September is National Suicide Prevention Month. September 10 is Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day. This is the newsletter written for NAMI of Berks County, Pennsylvania for Suicide Prevention Month.

1. RichardGardner Summer2016
SeptemberisNational SuicidePreventionMonth.September10 isWorldwide SuicidePreventionDay.
Suicide ispreventable.IknowasI am someone whohaswalked withsuicidealarge portionof my life. Most
suicide iscircumstantial.Itiscausedbyan intense life crisiswhichwillpassif givenenoughtime.Crisesmaybe
the breakupof an importantinterpersonalrelationship,lossof ajob,bankruptcy,arrest,deathof a spouse or
otherclose person, retirement,achronicprogressivelydebilitatingdisease andothercrisiseventsthatare as
diverse ashumansare.Helpingaperson getthroughthe immediatecrisis usuallyprevents theirsuicide.
A commonmythis that whensomeone isdetermined tocomplete suicide,itwill happen andnothingcanbe
done to stopit.The truth isthat veryfewpeople are determined enough totake theirlife. Insteadtheyuse an
attemptedsuicide asacatalystto make positive changesintheirlives. Bythe numbers,@60% of suicide
attemptsare onetime non-fatalevents.Of the remaining40% onlyone quarteror 10% of the people who
originallyattemptedsuicideevercomplete them.
Guns are the mostcommonmethodof suicide,accountingforoverhalf of all completed suicides. In2013 there
were 21,175 gunsuicides outof a total 41,149 suicides.Gunsgive few secondchancesastheyare at least85%
successful.Apparentlywomenattemptsuicidemore often,butmenare muchmore successful because they
have more access to the mostlethal method, guns.The largestsuicidecohortisyoungmen.The secondlargest
ismenof retirementage. Men,especiallyoldermen, withnospouse orsignificantotherintheirlivesare the
mostvulnerable.
The act of suicide can bestbe preventedby removingandif necessarydestroyingthe suicide methodaperson
has accessto. The more barrierswhichcan be put ina person’slife,evensmall annoyingones,the lessapta
personisto suicide because itgivesthe persontimetothink,recoveremotionally andmove awayfromthe
suicidal impulse. Thismaymeandumpingbottlesof medicationintoatoilet,especiallyacetaminophen(Tylenol),
removingsharpobjectsfromimmediate access,pouringalcoholdownthe drain, etc. ….Mostly, itmeans
removingguns froma home andmakingsure the suicidal personhasnoaccessto firearms,includingthe ability
to purchase one. The PennsylvaniaState Police hasaprogram for people tovoluntarilyturningunsfor
destruction if youcontacttheirHarrisburgheadquarters.We shotoff all our ammunitionata state gun range,
and then putthe empty gunsina bonfire whichdestroyedenoughpartsto permanently disable them.
Justhavinga spouse,companionorevenlivingwithotherpeople isabighelpinreducingsuicide because
people provideimportantemotional inputintoaperson’slife andare aroundto monitorthe personat risk.
Havinga dog or similarinteractivepetisanotherimportantwaytoreduce suicide risk. Learninghow tohave
healthyinterpersonalrelationships,healthy wholefoodsdiet,dailyexercise andapurpose inlife suchasfound
throughvolunteeringorinvolvementwithfamilyare otherwaystoreduce suicide risk.
Some suicide ispathological,suchasI deal withdue tobeingbipolar2. Asa bipolar2,the potential forsuicideis
a baseline condition.Itispartof mygenesinthe same way as havingblue eyesandblondhair.Isee itas the
otherside of my giftsandintrinsicallylinkedwiththem.There isnothingIcando to eliminate the suicidal drive
frommy life thatdoesnotdestroymycreativity.However,Icanlearnto live withit. Periodsof creativeactivity,
especiallyintense onestendtoleadtoperiodsof depression.The more intensethe creative periodis,the
deeperthe potentialdepressionafterward. There isonlysomuchenergyina life.Afteracreative periodtime is

2. neededtorebuildthe energyusedduringthe creativeperiod before movingintoanothercreativeperiod.
Knowingandworkingwiththishelpsme remainhealthyandsuicidefree.
https://www.thetrace.org/2015/11/gun-suicides-mental-illness-statistics/ wasthe source forsome of the
informationandideas.
