Looking to do a Suicide Awareness Presentation for your community,school or work? Let us help! We gathered the facts & information from various nonprofit suicide awareness organizations and made a powerpoint you can download for FREE! Link below: www.secondchanc4.wix.com/secondchance

1. Suicide Awareness
Saving One Life At A Time

2. Warning signs
•Talking about suicide
Any talk about suicide, dying, or self-harm, such as "I wish I hadn't been born," "If I see you again..." and "I'd be better off
dead."
•Seeking out lethal means
Seeking access to guns, pills, knives, or other objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.
•No hope for the future
Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and being trapped ("There's no way out"). Belief that things will never get better
or change.
•Self-loathing, self-hatred
Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, shame, and self-hatred. Feeling like a burden ("Everyone would be better off without
me").
•Getting affairs in order
Making out a will. Giving away prized possessions. Making arrangements for family members.
•Saying goodbye
Unusual or unexpected visits or calls to family and friends. Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again.
•Withdrawing from others
Withdrawing from friends and family. Increasing social isolation. Desire to be left alone.
•Self-destructive behavior
Increased alcohol or drug use, reckless driving, unsafe sex. Taking unnecessary risks as if they have a "death wish.“

3. Causes of suicide
Negative life experiences that may cause depression, and some other causes for depression, include:
 Feeling that things will never "get better."
 Feeling helpless.
 Serious legal problems, such as criminal prosecution or incarceration.
 Feeling "taken advantage of."
 Inability to deal with a perceived "humiliating" situation.
 Inability to deal with a perceived "failure."
 Alcohol abuse.
 Drug abuse.
 A feeling of not being accepted by family, friends, or society.
 A horrible disappointment.
 Feeling like one has not lived up to his or her high expectations or those of another.
 Bullying. (Adults, as well as children, can be bullied.)
 Low self-esteem.
 Chronic physical pain.
 Intense emotional pain.

4. Misconceptions of suicide
•FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide
threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how
casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
•FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or
despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
•FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last
moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the
pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.

5. Suicide Prevention
 Get professional help. Do everything in your power to get a suicidal person the help he or she needs. Call a
crisis line for advice and referrals. Encourage the person to see a mental health professional, help locate a
treatment facility, or take them to a doctor's appointment.
 Follow-up on treatment. If the doctor prescribes medication, make sure your friend or loved one takes it as
directed. Be aware of possible side effects and be sure to notify the physician if the person seems to be
getting worse.
 Encourage positive lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and getting out in the sun or
into nature for at least 30 minutes each day. Exercise is also extremely important as it releases endorphins,
relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being.
 Make a safety plan. Help the person develop a set of steps he or she promises to follow during a suicidal
crisis. Also include contact numbers for the person's doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family
members who will help in an emergency.
 Remove potential means of suicide, such as pills, knives, razors, or firearms. If the person is likely to take an
overdose, keep medications locked away or give out only as the person needs them.

6. Coping with Suicide

Step 1: Promise not to do anything right now.
Even though you’re in a lot of pain right now, give yourself some distance between thoughts and action. Make a promise
to yourself: "I will wait 24 hours and won't do anything drastic during that time." Or, wait a week.
 Step 2: Avoid drugs and Alcohol.
Suicidal thoughts can become even stronger if you have taken drugs or alcohol. It is important to not use nonprescription
drugs or alcohol when you feel hopeless or are thinking about suicide.
 Step 3: Make you're home safe.
Remove things you could use to hurt yourself, such as pills, knives, razors, or firearms. If you are unable to do so, go to a
place where you can feel safe. If you are thinking of taking an overdose, give your medicines to someone who can return
them to you one day at a time as you need them
 Step 4: Take hope- people DO get through this.
Even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now manage to survive these feelings. Take hope in this. There is a very
good chance that you are going to live through these feelings, no matter how much self-loathing, hopelessness, or
isolation you are currently experiencing. Just give yourself the time needed and don’t try to go it alone.
 Step 5: Don't keep these suicidal feelings to yourself.
Many of us have found that the first step to coping with suicidal thoughts and feelings is to share them with someone we
trust. It may be a friend, a therapist, a member of the clergy, a teacher, a family doctor, a coach, or an experienced
counselor at the end of a helpline. Find someone you trust and let them know how bad things are. Don’t let fear, shame, or
embarrassment prevent you from seeking help. Just talking about how you got to this point in your life can release a lot of
the pressure that’s building up and help you find a way to cope.

7. Recovering from Suicide Thoughts
 . Identify triggers or situations that lead to feelings of despair or generate suicidal thoughts, such as an anniversary of a loss,
alcohol, or stress from relationships. Find ways to avoid these places, people, or situations.
 2. Take care of yourself. Eat right, don’t skip meals, and get plenty of sleep. Exercise is also key: it releases endorphins, relieves
stress, and promotes emotional well-being.
 3. Build your support network. Surround yourself with positive influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. The
more you’re invested in other people and your community, the more you have to lose—which will help you stay positive and on
the recovery track.
 4. Develop new activities and interests. Find new hobbies, volunteer activities, or work that gives you a sense of meaning and
purpose. When you’re doing things you find fulfilling, you’ll feel better about yourself and feelings of despair are less likely to
return.
 5. Learn to deal with stress in a healthy way. Find healthy ways to keep your stress levels in check, including exercising, meditating,
using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises, and challenging self-defeating thoughts.

8. Need Help? STOP SUICIDE ISN’T THE
ANSWER!
Need to talk to someone right now?
 No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to
keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained
counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.
 When you dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255), you are calling the crisis center in the Lifeline
network closest to your location. After you call, you will hear a message saying you
have reached the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You will hear hold music while
your call is being routed. You will be helped by a skilled, trained crisis worker who will
listen to your problems and will tell you about mental health services in your area.
Your call is confidential and free.

9. Suicide Statistics 2012
 According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention ,Suicide is a serious public health problem
that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. While its causes are
complex and determined by multiple factors, the goal of suicide prevention is simple: Reduce factors
that increase risk (i.e. risk factors) and increase factors that promote resilience (i.e. protective factors).
Ideally, prevention addresses all levels of influence: individual, relationship, community, and societal.
Effective prevention strategies are needed to promote awareness of suicide and encourage a
commitment to social change.

10. Resources
 www.outofthedarkness.org
This website promotes the awareness of suicide by raising money and doing charity walks
 www.afsp.org
The National Foundation for Suicide. This website is one of the best websites to find suicide facts and tips.
 www.save.org
Educate your mind and get the scoop on suicide awareness www.suicideology.orgA website that talks about signs , symptoms ,
causes and treatment of suicide.
 http://www.suicide.org/suicide-prevention-in-the-military.html
Suicide information for people in the military. http://www.suicideispreventable.org/Learn the signs of suicide
 http://www.teensuicideprevention.org/
A website dedicated to educating teens about suicide awareness
 http://www.suicide.org/college-student-suicide.html
college can be tough suicide is not the answer here are some tips.
 http://www.secondchanc4.xix.com/secondchance
A website made in dedication to a step sister who took her life in 2008. Website has lots of information pertaining to suicide including
suicide warning signs , prevention, recovery, statistics, a forum you can post on and a bi-monthly newsletter.

11. Cited
 Information gathered from and belongs to http://www.help.org
 Information is for educational use only

12. THANKS FOR READING!