Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

Florida educators must address the many myths of suicide in order to increase prevention efforts. It is essential that educators know the facts and not hold on to the myths. Questions about suicide and related topics that Scott Poland has been asked by parents, educators, and students are in Appendix 3 along with answers. Myth: If I ask a student about suicidal ideation, I will put the idea in his or her head. Fact: Asking someone about suicide will not make him or her suicidal. In fact, if they are suicidal it provides an opportunity for the student to unburden himself or herself and learn sources of assistance. If they are not having suicidal thoughts, then the conversation provides an opportunity to talk with them about what to do if they or a friend ever do have suicidal thoughts. Myth: There is a single cause or a simple reason for a youth suicide. Fact: The suicide of a young person is very complex and the result of many factors, and they have often traveled a long road and had significant mental health problems and experienced many traumatic events. Myth: If a student really wants to die by suicide, there is nothing I can do about it. Fact: Suicide is preventable. Even students at the highest risk for suicide are still ambivalent about desiring death and desiring life. Most of all they want things to change. Myth: Students who talk about suicide all the time are not actually suicidal, therefore you don’t need to take the statements seriously. Fact: Youth who make suicidal statements typically have some risk for suicide. About 80 percent to 90 percent of persons who died by suicide expressed their intentions to one and often more than one person. All suicidal statements should be taken seriously. Myth: Suicide usually occurs without warning. Fact: A person planning suicide usually gives clues about his or her intentions, although in some cases the clues may have been subtle. Myth: A suicidal person fully intends to die. Fact: Most suicidal people feel ambivalent toward death and arrange an attempted suicide at a place and time in the hope that someone will intervene. Myth: Suicidal individuals do not make future plans. Fact: Many individuals who died by suicide had future plans; for example, they had planned future activities and trips. Myth: Those who died by suicide almost always left a note. Fact: About 75 percent of suicide victims did not leave a note. TOOL 9 Common Myths About Youth Suicide 55