An almostinvisiblegroupathighriskfor suicide whichwe needtobe aware of are people whohave
experiencedchildhoodsex abuse,especiallymales.InPennsylvaniawe have twolarge groupsof people who
were abusedas childrenona continual basisoverthe last30 yearsbecause the institutionsprotectedthe
abusers.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2767398/
A newsrelease fromthe Universityof Bathreportsona studyshowingthatsexual abuse inchildhoodi ncreases
the likelihoodof suicidalideationinmenbyupto 10 times.
https://suicidepreventioncommunity.wordpress.com/?s=childhood+sex+abuse
FAST FACTS
AccessedfromCDCFast Facts, Nov.2, 2015 for the calendaryear2013
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/Vitalstatsonline.htm
All suicides
•Numberof deaths:41,149
•Deathsper 100,000 population:13.0
•Cause of deathrank: 10
Firearmsuicides
•Numberof deaths:21,175
•Deathsper 100,000 population:6.7
Suffocationsuicides
•Numberof deaths:10,062
•Deathsper 100,000 population:3.2
Poisoningsuicides
•Numberof deaths:6,637
•Deathsper 100,000 population:2.1
All homicides
•Numberof deaths:16,121
•Deathsper 100,000 population:5.1
Firearmhomicides
•Numberof deaths:11,208
•Deathsper 100,000 population:3.5
Suicide signsforpeople withbipolar:
For people giftedwithbipolarlike myself the signsof impendingsuicideinclude 1.) purchase of a gun,2.)
overstockingeitheroverthe countermedicationsorprescriptionmedications,3.) beinginamixedstate - a
combinationof manicanddepressed(beenthere) and4.) lossof a significantrelationshipthroughdeathora
break-up.
Of these,purchase of agun and overstockingmedicationsgive the personthe toolstocommitsuicide. Beingin
a mixedstate andthe lossof a significantrelationship oftensetthe stage fora potential suicide.
On a slightly differenttopic,we needtobe waryof overmedicatingpeople topreventsuicide. Teachingcoping
and relationshipskillswithself-knowledgeof whenasuicidal episode isbeginningtomanifestitself are essential
inpreventingsuicide andmuchmore importantthanmedicatingthe person.Alongwiththis,familyandfriends
needtolearnto recognize earlywhenasuicidal episode isbeginningtomanifest andhow todeal withthe
personto eithercutoff the episode ordecrease the possibilityof suicide.

3. Othersuicide warningsigns basedon Suicide PreventionResource Center BestPractice Registry(SPRC&AFSP):
• Threateningtohurtor kill self.
• Lookingforwaysto kill self (e.g.,seekingaccesstopills,guns,etc.).
• Talkingor writingaboutdeath orsuicide.
• Experiencingrage/uncontrolledangerorseekingrevenge.
• Actingrecklessorengaginginriskyactivities.
• Feelinghopelessortrapped.
• Increasingdrugor alcohol use.
• Withdrawingfromfriendsorfamily.
• Havingdramatic changesin mood.
• Feelinglike there isnopurpose inlifeorreasonforliving.
• Sleepingtoomuchor too little.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide Month Events
September7,2016: QuestionPersuadeRefer(QPR) SuicidePrevention training
1:00 -4:00 PM
LebanonCountyMH/ID/EI220 E. Lehman Street,Lebanon,PA 17046
Call (717) 274-3415 to register.
September10:World Suicide PreventionDay
“Project22” at a place andtime to be determined
Lighta candle at 8:00 p.m.in remembrance of familyand/orfriendswhohave completedasuicide
September13:
“The Bridge”,the storyof suicidesandthe people affectedatthe GoldenGate Bridge inSan Franciscoduring
2004
6:00 p.m.
CedarCrest HighSchool 115 E EvergreenRd,Lebanon,PA 17042
September16,2016: MH First AidTraining
8:00 – 5:00 PM
LebanonCountyMH/ID/EI220 E. Lehman Street,Lebanon,PA 17046
Call (717) 274-3415 to register.
