Statistics Related Questions:
Why is the rate of suicide above the New England average rate?
Maine’s suicide rate consistently ranks above the average for the New England States. It should be noted, however, that the New England states consistently rank lower than the nation as a whole. Annual fluctuations in the number of suicides, especially in states with lower populations, dramatically affects the rates. It is believed that the rural nature of the state, the perception that helping resources are not readily available and the easy accessibility to lethal means, especially firearms, all contribute to higher rates of suicide in rural New England states.
How does Maine’s suicide rate rank nationally?
In 2005, the most current data available, Maine ranked 18 th with a rate of 13.2 per 100,000 (tied with 2 other states), which is higher than the national rate of 11.0 per 100,000. It is important to remember that with small numbers rates can dramatically change from year to year.
|
National Rate |
Maine Rate |
Maine Rank |
2000 |
12.1 |
13.7 |
24 |
2001 |
12.5 |
14.2 |
20 |
2002 |
12.7 |
14.4 |
21 |
2003 |
12.5 |
11.8 |
37 |
2004 |
11.1 |
13.0 |
21 |
2005 |
11.0 |
13.2 |
18 |
Why is the suicide rate higher in rural areas?
According to available national data, rural areas in the US do have higher suicide rates than urban areas. The rate of depression does not appear to be higher, nor are suicide attempts more prevalent. One hypothesis might be that people are more likely to die from their attempts because of their remoteness from emergency medical care. Household gun ownership is more prevalent in rural households and firearms have a higher fatality rate than other methods, leaving little to no opportunity for rescue. Studies that have examined the link between household gun ownership and suicide rates, even when controlling for other factors related to suicide, have found a relationship between gun availability and suicide rates. Easy access to guns is only one factor and further research is necessary to fully understand both the risk and protective factors for suicide in each state. (Harvard School of Public Health, August 2005)
Program Related Questions:
What is the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program?
The Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program (MYSPP) is a collaboration among state agency leaders and staff with input from service providers, youth and suicide survivors. The program is housed within and led by staff of the Maine Injury Prevention Program in the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. The MYSPP provides resources such as a statewide crisis hotline and information resource center, mobile crisis outreach, training and education programs, and resource materials for suicide prevention and early intervention activities. Crisis services provide a variety of services including: telephone consultation, telephone support and referral, assessments, stabilization services, and crisis stabilization residential services. The toll free statewide crisis number (1-888-568-1112) is answered 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by trained clinicians.
Program goals are to:
- Increase public awareness about suicide prevention
- To reduce the incidence of suicide behavior among Maine youth aged 10-24, and
- To improve youth access to appropriate prevention and intervention services.
What are we having the most success with?
There is no single effort that has been proven to be the “ most” successful. It is the combination of several strategies.
Who should be involved in youth suicide prevention? Whose responsibility is it? Isn’t it the family’s responsibility to take care of their children?
MYSPP believes that suicide prevention is up to all of us! It is especially important that everyone who works with children and is in a position to notice the early warning signs of suicidal behavior should learn how to intervene and how to access help. Parents, of course, play an important role but they may need the help of others to recognize suicidal behaviors.
What is the SAMHSA Grant Project?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) project is a grant awarded to the state of Maine which will span three years from 9/30/05 to 9/29/08. This funding will allow the MYSPP to move forward with some of the key priorities. Funds will expand Maine’s youth suicide prevention program by instituting a comprehensive, community-based approach in three areas of the state with elevated risk factors. The project will extend outreach and supports to college youth, sexual minority youth and two Native American tribes to improve the development and delivery of program messages and materials, training and services.
What is the Federal Government doing?
The Federal Government supports efforts to implement the “National Strategy for Suicide Prevention” introduced in 2001 by the U.S. Surgeon General. To read the National Strategy For Suicide Prevention go to: www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention or for more information on suicide prevention, visit the nationally funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center at www.sprc.org.
Public Awareness Education:
What should everyone know about youth suicide?
Talking about suicide does NOT cause suicide. There are almost always some warning signs of suicide. Anyone can learn to intervene in suicidal behavior; and MANY suicides CAN be prevented. Removing lethal means (i.e. guns, ropes, pills & poisons etc.) from the presence of a suicidal individual is an important prevention strategy. For more information, visit: www.mainesuicideprevention.org
What causes suicide?
