September is National Suicide Prevention Month. BGCA’s updated Suicide Prevention & Awareness Guide tackles this challenging topic by providing Club staff with tor tools and knowledge to better support staff and Club members.
Regardless of someone’s age, ethnicity, race, social group, belief system, or economic level, suicide affects everyone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 10-14 years old and is now the third leading cause of death for 15–24-year-olds. A small but impactful decrease in this age group over the past several years shows that the work addressing teen mental health has some impact.
We still have work to do. Over half of all emergency room visits for self-inflicted injuries by young individuals have been recognized as suicide attempts. Out of these self-inflicted injuries, the ones who admitted to their injuries as a suicide attempt will later die of suicide. These attempts can affect one’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being even after survival.
But Why Suicide?
There is no single cause of suicide. It is important to note however that the transition from child to teen to young adult brings rapid physical, mental, and emotional change which can become overwhelming and cause increased levels of stress. Many young people can often become aware of the dynamics in their social groups, families, communities, and world as they age, and the pressures from the roles they have in these different environments can be difficult. Suicide can be seen as a quick solution o escape large amounts of stress. It is not always possible to know when someone is thinking about suicide, but many young people display warning signs before attempting or dying by suicide, offering an opportunity for the adults in their life to help them navigate through these feelings.
What Can We Do?
Take time to train Club and Youth Center staff to recognize the signs that someone is contemplating suicide. You may see and/or hear warning signs directly, learn about them secondhand, or see them online on social media.
Warning signs can look like:
- Talking to others or posting on social media about:
- Suicide or wanting to die
- Saying people in their lives would be better off without them
- Being in a great deal of emotional pain
- Suggesting that life is pointless and there are few reasons for living
- Saying goodbye to people
- Feeling hopeless, trapped, or like they are a burden to others
- Looking for ways to kill themselves, such as:
- Gathering medications, sharp objects, and firearms
- Searching online for ways to end their life
- Major changes in behavior, such as:
- Giving away personal possessions
- Self-injury (e.g., cutting)
- Isolation and withdrawal from people or social activities
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Significant change in mood (appearing anxious, depressed, easily irritable or, aggressive)
- Alcohol or drug use
- Loss of interest
- Major changes in thinking, such as:
- Having negative thoughts about themselves and their future
- Thinking their situation is hopeless or will never get better
- Thinking or talking about feeling empty, alone, or “over it”
If you or someone you know exhibits any of these warning signs, seek help immediately. If at any point a young person shares that they have suicidal thoughts or intentions, your priority is to keep them safe. For immediate safety and life-threatening mental health concerns, call 911 and request a trained mental health officer, and contact their caregiver.
Can We Prevent Youth Suicide?
Yes, we can. Suicide is preventable. By recognizing the warning signs, listening, talking, and taking action, you can save a life. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we use the acronym “S3” as a way to communicate concerns we have for each other and define the steps to get help.
S3 stands for “See, Say, and Support”.
See
Each day we spend hours with our kids. this gives us the opportunity to become familiar with their personality and regular patterns, and we are often able to recognize any changes in their behavior. These personal relationships paired with understanding the warning signs allow us to stay alert. Remember, when interacting with youth, we can have fun while staying mindful of what they are doing and saying.
Say
If you notice the warning signs in a Club/Youth Center member, you’ll want to talk directly to that youth. Don’t assume other staff will pick up on these signs and initiate the conversation, you may be the only person who observes these indicators in the youth’s life.
Before beginning the conversation, take a deep breath, acknowledge your own discomfort, attempt to remain calm. Understand that you’re here to provide support, not fix everything. Here’s one suggestion to start the conversation: “I’ve noticed that lately you are ‘doing/saying X” (behavior or speech) and that seems different for you. I care about you and want to make sure you are okay. Can you tell me about how things are going right now?”
If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs previously discussed, directly ask: “Because I care about you, I need to ask you a question. Are you thinking about ending your life?” or “Have you been having suicidal thoughts?”
It can be challenging to ask such a direct question and may require practice. Practicing a few times before you talk to youth can be helpful. This discomfort is worth it if it could save a life. It’s not shocking to youth when you ask them direct questions about suicide because they have been thinking about it anyway. When
someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s often a relief to have a caring adult talk to them about their thoughts and feelings.
Support
Our first priority as youth development professionals is to keep our youth safe – so ensure that you do not leave the member alone while working to bring in additional help.
When a young person acknowledges they are having suicidal thoughts, be present, validate their emotions, and listen. This could sound like acknowledging that they’re hurting, asking them questions about what is going on, and letting them know you, along with other adults in their lives, will be there to support them. As much as possible, let them share without interruption. Don’t argue with their feelings and thoughts and avoid offering solutions.
It can be especially encouraging for youth if the caring adult makes it clear that they care about the youth’s well-being and want to help them get the support they need. This means letting them know that getting support also means you will have to let others know what is going on.
Once you’ve allowed the young person the time they need to process their feelings, the next step in the support phase is to ensure the youth person gets connected to the appropriate resources and following your organization’s suicide risk/crisis response protocol. You can learn more about what should be included in this protocol and see examples from Boys & Girls Clubs in the full Suicide Prevention and Awareness Guide.
Thank you to our partner Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Suicide Prevention and Research for providing content for the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Guide and this post. Club staff can access all of our Trauma-Informed Practice resources on BGCA.net.
Remember, signs of suicidal thoughts or actions should never be ignored or taken lightly. If you or someone you know needs support, seek help immediately. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can also chat online with support at chat.988lifeline.org.
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