Suicide prevention methodology teaches warning signs

ROOSEVELT — Teen suicide is the third leading cause of adolescent deaths, according the National Mental Health Association. But there are methods designed to help prevent suicide when signs are recognized.

Kathryn Larson, a CCD and confirmation instructor at Saint Helen Parish in Roosevelt, has worked with children, families and people in extreme crisis for many years. She realized the tragedy of suicide while working with youth as a clinical therapist. She has a master’s degree in community agency counseling and has worked in the school system as a therapist with at-risk children. Larson also is a member of the Diocesan Commission for People with Disabilities.

"Working with children and particularly teenagers, I became aware that children in crisis can’t always see tomorrow, and they think suicide will ease the pain today," Larson said. "A vulnerable age group is 14- to 15-year olds; they think they can resolve anything."

Larson counsels parents and care-takers to be cautious when a child no longer seems depressed or reserved. "When a young person suffers from depression or anxiety and then seems calm, but suddenly commits suicide, it’s because that person has already reached a decision," she said.

Suicide prevention begins with parental support, although not all depression can be prevented. Parents can praise their child’s skills, promote participation in organized activities, encourage physical activity and talk to their children. One of the early warning signs of teen depression is isolation. "Don’t leave kids alone emotionally," said Larson.

Gary Horenkamp, a licensed professional counselor and program director of Outreach Resource Center in Ogden, is involved in an internationally recognized methodology program designed to teach lay people how to intervene and prevent suicide.

"QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a methodology that teaches the average citizen how to recognize warning signs for suicide and to intervene in a fairly direct way," said Horenkamp. "The first step is to convince someone not to take any action, and secondly, to connect the individual to resources that deal with whatever problem is leading them to consider suicide as an option. If the problem is imminent, refer them to the closest hospital emergency room or county mental health organization, even if that means calling the police. These are safe places where the individual can be stabilized until a mental health professional can connect with them."

On average, 340 Utah residents die, 1,040 are hospitalized and 2,650 are treated in emergency departments because of suicide and attempted suicide each year, according to the Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program.

"Typically Utah has been in the top 10 states over the last 10 years among the western states and Alaska," said Horenkamp, "There is not a definitive answer, but there are theories. The first theory is that rural areas tend to have higher suicide rates per 100,000 than urban areas and the West, with the exception of California, is largely rural with sparsely populated areas. The more rural a state is, the less you will find mental health resources, and given that depression and substance abuse are two significant factors in suicide rates, if people don’t have the availability of counselors, psychologists or physicians, they don’t have a resource when the issues arise.

"The West tends to have a higher than average gun ownership and the firearm is the most frequent means of a person completing a suicide," Horenkamp said. "The West tends to be more conservative, and that works against people who are depressed because they might fear the stigma attached and not admit they are depressed."