Suicidal behavior is one of the most complicated of human behaviors. This question cannot be answered briefly. There is no research that shows that a particular set of risk factors can accurately predict the likelihood of imminent danger of suicide for a specific individual. It is fair to say that suicidal people are experiencing varying degrees of external stressors, internal conflict and neurobiological dysfunction and these factors contribute to their state of mind. Depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, and substance abuse all contribute to the possibility of suicide, but they do not cause suicide. The exact reasons behind a suicide often remain a mystery.
How do you know if someone is suicidal?
The best way to know whether or not someone is suicidal is to ASK! Whether or not you know the warning signs of suicide, if for ANY reason you think someone might be suicidal, it is perfectly OK to ask. You will not cause suicide by asking and you may very well save a life. Suicidal individuals are in a lot of pain, and the very fact that someone has noticed, has expressed concern and asked about suicide often provides the relief and time needed to explore other options and get help.
How do you get a suicidal individual to talk?
- Take ALL talk/hints of suicide seriously
- LISTEN with concern, caring and respect
- Ask directly about suicidal thoughts and plans
- Do not judge, lecture, discount or criticize
- Offer hope in any way possible
- Never keep suicidal behavior a secret
- Assist in finding help and support
- Do not leave a suicidal person alone; be sure that firearms, pills, rope are not available
- Call parents, another trusted adult, mental health professional, or crisis services
What are the warning signs of suicide?
- Talk of suicide, death
- Neglect of appearance, hygiene
- Dropping out of activities
- Isolating self from friends, family
- Feeling life is meaningless, feeling unlovable
- Hopelessness, helplessness increases
- Perceived burdensomeness
- Refuses help, feels beyond help
- Puts life in order-may make a will
- Picks a fight, argues
- Gives away favorite possessions
- Verbal clues (see below)
- Sudden improvement in mood, behavior after being down or withdrawn*
*It is important to note that most suicidal people, no matter what their age, suffer from some degree of depression. In young people the depression often goes undiagnosed until a crisis occurs. Depression may leave a person feeling drained, “too tired” to carry out a suicide plan of action. When the depression begins to lift and you notice a sudden improvement, be warned that this could be a very dangerous time.
Three months following a period of depression is a critical time of suicidal risk. The person has the energy to act, and may even appear cheerful and at peace with the world.
How can people help prevent a suicide?
- Encourage the person to talk about his/her feelings
- Stay calm and listen
- Take all threats seriously
- Be accepting, DO NOT judge or lecture
- Let the person know you care
- Ask about suicidal thoughts
- Ask how intense and frequent these thoughts are
- Ask if he/she has a plan
- Never promise secrecy-tell someone
- Get help
- Stay with the person until help is arranged
Are Maine schools doing enough to prevent youth suicide?
The school role in suicide prevention and crisis intervention is a limited one, but school staff members play a crucial role in identifying and helping at-risk youth to access services. All Maine school administrators have received guidelines for development of school procedures. Using these guidelines to develop school protocols to respond to suicidal behavior prepares school staff to be better prepared to prevent suicide and intervene effectively in a crisis situation.
Most Maine schools have sent key people to the MYSPP Gatekeeper Training. Sending key school staff to be trained is a really important step to learn the basics of youth suicide prevention. The one-day Gatekeeper training teaches risk factors, warning signs and, most importantly, how to recognize and respond to a suicidal youth. Training in how to conduct suicide prevention awareness education, Lifelines student lessons and other training programs are also available from the MYSPP.
What should schools do to prevent suicide?
The MYSPP recommends that schools integrate suicide prevention within Comprehensive School Health Education (CSHE) by:
- Developing procedures to follow to prevent youth suicide or to intervene in a suicide crisis
- Developing formal agreements between the school and local crisis service providers
- Sending several key staff to Gatekeeper training
- Offering awareness education for ALL school staff members
- Providing education of resources for parents and other community members
- Integrating student lessons that build help-seeking skills for all students within CSHE
- Providing or linking to services for youth at high risk
Suicide claims more lives of young people than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. Due to the high rates of suicide among the young, suicide is the fourth leading cause of years of potential life lost in Maine. More young people in our state die by suicide than homicide. There are four to five suicides for every homicide among Maine youth.
Suicide deaths, though very tragic, are the tip of the iceberg. Suicidal behavior among youth is thought to be far higher than in adult populations. It is estimated that there are 25 to 100 suicide attempts by adolescents and young adults for every youth suicide.
