Knowledge, understanding, and support can save lives

From September 10-16, Maine joins the rest of the United States and the international community in recognizing World Suicide Prevention Week.  World Suicide Prevention Week is an opportunity to learn about the role that all of us can play in preventing suicide and commit to supporting the mental health of our family, friends, and communities.

In 2015, 235 Mainers died by suicide, making suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Maine youth and young adults between the ages of 15-34. Every suicide death or suicide attempt has a ripple effect that stretches far beyond the individual and their family, affecting schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Few of us remain untouched.

But there is good news: suicide is preventable. This year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Week is “Take a minute, save a life,” reminding us that even small actions can have a big impact on the lives of those who may be struggling. If you suspect someone you know may be at risk of suicide, follow these steps:

1. Show you care by listening carefully and without judgment.
2. Ask them if they are thinking about suicide. Be direct and empathetic. (Asking about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide.)
3. Stay with them (or have another caring person stay with them) while you locate help.
4. Call the Maine Crisis Hotline (1-888-568-1112) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
5. If the person is at immediate risk of harming themselves, call 911.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help prevent suicide in your community or workplace, we invite you to attend one of the many training sessions offered in partnership with the Maine Suicide Prevention Program.  For more information, please contact Sheila Nelson at 207-287-3856 or sheila.nelson@maine.gov, or visit the Maine Suicide Prevention Program training website: http://www.namimaine.org/?page=TrainingCalendar.

Suicide Prevention Month

Each year, Maine joins the United States and the international community in recognizing World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Suicide continues to be a public health concern, with 689 deaths by suicide between 2011 and 2013 in Maine. In addition, between 2011 and 2013, suicide was the first leading cause of death for Maine adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14, second among Maine residents between 15 and 34 years of age, and fourth among Maine residents between the ages of 35 and 54. Suicide is preventable and knowledge, understanding and support can save lives

If you suspect someone you know may be at risk of suicide, follow these steps:

1. Show you care by listening carefully and without judgment.
2. Ask them if they are thinking about suicide. Be direct and empathetic. (Asking about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide.)
3. Stay with them (or have another caring person stay with them) while you locate help.
4. Call the Maine Crisis Hotline (1-888-568-1112) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
5. If the person is at immediate risk of harming themselves, call 911.

For more information on how you can help prevent suicide in your community or workplace, contact Amy Ouellette at the Maine Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Maine), 622-5767, extension 2318. NAMI Maine hosts many training opportunities throughout the year.

Remember: Suicide is preventable.  Knowledge, understanding, and support can save lives.

Suicide Prevention Conference

From left to right-Ken Albert, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Maine CDC; Kyle Poissonnier, founder of Katalyst; MaKayla Reed, volunteer for The Trevor Project; Jodi Beck, Director of Clinical Integration and Physician Practice Improvement for Kennebec Regional Health Alliance, MaineGeneral Health; Anthony Ronzio, Director of news for the Bangor Daily News; Kristen McAuley, Team Lead, Healthy and Safe Living, Division of Population Health, Maine CDC; Brian Walsh, Principal of Hermon High School. CAL ME Award recipients not pictured- Ethel Jalbert and Tonya Bailey-Curry, community volunteers.

  

More than 200 people attended the Maine Suicide Prevention Program’s conferece, 2015 Beyond the Basics: Pathway to Suicide Prevention, last week. Ken Albert, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Maine CDC, presented the Caring About Lives in Maine Awards to seven Individuals and agencies for their leadership and dedication to suicide prevention. 

Suicide Prevention Conference

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program will sponsor Beyond the Basics of Suicide Prevention 2015: Pathway to Prevention: Working Toward Zero Suicide in Maine on from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 7 at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

This event serves as a best practices conference offering participants in-depth and progressive information and the latest research in the field of suicide and suicide prevention. It is designed for an adult audience who has attained basic training and knowledge in suicide and suicide prevention, and wishes to expand its knowledge and ability to engage in suicide prevention in Maine. 

The program includes the most up-to-date research on suicidology and evidence-based tools and provides participants with information to use in everyday practical applications. 

The target audience for this conference is primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, alcohol and drug counselors, social workers, public safety professionals, military personnel, public health professionals, educators, families, and community members.

For more information and to register:http://msppconference2015.eventbrite.com 

Suicide Prevention

As news spreads of the death of actor Robin Williams by suspected suicide, the Maine Suicide Prevention Program at Maine CDC takes a moment to share the following information.

