S.P.E.A.K. – SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION & AWARENESS KIT
Talking to a friend or family member about their suicidal thoughts and feelings can be extremely difficult, but if you’re unsure whether someone is suicidal, the best way to find out is to ask. You can’t make a person suicidal by showing that you care. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express his or her feelings can provide relief from loneliness and pent-up negative feelings, and may prevent a suicide attempt.
Adults
SPEAK APP: ADULTS
Adult Specific Challenges:
Adults often experience a loss of the emotional resilience needed to face life’s challenges. Risk factors for suicide are characteristics or conditions that a person may have, several risk factors at one time may result in higher risk. This may result in feelings of loneliness and isolation.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE RISK FACTORS FOR ADULTS:
- Major life changes, such as losing loved ones, loss of a job, retirement, proximity to family and divorce
- Financial hardship
- Physical illness or disability
- Loss of sense of purpose
- Trouble with the law
- Previous suicide attempt/ family history
WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN ADULTS:
- Increased alcohol and prescription drug use and stockpiling of medications
- Social withdrawal or elaborate goodbyes
- Loss of appetite or interest in eating
- Disruption of sleep patterns
- Sudden interest in firearms, access to firearms or reading material about death and suicide
- Failure to take care of self or follow medical orders
- Rush to complete or revise a will
Take any suicidal thought or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
- Get Professional Help: do everything in your power to get your friend or loved one the expert help he or she needs. Call the Putnam County Crisis Line (1-845-225-1222) and help them make, and get to, an appointment with a mental health professional.
- Be Proactive: those who are contemplating suicide often don’t believe they can be helped, so you need to be more proactive and assertive in offering assistance. Tell the suicidal person you are concerned about them and that you care.
- Remove Potential Means of Suicide: if it’s safe to do so, remove or lock-up pills, knives, razors and firearms, as soon as possible.
- Make a Safety Plan: a written Safety Plan identifies specific coping strategies, and support mechanisms and provides the road map you, or someone you care about, needs to get through a crisis. For help in creating a Safety Plan, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/SafetyPlanTemplate.pdf) If you need more help, call (845-225-1222).
- Encourage Positive Lifestyle Changes: these include a healthy diet; more time spent outdoors, enhanced social and family connections, volunteer activity and more sleep and exercise.
- Continue Your Support: when the immediate crisis is over, check-in and stop by to make sure your friend or loved one continues along the road to recovery, including following up on treatment.
Courtesy of: HELPGUIDE.ORG (http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm)
Get Help Now/National > 1-800-273-8255
Get Help Now/Local Putnam County Crisis Line > 845-225-1222
Level of Suicide Risk
LEVEL OF SUICIDE RISK
SERIOUS: some suicidal thoughts. No suicide plan. Person can state that suicidal thoughts will not be acted upon.
- Seek expert guidance/professional help
- Be proactive
- Make a safety plan
MORE SERIOUS: suicidal thoughts. Person has a vague plan, with low indication of lethality. He/she can state that suicidal thoughts will not be acted upon.
- Seek expert guidance/professional help
- If it can be done safely, remove all potential means of suicide (pills, weapons, etc.)
- Be proactive
- Make a safety plan
MOST SERIOUS: suicidal thoughts and a specific plan with high level of lethality. He/she states that suicidal thoughts will be acted upon
- Call for help immediately!
Get Help Now/National > 1-800-273-8255
Get Help Now/Local Putnam County Crisis Hotline > 845-225-1222
- If it can be done safely, remove all potential means of suicide
- Do not leave the person alone
IN ALL CASES:
- Encourage positive lifestyle changes
- Continue your support, including follow-up on the treatment plan
Take any suicidal thought or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help.
Resource List
- National Suicide Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
- Putnam County Crisis Hotline 845-225-1222
- Veteran’s Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1 when connected)
- Veteran’s Crisis Text Messages text to 838255
- Veterans Crisis Line Website > http://www.veteranscrisisline.net
- Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office > http://suicideoutreach.org/
- US Department of Veteran’s Affairs > http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/
- NY Suicide Prevention Resource Center > http://www.sprc.org/states/new-york
- HELPGUIDE.ORG/SUICIDE PREVENTION > http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm
- American Federation for Suicide Prevention > http://www.afsp.org/
- Teen Depression: A Guide for Parents > http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm
- Common Misperceptions About Suicide > http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm
- Helping a Suicidal Person > http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm
OTHERS
- Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center:
845-628-9284 or 845-628-2166
(24 hour hotline for women and children, domestic violence, sexual abuse)
http://pnwwrc.org/ - Putnam Hospital Center (24 Hour Walk-in Crisis Intervention at E.R.)
845-279-5711 - Cove Care Center
845-225-2700 (mental health clinic)
https://covecarecenter.org/ - Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
845-225-4300 - Four Winds Hospital
1-800-528-6624
(inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment services for children, adolescents and adults) http://www.fourwindshospital.com/about_four_winds/westchester/index.html - Domestic Violence Hotline
- 1-800-942-6906
- Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-342-3720 - Center for Trauma Free Living
845-225-6704
(crisis intervention and therapy) - Arbor House
845-278-4486
(24 hour hotline, services for runaways 12 – 17 years old)
http://www.greenchimneys.org/arborhouse/ - N.A.M.I – Putnam County, NY
www.nami.org – Putnam County - The Mental Health Association in Putnam County, Inc.
www.mhaputnam.org
Veterans
SPEAK APP: VETERANS
Veterans specific Challenges:
In addition to risk factors that can apply to anyone, veterans are exposed to unique stresses such as those associated with combat, prolonged periods of deployment and reintegrating into civilian life. Although there is a lot of help available, veterans are often reluctant to seek help, believing that they can “tough it out” alone.
