1. Understanding andUnderstanding and
Preventing SuicidePreventing Suicide
By Shamoi Pakita, FITBy Shamoi Pakita, FIT

2. OutlineOutline
• Introduction (facts about suicide)
• Suicide victims
• Warning signs
• Responding strategies (ACT and QPR)
• Protective factors
• Conclusion

3. ““Still the effort seems unhurried. Every 17Still the effort seems unhurried. Every 17
minutes in America, someone commits suicide.minutes in America, someone commits suicide.
Where is the public concern and outrage?”Where is the public concern and outrage?”
Kay Redfield Jamison,
author of Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide

4. Facts about suicideFacts about suicide
• According to the World Health Organization ,
every 40 seconds a life is lost to suicide
• Each year we lose nearly 1 million people to
suicide.
• For one death – 20 attempts
• Worldwide, more people die by suicide than
from all homicides and wars combined.

5. Suicide victimsSuicide victims
• Individuals of all races, creeds,
incomes, and educational levels
die by suicide.
Single
57%
Married
43%

6. Suicide victimsSuicide victims
• Therefore, there is no typical suicide victim.
• Fortunately there are some common warning signs which
when acted upon, can save lives and, as a result, suicide will
be prevented

7. Warning signsWarning signs
• While some suicides occur without any outward warning,
most do not. The emotional crises that usually precede
suicide are most often both recognizable and treatable.
• The most effective way to prevent suicide is to learn how to
recognize the signs, take them seriously and know how to
respond to them.
• Factors for suicide completion :
1) Having an alcohol or drug problem.
2) Having a depressive illness

8. Warning signsWarning signs
Warning signs can be expressed:
• Verbally – talks, writings about death, hints such
as:
"I won't be a problem for you much longer," "Nothing matters”, etc
• As actions - withdrawal from friends or family,
drop in performance, significant changes in eating,
sleeping.
• As feelings - person feels hopeless, guilty, or
ashamed.

9. Common self-critical thoughtsCommon self-critical thoughts
• You are so stupid. You never get
anything right.
• You are different from other
people.
• You’re so unattractive.

10. Responding strategies: ACTResponding strategies: ACT
ACT – Acknowledge , Care, Tell
• Acknowledge the problem
• Care - let them know that you care about them
• Tell a trusted adult about your concerns.

11. Responding strategies: QPRResponding strategies: QPR
QPR consists of 3 parts:
• Question - asking “S” questions
• Persuade - getting the person to talk and to seek help
• Refer - getting the person to professional help

12. ““S” questionsS” questions
• 1st variant, not good :
You aren’t thinking of suicide are you?
• 2nd variant, good :
Some people who experience the amount of pain you’re in
think about killing themselves. Have you ever thought about it?

13. Protective factorsProtective factors
• Resiliency and coping skills
Improve defenses against suicidal thinking
• Social support
Those with close relationships cope better with various stresses
• Psychotherapy
Helping people learn to interpret the stresses in their lives more effectively
• Cognitive-behavioral approaches
Include problem-solving training
• Clinical Care - Availability and accessibility
• Learn effective relaxation techniques
Play sports, write a diary, take slow deep breaths, talk with friends, read a book

16. ConclusionConclusion
• Many people at some time in their lives think about committing
suicide. Some of them realize, that crisis is temporary and
death is permanent.
• Suicide IS preventable!
• It is in the hands of society to help them realize that they are
valued and nurtured in this world.