[Music] what do we do for people who are
what do we do for people who are
what do we do for people who are thinking about suicide
thinking about suicide
thinking about suicide this is a question that I asked my
this is a question that I asked my
this is a question that I asked my professor in a graduate school
professor in a graduate school
professor in a graduate school psychology course I was 23 bright eyed
psychology course I was 23 bright eyed
psychology course I was 23 bright eyed eager to learn but also terrified at the
eager to learn but also terrified at the
eager to learn but also terrified at the idea of having to sit across the room
idea of having to sit across the room
idea of having to sit across the room from someone in the future who was
from someone in the future who was
from someone in the future who was thinking of taking their life I had seen
thinking of taking their life I had seen
thinking of taking their life I had seen the client counselor interaction play
the client counselor interaction play
the client counselor interaction play out on way too many movies TV shows but
out on way too many movies TV shows but
out on way too many movies TV shows but I never really saw a positive outcome my
I never really saw a positive outcome my
I never really saw a positive outcome my professor looked at me puzzled and asked
professor looked at me puzzled and asked
professor looked at me puzzled and asked me to repeat the question so I did also
me to repeat the question so I did also
me to repeat the question so I did also puzzled because I figured that question
puzzled because I figured that question
puzzled because I figured that question couldn’t get any clearer what do we do
couldn’t get any clearer what do we do
couldn’t get any clearer what do we do for people who were thinking about
for people who were thinking about
for people who were thinking about suicide his response made me sink into
suicide his response made me sink into
suicide his response made me sink into my seat if people are going to kill
my seat if people are going to kill
my seat if people are going to kill themselves they’re gonna kill themselves
themselves they’re gonna kill themselves
themselves they’re gonna kill themselves and he continued to lecture I thought to
and he continued to lecture I thought to
and he continued to lecture I thought to myself how many other professionals in
myself how many other professionals in
myself how many other professionals in the field share in this sentiment and
the field share in this sentiment and
the field share in this sentiment and upon graduation and securing my very
upon graduation and securing my very
upon graduation and securing my very first job I realized that there were
first job I realized that there were
first job I realized that there were many professionals who held on to this
many professionals who held on to this
many professionals who held on to this belief but not all it’s driving force
belief but not all it’s driving force
belief but not all it’s driving force fear that fear is most likely due to
fear that fear is most likely due to
fear that fear is most likely due to feeling unprepared researchers and
feeling unprepared researchers and
feeling unprepared researchers and studies have shown us that 25% of social
studies have shown us that 25% of social
studies have shown us that 25% of social workers in the field reported having any
workers in the field reported having any
workers in the field reported having any formalized training and suicide
formalized training and suicide
formalized training and suicide prevention yet 85% of the same social
prevention yet 85% of the same social
prevention yet 85% of the same social workers reported working with clients
workers reported working with clients
workers reported working with clients who are thinking about suicide regularly
who are thinking about suicide regularly
who are thinking about suicide regularly what if they came across similar
what if they came across similar
what if they came across similar professors that I had and similar
professors that I had and similar
professors that I had and similar professionals in the field and how does
professionals in the field and how does
professionals in the field and how does that impact their ability to care for
that impact their ability to care for
that impact their ability to care for those in crisis with the current rates
those in crisis with the current rates
those in crisis with the current rates that we have in suicide and the 2015
that we have in suicide and the 2015
that we have in suicide and the 2015 suicide deaths as being over 44,000 in
suicide deaths as being over 44,000 in
suicide deaths as being over 44,000 in the US and with our youths as suicide
the US and with our youths as suicide
the US and with our youths as suicide being the second leading cause of death
being the second leading cause of death
being the second leading cause of death can we really afford to still maintain
can we really afford to still maintain
can we really afford to still maintain this belief that we can’t intervene and
this belief that we can’t intervene and
this belief that we can’t intervene and save a life absolutely not
save a life absolutely not
save a life absolutely not we simply need a shift in the ways that
we simply need a shift in the ways that
we simply need a shift in the ways that we think about suicide prevention into
