©2011 national association of social workers. all rights reserved. 1 adolescent depression and...

©2011 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. 1

Adolescent Depression and Suicide: What Social Workers Need to Know

Sharon S. Issurdatt, DCSW, ACSW, LCSW

NASW Social Work Practice Department

May 12, 2011

Overview

• Recognize symptoms of depression and risk factors for suicide in adolescents.

• Understand the dynamics of bullying and how to work with children involved.

• Learn how to manage a suicidal adolescent.


Poll:

How many social workers participating today feel confident managing a suicidal adolescent?


SuicideIn 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24 (MIMH, 2010).


SuicideHomicidesUnintentional Accidents

Statistics • Bullied teens are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, more likely to

skip school and more likely to be depressed (Health and Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS Policy on Bullying and Teen Suicide, 2010).

• More than 90% of people who die by suicide have depression, other mental disorders or a substance-abuse disorder (National Institute on Mental Health, 2010).


According to a 2009 report by NASW:

• Young people who acknowledge using alcohol or illicit substances evidence a higher likelihood of committing suicide.

• More than three-fourths of adolescent suicide deaths are associated with mental illness.

• There is one suicide for every 100 to 200 attempts among 15 – 24 year-old young adults.


NASW 2009 report continued…

• Suicide occurs 33 percent more often than homicide in the general population.

• State governments spend about $900 million dollars per year on medical costs associated with completed suicides, and suicide attempts by individuals up to 20 years old.


Who is at risk?

Research has shown that young females are more likely to ATTEMPT suicide while young males are

more likely to COMMIT suicide.


The National Adolescent Health Information Center’s 2006 Fact Sheet on Suicide of Adolescents and Young Adults

• American Indian/Alaskan Native male adolescents have the highest suicide rate.

• Female Hispanic adolescents are more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.


The National Adolescent Health Information Center’s 2006 Fact Sheet on Suicide of Adolescents and Young Adults continued…

• Suicide rates increase dramatically between early adolescence and young adulthood.

• The suicide rates for young adult males have fallen sharply in the past decade.


Risk Factors and Symptoms


Characteristics of Bullying Behavior:


Bullying is different from normal conflict.


Cyber bullying

Stop Bullying Now (2010) defines cyber bullying as bullying through the use of the internet, mobile phones, or other forms of cyber technology.

Can be in the form of mean text messages, emails, or instant messages, posting obscene pictures or messages in blogs or websites, including social

networking sites.


Who is at risk of being bullied?


Every student has the risk of being bullied during their school years.

Students often experience participating in bullying behaviors AND being the person who is bullied.

Students often most at risk:

• Nearly one-fourth of students in elementary through high school have reported that they have been harassed or bullied on school property because of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

• More than 91% of LGBT students say they hear homophobic slurs or expressions frequently or often.

• More than 64% of LGBT students say they feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.


Responses to bullying behaviors are often guided by:


Responses to bullying behavior are often:


Responses that have been proven effective in managing bullying behaviors


Adolescent Depression and Suicide: What Can Social Workers Do?


Essential Methods

Take every suicide warning seriously.

Manage suicide risk with other professionals.


Resources to Know

• American Educational Research Association has conducted research regarding keeping schools safe and preventing youth violence. www.aera.net

• National Center for Youth Issues addresses social, emotional and psychological dimensions of child development and offers information regarding bullying and school violence on their website. www.ncyi.org

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, 24 hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center. There is a network of 140 crisis centers nationwide. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org


http://www.aera.net/

http://www.ncyi.org/

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Resources to Know

• Stop Bullying Now is a campaign through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that educates parents, children and teachers about bullying and what can be done to stop it. www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov

• Issurdatt, S. (2010). A shift in approach: Addressing bullying in schools. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

• Issurdatt, S. (2011). Adolescent Depression and Suicide Risk: How social workers can make a difference. Washington, DC: NASW Press


http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/

Question and Answer

Session


©2011 national association of social workers. all rights reserved. 1 adolescent depression and...

Documents

suicide of adolescents

suicide rates

suicide attempts

teen suicide

highest suicide rate

young males

young females

young adulthood