable with the naturally occurring support systems, and school and community members often are unsure of what to say and how to reach out to those who lost a family member to suicide. Florida S.T.E.P.S.