Suicide Prevention Data- Copy and paste these statements into a word document and increase font before cutting and putting in the boxes. You can glue them onto cards or just use as paper strips.

Possible Reasons Leading to Teen Suicide:

1. Negative feelings about oneself or feeling worthless and a failure
2. Wanting to stop pain that is unbearable, problems seem overwhelming
3. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, no one seems to care
4. Loss of someone they love, or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Moving from one place to another leading to one feeling depressed, lonely and isolated.
5. Alcohol and substance abuse can cause one to engage in impulsive behaviors and lose self-control

Myths About Teen Suicide

1. Once a person decides to commit suicide, there is no way to stop him/her.
2. Suicide happens with no warning
3. Teen who commit suicide are mentally ill
4. Asking someone if he/she is thinking about suicide will cause them to go through with it.

Facts About Suicide

1. 75% of people who attempt or commit suicide have shown some kind of warning sign
2. Most suicidal people do not want to die. Rather, they are crying for help
3. Teens who are suicidal are not necessarily mentally ill
4. Discussing the problem openly shows the person there is someone who cares and wants to help

Warning Signs
            Non-verbal signs

1. Giving away personal possessions
2. Sleeping too much or too little
3. Lack of interest in friends
4. Lack of interest in personal appearance
5. Lack of interest in social activities that were formerly of interest
6. Poor performance in school
7. Boredom, loss of concentration and restlessness

1. Verbal signs-Negative statements like:
   
   
2. "Life is not worth it."
3. "People will be better off without me."
4. "Everything is always going wrong."
5.  "I just do not need this anymore."
6. "Friend, classmates, family members do not care about me."

Ways To Help

1. Never leave someone who is suicidal alone.
2. Encourage the person to get help.
3. Get help immediately
4. Listen carefully to what they are saying and treat it seriously. Do not lecture, argue or debate them about it.

Adapted from:
http://www.sfsuicide.org/html/warning.html