we think about suicide prevention into
we think about suicide prevention into one of continuous support our current
one of continuous support our current
one of continuous support our current suicide prevention methods are good and
suicide prevention methods are good and
suicide prevention methods are good and they’re more following along with them
they’re more following along with them
they’re more following along with them immediate response emergency kind of
immediate response emergency kind of
immediate response emergency kind of similar to CPR we recognize the risk
similar to CPR we recognize the risk
similar to CPR we recognize the risk factors for suicide such as access to
factors for suicide such as access to
factors for suicide such as access to lethal means or a previous suicide
lethal means or a previous suicide
lethal means or a previous suicide attempt we recognize warning signs such
attempt we recognize warning signs such
attempt we recognize warning signs such as making statements to end their life
as making statements to end their life
as making statements to end their life or drastic changes and behaviors or mood
or drastic changes and behaviors or mood
or drastic changes and behaviors or mood and then when we recognize those signs
and then when we recognize those signs
and then when we recognize those signs we call for help now that might be a
we call for help now that might be a
we call for help now that might be a mental health counselor it could be the
mental health counselor it could be the
mental health counselor it could be the National Suicide Prevention lifeline or
National Suicide Prevention lifeline or
National Suicide Prevention lifeline or in more serious cases the police to
in more serious cases the police to
in more serious cases the police to implement what’s called a Baker Act now
implement what’s called a Baker Act now
implement what’s called a Baker Act now a Baker Act is up to an initial 72-hour
a Baker Act is up to an initial 72-hour
a Baker Act is up to an initial 72-hour hold in a crisis stabilization unit or a
hold in a crisis stabilization unit or a
hold in a crisis stabilization unit or a hospital when someone is deemed to be at
hospital when someone is deemed to be at
hospital when someone is deemed to be at risk of hurting themselves or someone
risk of hurting themselves or someone
risk of hurting themselves or someone else 72 hours how many of us have been
else 72 hours how many of us have been
else 72 hours how many of us have been in serious crisis situations that
in serious crisis situations that
in serious crisis situations that magically resolved themselves in 72
magically resolved themselves in 72
magically resolved themselves in 72 hours
hours
hours not many yet we still maintain this
not many yet we still maintain this
not many yet we still maintain this belief that
belief that
belief that we refer someone to help that their
we refer someone to help that their
we refer someone to help that their problems just disappear unfortunately
problems just disappear unfortunately
problems just disappear unfortunately that’s not the case in the medical field
that’s not the case in the medical field
that’s not the case in the medical field anyone who has a major surgery or major
anyone who has a major surgery or major
anyone who has a major surgery or major medical appointment has followed up with
medical appointment has followed up with
medical appointment has followed up with by someone at the hospital to ensure
by someone at the hospital to ensure
by someone at the hospital to ensure that they understand their treatment
that they understand their treatment
that they understand their treatment their medication and they know and
their medication and they know and
their medication and they know and understand the recovery process when our
understand the recovery process when our
understand the recovery process when our pets get sick and we have to take them
pets get sick and we have to take them
pets get sick and we have to take them to the vet someone from the vet’s office
to the vet someone from the vet’s office
to the vet someone from the vet’s office is following up to ensure that little
is following up to ensure that little
is following up to ensure that little Chauncey is still chugging along yet
Chauncey is still chugging along yet
Chauncey is still chugging along yet when someone leaves our Baker acting
when someone leaves our Baker acting
when someone leaves our Baker acting facilities are hospitals crisis
facilities are hospitals crisis
facilities are hospitals crisis stabilization units no one is following
stabilization units no one is following
stabilization units no one is following up when I worked on the crisis hotline
up when I worked on the crisis hotline
up when I worked on the crisis hotline we were required to follow up with
we were required to follow up with
we were required to follow up with people within 24 hours to ensure that
people within 24 hours to ensure that
people within 24 hours to ensure that they were okay I remember vividly the
they were okay I remember vividly the
they were okay I remember vividly the number of people on the other end of
number of people on the other end of
number of people on the other end of that phone that would say you still
that phone that would say you still