Depression is a leading risk factor for suicide. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your job is, depression can touch anyone. Signs of depression include:

• Mood – sad, irritable, angry
• Withdrawing from friends, family, activities
• Changes in sleep, appetite or weight
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Not able to think or focus
• Hopelessness – seeing no chance of improvement

The sense of hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. Thoughts of death or suicide are a serious cry for help.

Depression is a treatable medical illness. Help is available, please reach out.

If you are concerned about yourself or about somebody else, call the Maine suicide crisis hotline at 1-888-568-1112. If you need immediate help, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are not in Maine, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Maine Youth and Suicide Prevention

Maine youth are making healthier choices, including smoking and drinking less, but are increasingly struggling with their emotional wellbeing.

Those findings and other insights directly from tens of thousands of Maine students about their health and habits are detailed in the newly released results of the 2013 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS).

The survey, which has been given every odd year since 2009, is a collaboration of the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services in the Department of Health and Human Services. The results inform prevention and program planning, as well as future funding proposals.

While students largely feel more supported by parents, teachers and their communities, they also admit they are increasingly struggling with feelings of sadness and hopelessness. At the high school level, 14.6 percent of students said they have seriously considered attempting suicide, and 16.8 percent of seventh and eighth graders said the same. 

In October, Maine was one of six states awarded a 3-year federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration grant, which will expand statewide education, training, and outreach services and offers new screening, assessment, treatment and follow-up services for youth to age 24 at risk for suicide.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program is collaborative initiative among: the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Corrections, Labor, Public Safety, and Veteran's Affairs; advocacy organizations like American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI ME; crisis agencies; parents, survivors and young adults.

Although suicide is a rare event, we must encourage and support our youth and young adults who may be feeling overwhelmed and hopeless to reach out to a trusted adult who will provide support and connect them to helping resources, such as:

• Statewide Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112 - connects callers to crisis service provider in area from which they are calling. This is for ALL individuals in crisis to provide immediate, local assistance in a crisis situation. The crisis worker will ask what is going on and ask about everyone's safety to help figure out what kind of help is need. If you believe a person might be in danger of suicide, call the statewide crisis hotline or the police (911) to keep the person safe if needed.

• Statewide Information Resource Center (IRC): 1-800-499-0027 Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services IRC has suicide prevention informational materials for adults and teens including: print and audio/visual educational materials, Maine and national data, etc.

For more information:

• Maine Suicide Prevention Program: www.maine.gov/suicide

• Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey summary results and press release: at http://mainedoenews.net/category/news-views/press-releases/

• 2013 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey result: https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/

Suicide Prevention Trainings

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program has announced its 2013-2014 schedule of trainings. The complete schedule and registration information is available at www.ccsme.org/train/suicideprevention.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program is a statewide suicide prevention initiative led by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Labor, Corrections and Public Safety. Its training program is housed at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine Office (NAMI Maine) in Augusta and is being delivered through collaboration with Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine (CCSME) and Maine Primary Care Association (MPCA).

For more information about suicide prevention in Maine, visit the Maine Suicide Prevention Program’s website: www.maine.gov/suicide.

Suicide prevention

There are numerous efforts being to recognize and support World Suicide Prevention Day. In Maine, a number of events are planned:


The Maine Suicide Prevention Program, a statewide suicide prevention initiative led by Maine CDC, in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Labor, Corrections, and Public Safety, is hosting a free training, “The Assessment and Management of Suicidal Clients,” from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 10 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with the essential tools needed to assess suicide risks accurately and manage challenging scenarios effectively. The presenter is Dr. David Rudd, PhD, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Utah and Scientific Director for the National Center for Veterans Studies. Dr. Rudd is widely published and was recently elected a Distinguished Practitioner and Scholar of the National Academies of Practice in Psychology. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rudd is an active researcher with more than 170 publications. Registration is required at http://www.ccsme.org/Events.htm

Visit www.ccsme.org/train/suicideprevention to view the complete schedule of Suicide Prevention trainings for 2012-2013 and to register for these trainings.

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program is also organizing its annual event to raise awareness of suicide prevention activities statewide and to recognize people and organizations that are making a difference through “Caring About Lives in Maine” awards. The event will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Blaine House in Augusta. Registration is required. To register, please email Vincent Bryant at vincent.bryant@maine.gov and include your email address and phone number.