September20:
KevinHines
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Locationto be determined
September29,2016: Remembrance Ceremony
6:00 – 7:30 PM
The Nature Barn at Stoever’sDamParkLebanon,PA
The National Suicide PreventionLifeline
If you or someone youknowisconsideringsuicide,call 1-800-273-8255 now!The National Suicide Prevention
Lifelinehastrainedcounselorsavailable24 hoursa day, 7 days a week.The Lifeline isfree andconfidential.You

4. can call aboutan issue you’re facingorif you’re concernedabouta friendorfamilymember.If you’re struggling
or concerned,please call.Nocall istoosmall or unimportant.
Suicide PreventionResource Centerhttp://www.sprc.org/
SPRCis the nation’sonlyfederallysupportedresource centerdevotedtoadvancingthe NationalStrategy for
Suicide Prevention.Theyprovide technical assistance,training,andmaterialstoincrease the knowledgeand
expertiseof suicide preventionpractitionersandotherprofessionalsservingpeople atriskforsuicide.Theyalso
promote collaborationamongavarietyof organizationsthatplayarole in developingthe fieldof suicide
prevention.
American Foundationfor Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org/
The AmericanFoundationforSuicide Preventionhasbeenatthe forefrontof a wide range of suicide prevention
initiatives –eachdesignedtoreduce lossof life fromsuicide.Theyare investingingroundbreakingresearch,
neweducational campaigns,innovativedemonstrationprojectsandcritical policywork.Andtheyare expanding
theirassistance topeople,whoseliveshave beenaffectedbysuicide,reachingouttooffersupportandoffering
opportunitiestobecome involvedinprevention.
American Associationof Suicidologyhttp://www.suicidology.org/home
AASisa membershiporganizationforall those involvedinsuicide preventionandintervention,ortouchedby
suicide.AASisaleaderinthe advancementof scientificandprogrammaticeffortsinsuicide preventionthrough
research,education andtraining,the developmentof standardsandresources,andsurvivorsupportservices.
Servicesfor TeensAt Risk (STAR Center) http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/
ServicesforTeensAtRisk(STAR-Center) isacomprehensive research,treatment,andtrainingcenter.Funded
by the State of Pennsylvania'sGeneral Assemblyin1986 to addressadolescentsuicideanddepression,the
program providesindividual assessmentandtreatmenttoteensthatare experiencing depressionand
suicidality. Theyalsoprovide communityeducationservicesaboutdepressionandsuicidalitytoschools,social
service agencies,churchesandotherorganizationsthatrequestthem.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health ServicesAdministration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA providesleadershipanddevotesit’sresources –programs,policies,informationanddata,contracts
and grants– towardhelpingthe nationacton the knowledge that:behavioral healthisessential forhealth;
preventionworks;treatmentiseffective;andpeople recoverfrommental healthandsubstance use disorders.
Suicide Prevention Resources For Schools
*** Please note thatthe resourceslistedhere are free of charge. There are manymore excellentresourcesfor
minimal cost.
General Information(manywithwebinarsessions)
PA Youth Suicide PreventionInitiative http://payspi.org/
Mission-The PennsylvaniaYouthSuicidePreventionInitiativeis amulti-systemcollaborationtoreduce youth
suicide.
Vision-Youthsuicide preventionwillbe embracedandincorporatedintothe fabricof everycommunityin
Pennsylvaniatoaddressthe social andemotional needsof youthatriskand survivorsof suicide.
Toolkit for High Schools http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA12-4669
Assistshighschoolsandschool districtsindesigningandimplementingstrategiestopreventsuicide and
promote behavioral health.Includestoolstoimplementamulti-facetedsuicide preventionprogramthat
respondstothe needsandculturesof students. ReleasedinJune 2012.

5. American Foundationfor Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org/
The AmericanFoundationforSuicide Preventionhasbeenatthe forefrontof a wide range of suicide prevention
initiatives –eachdesignedtoreduce lossof life fromsuicide.Theyare investingingroundbreakingresearch,
neweducational campaigns,innovativedemonstrationprojectsandcritical policywork. Andtheyare expanding
theirassistance topeople,whoseliveshave beenaffectedbysuicide,reachingouttooffersupportandoffering
opportunitiestobecome involvedinprevention.