Warning signs and behaviors to look for in Veterans:
- Depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping
- Engaging in risky behaviors, including alcohol and substance abuse
- Frequent and dramatic mood changes
- Feelings of failure or poor performance at work or school
- Talking about feeling trapped, like there is no way out of a situation
- Seeking access to firearms, pills or other means of harm
Take any suicidal thought or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help.
What You Can Do to Help:
- Get Professional Help: do everything in your power to get your friend or loved one the expert help he or she needs. Call Putnam County Crisis Line (845-225-1222) or National Suicide Prevention Life Line (1-800-273-8255) and help them make, and get to, an appointment with a mental health professional. Or send a text message to 838255
- Be Proactive: those who are contemplating suicide often don’t believe they can be helped, so you need to be more proactive and assertive in offering assistance. Tell the suicidal person you are concerned about them and that you care.
- Remove Potential Means of Suicide: if it’s safe to do so, remove or lock-up pills, knives, razors and firearms, as soon as possible.
- Make a Safety Plan: a written Safety Plan identifies specific strategies and support mechanisms and provides the road map you, or someone you care about, needs to get through a crisis.
- For help in creating a Safety Plan, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/SafetyPlanTemplate.pdf) if you need more help, call (845-225-1222).
- Encourage Positive Lifestyle Changes: these include a healthy diet; more time spent outdoors, enhanced social and family connections, volunteer activity and more sleep and exercise.
- Continue Your Support: when the immediate crisis is over, check-in and stop by to make sure your friend or loved one continues along the road to recovery, including following up on treatment.
Courtesy of: Veterans Crisis Line (http://www.veteranscrisisline.net)
Veteran’s Crisis Hotline (Press 1 when connected) (Button) > 1-800-273-8255
Putnam County Crisis Line -845-225-1222
“IT TAKES THE COURAGE & STRENGTH OF
A WARRIOR TO ASK FOR HELP”
What to Say
SPEAK APP: WHAT TO SAY
Talking to a friend or family member about their suicidal thoughts and feelings can be extremely difficult, but if you’re unsure whether someone is suicidal, the best way to find out is to ask. You can’t make a person suicidal by showing that you care. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express his or her feelings can provide relief from loneliness and pent-up negative feelings, and may prevent a suicide attempt.
A complete guide on what to say (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm)
Key Points to Convey in Your Conversation:
- You are not in it alone. I am here for you.
- You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change
- I may not be able to understand exactly the way you feel, but I care about you and want to help.
- When you want to give up, tell yourself to hold on just a little longer.
Take any suicidal thought or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help.
Get Help Now/National > 1-800-273-8255
Get Help Now/Local Putnam County Crisis Hotline > 845-225-1222
Young Adults
SPEAK APP: YOUNG ADULTS
Young Adult Specific Challenges:
Teenagers and young adults often experience emotional turbulence and stress as they try to fit in or cope with being different. As they seek to find their way in the world, many struggle with issues of self-esteem, self-doubt and feelings of alienation. Here are some of the risk factors associated with young adults:
- Depression
- Dysfunctional home/family environment
- Substance abuse
- Hostile social or school environment, including bullying, cyber bullying and discrimination associated with race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
- Lack of a support network and sense of isolation
- History of abuse
- Recent traumatic event
- Exposure to other suicides or violent acts
Take any suicidal thought or behavior seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help.
What You Can Do to Help:
- Get Professional Help: do everything in your power to get your friend or loved one the expert help he or she needs. Call the Putnam County crisis line (1-845-225-1222) or National Suicide Prevention Life Line (800-273-8255) and help them make, and get to, an appointment with a mental health professional.
- Be Proactive: those who are contemplating suicide often don’t believe they can be helped, so you need to be more proactive and assertive in offering assistance. Tell the suicidal person you are concerned about them and that you care.
- Remove Potential Means of Suicide: if it’s safe to do so, remove or lock-up pills, knives, razors and firearms, as soon as possible.
- Make a Safety Plan: a written Safety Plan identifies specific strategies, and supports mechanisms and provides the road map you, or someone you care about, needs to get through a crisis. For help in creating a Safety Plan, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/SafetyPlanTemplate.pdf) if you need more help, call Putnam County Crisis Hotline (845-225-1222).
- Encourage Positive Lifestyle Changes: these include a healthy diet; time spent outdoors, enhanced social and family connections, volunteer activity and more sleep and exercise.
- Continue Your Support: when the immediate crisis is over, check-in and stop by to make sure your friend or loved one continues along the road to recovery, including following up on treatment.
Courtesy of: HELPGUIDE.ORG (http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm)
Get Help Now/National > 1-800-273-8255
Get Help Now/Local Putnam County Crisis Hotline > 845-225-1222
Disclaimer:
The content in this app is for informational purposes only and should NOT be substituted for professional diagnosis and treatment. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing symptoms of suicide or are contemplating suicide, seek immediate professional attention.