Suicide class teaches prevention is the cure

By Teresa L. Benns
SAGUACHE — During the past year, Mountain Valley Schools has been hosting a series of suicide prevention courses that teach parents, staff, students and community members how to recognize signs of depression in order to redirect those attempting to commit suicide.
Mountain Valley Schools Counselor Lisa Powers presented the course using printed material and slide shows to teach Mountain Valley students how to assist those they believe might be considering doing harm to themselves.
The risk is especially great for teens. For teenagers 15-19 years of age, 8.9 percent of every 100,000 in the U.S. commit suicide each year. In Colorado the rate is 17.6 percent - nearly double the national average. In 2016, 5,723 teenagers and young adults, 15-24 years of age, died by suicide in this country.  Suicide was listed as the second leading cause of death among children 10-14 years of age.
Colorado ranks ninth in the nation for suicides. In 2017, the last year data has been compiled, southwestern Colorado and the eastern plains had the highest suicide rates in the state. It is thought that suicide rates are higher in these areas because isolation is greater and gun ownership more prevalent due to higher participation in hunting activities. Over 50 percent of Colorado suicides involve a firearm.
In the U.S., there is one suicide every 11 minutes. In Colorado there were 1,175 suicide deaths in 2017. This is the highest number of suicides recorded in state history. Over 75 percent of these deaths were males in the 25-44 age group. Twenty-five percent of deaths were female.
Other states with rates higher than Colorado are Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico, Idaho, Arkansas, West Virginia and Utah.
So what can community members do to stem this rising tide of self-destruction?
QPR training
Powers recommends a several-pronged approach, outlined in the PowerPoint presentations produced by the QPR Institute shown during the class. QPR stands for the question, persuade and refer methodology used to help deter those contemplating suicide. Friends, relatives, teachers and others who intervene are called Gatekeepers, and QPR encourages everyone to learn their method and become one.
First those addressing the issue must understand what causes people to consider taking their own lives. The primary predisposing factors are listed in QPR literature as:
 
• Mental illness; depression
•  Sudden rejection by a loved one, divorce, unwanted separation
• A recent unwanted move
• Death of a family member or friend
• Diagnosis of a terminal illness
• Sudden unexplained flare-up with friends or relatives
• Prospect of being arrested
• Financial loss, job loss, financial insecurity
• Loss of a cherished counselor, therapist or clergyman acting in this role
And finally,
• Saying goodbye to friends
• Giving away cherished possessions
• Taking out insurance or purchasing a funeral plan
• Gun purchase or stockpiling pills
These indicators are enhanced by excessive drug or alcohol use, prescription drug abuse and addiction, severe anxiety, obsessing repeatedly over a certain issue, insomnia, nightmares and delusional thinking. These enhancers constitute acute suicide warning signs.
One of the most troubling predisposing factors for suicide is childhood sexual abuse. Any victim of child sexual abuse is automatically at higher risk for suicide. Experiencing or witnessing trauma in general, such as bullying or domestic violence, also puts one at a greater risk for suicide.
Keeping all this in mind, those concerned about someone they feel is a suicide risk can use QPR tools to intervene. The first tool is to question. This must be done in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, using either direct or indirect techniques. Indirect: “Have you been unhappy lately?” Or, “Do you sometimes wish you were dead?” Or, “Do you sometimes wish you could just go to sleep and never wake up?”
The more direct approach involves questions such as “Have you ever wanted to stop living? Are you thinking of killing yourself? Are you thinking about suicide? Never phrase a question like this though: “You aren’t thinking about suicide, are you?” because this anticipates a negative response and will not succeed in drawing out those who are truly suicidal.
The second tool is to persuade. This involves careful listening and full attention to what the suicidal person is saying. Do not speak until the other person has finished, act judgmental or disapproving in any way. Offer to accompany the person to see a counselor, priest, minister, school nurse or other professional. Suggest they make an appointment for this. And ask them to promise they will follow through.
If any of these persuasive techniques are agreed to, then there is a good chance the intervention has worked. But another useful tool is to ask the person to sign a commitment to life or promise to stay alive until they can seek help. If they do not agree to see a counselor or receive help, involuntary treatment measures can be taken and QPR provides the procedure for this.
Next comes referral. The best referrals are when the intervener makes the appointment personally. Second best is when the suicidal person lets the intervener help make the appointment and the third best referral is when the suicidal person at least agrees to seek help.
With QPR training all the best ways to intervene can be learned and practiced. To help friends and loved ones and to educate others, contact QPR at 1-888-726-7926. Or contact Lisa Powers, Mountain Valley Schools, for future QPR class times at 719-655-2578.
Suicide hotline numbers
• 1-800-273-TALK
• 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
• Vets4Warriors — 1-855-838-8255
• Colorado Crisis Services Hotline (1-844-493-8255)