American Associationof Suicidologyhttp://www.suicidology.org/home
AASisa membershiporganizationforall those involvedinsuicide preventionandintervention,ortouchedby
suicide.AASisaleaderinthe advancementof scientificandprogrammaticeffortsinsuicide preventionthrough
research,educationandtraining,the developmentof standardsandresources,andsurvivorsupportservices.
Servicesfor TeensAt Risk (STAR Center) http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/
Servicesfor TeensAt Risk (STAR-Center) isa comprehensive research,treatment, andtrainingcenter.Funded
by the State of Pennsylvania'sGeneral Assemblyin1986 to addressadolescentsuicideanddepression,the
program providesindividual assessmentandtreatmenttoteensthatare experiencingdepressionand
suicidality. Theyalsoprovide communityeducationservicesaboutdepressionandsuicidalitytoschools,social
service agencies,churchesandotherorganizationsthatrequestthem.
The Trevor Project http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
The Trevor Projectisthe leadingnational organizationprovidingcrisisinterventionandsuicide prevention
servicestolesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,andquestioningyouth.
Comprehensive School Guide YouthSuicide PreventionSchool BasedGuide http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu/
The Youth Suicide PreventionSchool-BasedGuide isdesignedtoprovideaccurate,user-friendlyinformation.
The Guide is nota programbut a tool that providesaframeworkfor schoolstoassesstheirexistingorproposed
suicide preventionefforts(throughaseriesof checklists) andprovidesresourcesandinformationthatschool
administratorscanuse to enhance oradd to theirexistingprogram.First,checklistscanbe completedtohelp
evaluate the adequacyof the schools'suicide preventionprograms.Second,informationisofferedinaseriesof
issue briefscorrespondingtoa specificchecklist.Eachbrief offersarationale forthe importance of the specific
topictogetherwitha brief overview of the keypoints.The briefsalsoofferspecificstrategiesthathave proven
to workin reducingthe incidenceof suicide,withreferencesthatschoolsmaythenexploreingreaterdetail. A
resource sectionwithhelpful linksisalsoincluded.The Guide providesinformationtoschoolstoassistthemin
the developmentof aframeworktoworkin partnershipwithcommunityresourcesandfamilies.
School PolicyModel School Policyon Suicide Prevention –
https://afsp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Model-Policy_FINAL.pdf
WrittenbyAmericanFoundationforSuicide Prevention,National Associationof School Psychologists,American
School CounselorAssociation,andThe TrevorProject. Thismodular,adaptable documentwill helpeducators
and school administratorsimplementcomprehensivesuicidepreventionpoliciesincommunitiesnationwide.
STAR CenterSample School Suicide PreventionPolicyandProcedure -
http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/Files/PDF/Sample%20Suicide%20Policy%20-
%20Suicide%20Prevention%20and%20Postvention%20-%20REVISED%209%2015%2014%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Training for School Staff Societyfor PreventionofTeenSuicide http://www.sptsusa.org/
The missionof the Societyforthe Preventionof TeenSuicide istoreduce the numberof youthsuicidesand
attemptedsuicidesbyencouragingoverall publicawarenessthroughthe developmentand promotionof
educational trainingprogramsforteens,parentsandeducators.

6. The free,interactive seriesMakingEducatorsPartnersinSuicide Preventionisdesignedtobe completedatthe
viewer'sownpace. Pennsylvaniaschool staff requiringAct48 hours maysubmitthe certificate of completionto
c-paschool@pa.gov orfax itto 717-783-4790, alongwithyour Dept.of EducationProfessionalIDnumber,to
have these hourssubmitted.
17 minute videoforparents –schools/ taskforce http://www.sptsusa.org/
More Than Sad Program http://www.afsp.org/preventing-suicide/our-education-and-prevention-
programs/programs-for-professionals/more-than-sad
The More Than Sad Program of the AmericanFoundationforSuicide preventionprovideseducationabout
factors thatput youthat risk forsuicide,inparticulardepressionandothermental disorders. The program
includestwosetsof materials-one forteensandone forteachersandschool personnel.Instructionalmaterials
accompanythe More ThanSad Program,includingapowerpointpresentation -
http://www.morethansad.org/materialspts.html
American Foundationfor Suicide Prevention(http://www.afsp.org/) - PA AFSPchapterswill make the “More
Than Sad” DVD available free toall highandmiddle schoolsinPA thatrequestone.
