SAP Newsletter
September 2023 - Suicide Prevention Month
Welcome Back to School, students and families!
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Our SAP Counselors would like to raise awareness on this topic and provide resources to students, staff, and families in the community.
Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it can be preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives.
(NIMH 2023)
What is SAP?
The Student Assistance Program, or SAP, is mandated by the state of Pennsylvania to be in every school. It is a team of school personnel (school counselors, teachers, school nurse, etc.) and a behavioral health community liaison (SAP counselor) working together to identify and address concerns that may be interfering with a student's ability to be successful in school.
The SAP team have all received specialized training in providing Student Assistance Program services from the PA Department of Education and are trained to understand issues of mental health and chemical use, abuse, and dependency. The SAP program is a systematic process to identify issues and mobilize resources where the problems are beyond the scope of the school. The goal is for the school to work collaboratively with the student, family and community.
Information about Youth Suicide Prevention
Facts
Understanding the issues concerning suicide is a crucial way to take part in suicide prevention and helping others in crisis.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth between 10 and 24 years of age, accounting for 7,126 deaths. Suicide rates for this age group increased 52.2% between 2000-2021.
- Young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Allied) have higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to their peers who identify as heterosexual.
- Suicide attempts were reported most frequently among girls compared to boys.
- 18% of high school students report having seriously considered committing suicide.
(CDC 2023)
Protective Factors
- The presence of an important person in the youth's life: As long as there is an emotionally significant person in the youth's life to whom the youth can relate, this will decrease the likelihood of suicide.
- Good coping skills: The more resourceful and skilled in problem-solving, the more likely is the youth's ability to cope with stressful situations.
- A supportive and caring family: Firm guidance, good communication, family stability and an ability to "grow" with the child are important ingredients for a well-functioning family.
- Interests and activities: Young people who are involved in group activities can channel their energy and frustration in a socially acceptable manner. They learn to relate to others in a semi-structured and fun-filled environment under the guidance of responsible and caring adults.
Know The Warning Signs
Warning signs may help you determine if someone you know is at risk for suicide. It is very important to be aware if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know shows any of these, seek help by calling or texting 988 immediately.
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
- Talking about having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawn or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Taking unnecessary risks
- Exhibiting self-destructive behavior
- Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order
- Giving prized possessions away
Know Some Risk Factors
Below are some risk factors that are important to be aware of. These risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. The risk factors below can not cause or predict a suicide attempt but can help you identify an individual at risk.
- Family history of suicide
- History of mental disorders
- Substance abuse (past or present)
- Access to firearms
- Physical injury or illness
- History of trauma or abuse
- Prolonged stress
- Social isolation or loneliness
- Previous attempts
- Major life changes
- Loss (relational, social, work, financial)
Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS)
Bucks County Data Overview
Depression is the number one risk factor for suicide by teens, a risk amplified in teens self-medicating with Alcohol, Tobacco, or other Drugs. For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the second leading cause of death, resulting in nearly 6,500 lives lost each year.
The most recent (2021) PAYS data shows a strong relationship in Bucks County between being bullied and depression and suicidal behaviors.
Students who reported being bullied through texting/social media in the past year
- 57.4% of students reported feeling so sad or helpless (almost every day for at least 2 weeks of the year) they stopped doing usual activities
- 37.1% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide (state level: 41.5%)
- 23.3% of students attempted suicide one or more times (state level: 31.1%)
* The three percentages listed above have shown an increase from the 2019 Bucks County PAYS data.
Statistics on students who indicated they had skipped school due to bullying fears in the past year. Of those students:
- 69.2% had felt so sad or hopeless (almost every day for at least two weeks in the past year) that they stopped doing usual activities
- 45.9% had seriously considered suicide
- 36.3% had made a suicide plan
- 35.0% had attempted suicide
* The three percentages listed above have shown a slight decrease from the 2019 Bucks County PAYS data.
Mental health and treatment
- Approximately 20% of adolescents experience a diagnosable mental health disorder such as depression or oppositional defiant disorder
- Unfortunately, less than half of adolescents who need mental health services actually receive them
*Info from 2021 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS)
What to do if you or someone you know is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts
- Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (para ayuda en español, llame al 988). The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call 911 in life-threatening situations. If you are worried about a friend’s social media updates, you can contact safety teams at the social media company . They will reach out to connect the person with the help they need.
- Text HOME to 741-741 (from anywhere in the US anytime) to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
Local numbers:
Bucks Crisis Line: 1-800-499-7455
Mobile Crisis: 1-877-435-7709
First Responder Support Team: 267-839-5400
Resources in Bucks County
Safe to Say
S2SS is a life-saving and life-changing school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how: (1) to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others, and (2) to anonymously report this information through the S2SS app, website, or 24/7 Crisis Center Hotline.
NAMI Bucks County, PA
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Lenape Valley Foundation (215-345-5300)
Penn Foundation (215) 257-6551
https://www.pennfoundation.org/
Penndel Mental Health Center (215) 752-1541
*Contact the number on your insurance card for appropriate provider