Teen Depression and Suicide Prevention for the Community
“Seven out of ten young people having thoughts of suicide will tell a friend. What that friend does next could save a life.”
– Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation
This impactful statement was discussed at a recent forum focused on teen suicide awareness and prevention, hosted by the Hurst Texas Stake. As the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds globally, suicide is not only a tragedy that affects families and communities, it’s also a serious public health problem.
Over 100 Hurst area residents gathered to hear from David Umanzor, Program Coordinator for the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in honor of Jordan Elizabeth Harris, a North Richland Hills teen who lost her life to suicide in 2012, the foundation exists to shine a light on suicide prevention through training and activism.
David Umanzor (pictured above) presented a training to Hurst area residents about suicide prevention and awareness.
“The Suicide Prevention presentation helped bring to the forefront a topic that needs to be discussed, especially with our teenagers and young adults,” said Bob Collins, Second Counselor of the Hurst Texas Stake. “While the presentation was well-attended, I think we need to reinforce its message again and again. Heavenly Father loves us all, and our Savior Jesus Christ has provided a way for us to experience eternal life. In the meantime, though, we need to help those who are suffering from depression to recognize the joy that's available to them here and now, in mortality.”
During the training, Umanzor said that suicides are preventable and there are a number of measures that can be taken to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.
Question, Persuade, Refer
The presentation centered on QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer,) a program designed for everyone to learn what can be done to prevent suicide.
The program goal is to train students, parents, and community members in how to effectively recognize and refer persons in distress to community resources. As a result of QPR Training, participants will: be able to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide; be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide and how to apply three steps (question, persuade, and refer) with individuals in distress; and have the skills to act with confidence to make a difference.
When properly used, QPR works from a foundation of knowledge, compassion and understanding. The resulting intervention may help detect a wide range of personal problems that should respond to professional assessment and care. Early intervention may well prevent the development of suicidal thoughts and feelings resulting from a current crisis.
Question
Because suicide is such a taboo subject, asking someone about suicide may, at first, seem awkward or difficult. But the truth is that you may be the best person, in the best possible position to recognize the warning signs of a suicidal crisis and to prevent suicide. Just as you have the courage to apply CPR to help someone who isn’t breathing, so too can you apply QPR to someone considering suicide. Once the question has been asked, most people thinking of suicide want to talk. Your role is to listen first. Listening takes time, patience and courage, but it is invaluable for someone in distress.
Persuade
The goal of persuasion is simple. All we want to accomplish is for the person to agree to get some help.
Persuasion works best when you do the following:
Persist in statements that suicide is not a good solution and suggest that better alternatives can be found.
Focus on healthy solutions to problems.
Accept the reality of the person’s pain but offer alternatives.
Show respect.
Collaborate with the person and assure them of your ongoing support.
If the person says they intend to take their own life, they should not be left alone. The aim is to stay with them and ideally accompany them to see someone who can help.
Offer hope in any form and in any way.
Refer
The last step in QPR is making the referral—or connecting your friend or loved one with a competent, local mental health professional.
As QPR-trained gatekeepers, you can have a significant positive impact on the lives of people who may be feeling suicidal. You can buy them time to get some rest, get professional help, and one day soon pass beyond this rough patch on the long road of life.
A gatekeeper is anyone able to recognize a crisis and warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide and help them open the gate to seek help. This could be you!
“I'm very grateful that David Umanzor was able to come and share about QPR,” said Bishop (pastor) Dean Bates, Beford 2nd Ward. “It was something that my kids remembered and talked about afterwards as something they would use—it helped them to remember the steps. Thank you for having him come share with us.”
HELP IS AVAILABLE, PLEASE REACH OUT
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline fields calls 24/7 for anyone with suicidal thoughts or who are in crisis. It offers help for Spanish-speakers and anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) to connect to a suicide/crisis center in your area.
Texas Suicide Prevention Network www.texassuicideprevention.org
Suicide Prevention Resource Center www.sprc.org
YouthLine: Text teen2teen to 839863, or call 1-877-968-8491
YouthLine provides a safe space for children and adults ages 11 to 21, to talk through any issues they may be facing, including eating disorders, relationship or family concerns, bullying, sexual identity, depression, self-harm, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
LGBTQIA+ kids and teens can reach out to The Trevor Project for support during a crisis, if they are feeling suicidal or need a safe space to talk about any issue. You can also chat via their website or by texting START to 678678.
SAVE.org: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation https://jordanharrisfoundation.org/
Article by Debby Adair