Contact PatGaineyto receive yourcopy.
PatriciaGainey,Regional Director,American FoundationforSuicide Prevention,GreaterPhiladelphiaRegional
Office3535 Market Street,Suite 4047Philadelphia,PA 19104; Office:(215)-746-7256
Suicide PreventionResource Center- Best Practice Registry http://www.sprc.org/bpr
The purpose of the BestPracticesRegistry(BPR) istoidentify,review,anddisseminate informationaboutbest
practicesthat addressspecificobjectivesof the NationalStrategy forSuicidePrevention.The BPRisa
collaborative projectof the Suicide PreventionResource Center (SPRC) andthe AmericanFoundationforSuicide
Prevention (AFSP).Itisfundedbythe Substance Abuse andMental HealthServicesAdministration (SAMHSA).
Many of the bestpractice resourceslistedhave tobe purchased.
Material for Students
More Than Sad Program http://www.afsp.org/preventing-suicide/our-education-and-prevention-
programs/programs-for-professionals/more-than-sad
The More Than Sad Program of the AmericanFoundationforSuicide preventionprovideseducationabout
factors thatput youthat risk forsuicide,inparticulardepressionandothermental disorders. The program
includestwosetsof materialsone forteensandone forteachersandschool personnel.Instructionalmaterials
to accompanyMore Than Sad Program,includingapowerpointpresentation -
http://www.morethansad.org/materialspts.html
American Foundationfor Suicide Prevention(http://www.afsp.org/ ) - PA AFSPchapterswill make the “More
Than Sad” DVD available free toall highandmiddle schoolsinPA thatrequestone.
Contact Pat Gaineyto receive your copy.
PatriciaGainey,Regional Director,AmericanFoundationforSuicide Prevention,GreaterPhiladelphiaRegional
Office3535 Market Street,Suite 4047Philadelphia,PA 19104; Office:(215)-746-7256
Suicide PreventionResource CenterBestPractice Registry http://www.sprc.org/bpr
The purpose of the BestPracticesRegistry(BPR) istoidentify,review,anddisseminate informationaboutbest
practicesthat addressspecificobjectivesof the NationalStrategy forSuicidePrevention.The BPRisa
collaborative projectof the Suicide PreventionResource Center (SPRC) andthe AmericanFoundationforSuicide
Prevention (AFSP).Itisfundedbythe Substance Abuse andMental HealthServicesAdministration (SAMHSA).
Many of the bestpractice resourceslistedhave tobe purchased.
WisconsinDepartmentof PublicInstruction

7. The curriculumisnot SPRC listed,butdoesuse elementsof SOSandLifelines.
http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_suicideprev mainpage
Linkto Studentprograms: http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_spstudentprograms
Linkto Curriculum: http://dpi.wi.gov/schools-educators
PostventionAssistance
Servicesfor TeensAt Risk (STAR Center) http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/
Thisis a comprehensive research,treatment,andtrainingcenter.Fundedbythe State of Pennsylvania'sGeneral
Assemblyin1986 to addressadolescentsuicideanddepression,the programprovidesindividual assessment
and treatmenttoteensthatare experiencingdepressionandsuicidality.Theyalsoprovide community
educationservicesaboutdepressionandsuicidalitytoschools,social service agencies,churchesandother
organizationsthatrequestthem. AnyPA school cancontact the STAR-Centerforassistance inthe aftermathof a
suicide orothertragic loss. STAR-Centercanalsoprovide in-service trainingandresource materialsonavariety
of mental health relatedtopics.
Suicide PreventionResource CenterPostventionToolkit
http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools.pdf
Thistoolkitisdesignedtoassistschoolsinthe aftermathof asuicide (orotherdeath) inthe school community.It
ismeantto serve as a practical resource for schoolsfacingreal-timecrisestohelpthemdetermine what todo,
when,andhow.The toolkitreflectsconsensusrecommendationsdevelopedinconsultationwithadiverse group
of national experts,includingschool-basedpersonnel,clinicians,researchers,andcrisisresponse professionals.
It incorporatesrelevant existingmaterial andresearchfindingsaswell asreferences,templates,andlinksto
additional informationandassistance.