|
Rural Partnership to Prevent Youth Suicide: A rural mental health initiative
Suicide among youth (15-19 years) ranks as the third leading cause of death in the United States according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010 report. In New York State, suicide ranks as the 4th leading cause of death among youth ages 10 - 19. Among youth 20 - 24, it is the 3rd leading cause of death. Locally, 25 young people committed suicide in the eight counties of Western New York between 2000 and 2002 with the highest number of those suicides – 13 – occurring in Erie County. The rate of youth suicide in WNY stands at 7.3 per 100,000 residents; in Erie County the rate is 6.7, well above the New York State rate of 5.5. Self-inflicted injury hospitalizations (age 15-19) in Erie County during the same time period was 71.6 per 100,000 – significantly higher than the Western Region rate of 48.4. (Source: 2004 Vital Statistics data; https://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh and NYSDOH SPARCS.)
Since 1998 the Healthy Community Alliance has conducted student surveys among some 5,000 youth using the Personal Wellness Profile (PWP) health risk assessment. Eleven percent reported they “seriously considered suicide in the past year.” During the 2000-2001 school year, 1,657 students in five school districts in southern Erie, Cattaraugus, and Wyoming counties were surveyed (100% response). Thirteen percent of students gave serious consideration to ending their own life while twenty-six percent reported feeling “unable to cope with life;” and fifty-three percent of students said they felt “angry, frustrated, or impatient most of the time.” (Source: Personal Wellness Profile Executive Summary: Teen Health, Combined Report – 2000-01)
Currently, the Alliance partners with a number of other Western New York organizations for the H.E.A.R.T. initiative (Helping Every Adolescent Rally Together). The collaboration includes Crisis Services, Healthy Community Alliance (HCA), Mental Health Association of Erie County (MHA), and Music is Art (MIA). The goal is to address youth mental health awareness in Western New York.
The John R. Oishei Foundation supported this unique initiative through grants totaling over $400,000 that were used to implement a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to increase the awareness of mental health among youth, particularly those young people who are dealing with issues related to suicide, relationships, alienation, loneliness and bullying. The project will focus on high school students and involve parents, teachers, school administrators, and mental health professionals.
Although there are some school-based supports to address youth mental health issues, this project is unique in its unified, comprehensive approach. The goal of the new collaboration is to achieve more positive outcomes together than would be possible separately.
The projects main components are:
Awareness and Recognition through school-based activities that include creative arts such as music, literature, theatre, and visual arts designed to reach young people.
Education using MHA's Tell-It program to raise awareness of mental health issues and decrease misunderstanding and stigma among adolescents, parents, and school professionals. In addition, an evidence- based component called SOS (Signs of Suicide) that includes a lesson and screening tool on suicide prevention will also be offered.
Personal Assistance and Support provided by Crisis Services. Their Kids Helpline is a 24 hour support hotline and on-line support center providing individual and group counseling using the internet.
Awareness and Recognition begins in schools with the implementation of MIA's School Assembly Music Concert Program followed by the educational component including the Tell-It Program. Personal Assistance and Support follows and includes on-line intervention through CS's Kids Helpline. The project anticipates reaching a minimum of twelve school districts over the next two years. Evaluation is currently being performed by the Center for Health & Social Research at Buffalo State College.
The John R. Oishei Foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life for Buffalo area residents by supporting education, healthcare, scientific research and the cultural, social, civic, and other charitable needs of the community. The foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation.
RESOURCES
Download the
Police Pocket Guide.pdf for Responding to Youth with Mental Needs
Below are some websites to learn more about suicide:
Families Together in NYS, Inc. www.ftnys.org
American Association of Suicidology www.suicidology.org
American Fdn. for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
American Psychological Association www.apa.org
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education www.save.org
Suicide Education and Information Ctr. www.wiec.org
Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network www.spanusa.org
Yellow Ribbon Program www.yellowribbon.org
Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
Center for Mental Health Services www.mentalhealth.org
Washington State PTA www.wastatepta.org
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill www.nami.org
Suicide Information and Education Center www.siec.ca
Mental Health Association of NYS www.mhanys.org
NYS Office of Mental Health www.omh.state.ny.us
Teen Screen www.teenscreen.org
SUICIDE FACT SHEET
Every 17 minutes another life is lost to suicide. Every day 86 Americans take their own life and over 1500 attempt suicide.
Suicide is now the eighth leading cause of death in Americans.
For every two victims of homicide in the U.S. there are three persons who take their own lives.
There are now twice as many deaths due to suicide than due to HIV/AIDS.
Between 1952 and 1995, the incidence of suicide among adolescents and young adults nearly tripled.
In the month prior to their suicide, 75% of elderly persons had visited a physician.
Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, aged 25-65.
Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females.
More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined.
Suicide takes the lives of more than 30,000 Americans every year.
|
|