that phone that would say you still remember me and I would hear a smile
remember me and I would hear a smile
remember me and I would hear a smile creep through as I said of course I do
when people leave our Baker acting
when people leave our Baker acting facilities they’re given a referral slip
facilities they’re given a referral slip
facilities they’re given a referral slip to accounts they’re yes but then they go
to accounts they’re yes but then they go
to accounts they’re yes but then they go home and they return to the same
home and they return to the same
home and they return to the same circumstances that were occurring prior
circumstances that were occurring prior
circumstances that were occurring prior to them going into the hospital so it’s
to them going into the hospital so it’s
to them going into the hospital so it’s no surprise that one study shows us that
no surprise that one study shows us that
no surprise that one study shows us that people leaving our hospital systems had
people leaving our hospital systems had
people leaving our hospital systems had a high frequency of suicide within two
a high frequency of suicide within two
a high frequency of suicide within two weeks post discharge with the highest
weeks post discharge with the highest
weeks post discharge with the highest number occurring just one day after they
number occurring just one day after they
number occurring just one day after they leave the hospital following up can help
leave the hospital following up can help
leave the hospital following up can help with this there’s power and knowing that
with this there’s power and knowing that
with this there’s power and knowing that someone still cares about you long after
someone still cares about you long after
someone still cares about you long after your treatment and researchers get this
your treatment and researchers get this
your treatment and researchers get this and they have been doing countless
and they have been doing countless
and they have been doing countless studies on following up with people
studies on following up with people
studies on following up with people leaving the hospital
leaving the hospital
leaving the hospital one study in particular divided their
one study in particular divided their
one study in particular divided their patience into two groups one group was
patience into two groups one group was
patience into two groups one group was given a simple follow-up card in the
given a simple follow-up card in the
given a simple follow-up card in the mail that said we’re thinking of you
mail that said we’re thinking of you
mail that said we’re thinking of you give us a call if you need us we’re here
give us a call if you need us we’re here
give us a call if you need us we’re here the other half did not receive anything
the other half did not receive anything
the other half did not receive anything in the mail of the half that received
in the mail of the half that received
in the mail of the half that received that simple follow-up card they saw a
that simple follow-up card they saw a
that simple follow-up card they saw a significant reduction in the severity of
significant reduction in the severity of
significant reduction in the severity of suicidality based on their rating scale
suicidality based on their rating scale
suicidality based on their rating scale they also saw significant reduction in
they also saw significant reduction in
they also saw significant reduction in readmissions to the hospital and
readmissions to the hospital and
readmissions to the hospital and researchers have taken this a step
researchers have taken this a step
researchers have taken this a step forward and a step further through
forward and a step further through
forward and a step further through national grants and have implemented
national grants and have implemented
national grants and have implemented what’s called care coordination and
what’s called care coordination and
what’s called care coordination and they’ve been able to do that right here
they’ve been able to do that right here
they’ve been able to do that right here in Central Florida in Lake County where
in Central Florida in Lake County where
in Central Florida in Lake County where they have embedded what’s called care
they have embedded what’s called care
they have embedded what’s called care coordinators into behavioral health
coordinators into behavioral health
coordinators into behavioral health organizations this care coordinator does
organizations this care coordinator does
organizations this care coordinator does follow-up yes
follow-up yes
follow-up yes but they go above and beyond a simple
but they go above and beyond a simple
but they go above and beyond a simple phone call or a card in the mail they
phone call or a card in the mail they
phone call or a card in the mail they help that client navigate those tricky
help that client navigate those tricky
help that client navigate those tricky resources in the community they help
resources in the community they help
resources in the community they help them create what’s called a safety plan
them create what’s called a safety plan
them create what’s called a safety plan and a safety plan is a document that the
and a safety plan is a document that the
and a safety plan is a document that the client can create along with that
client can create along with that
client can create along with that counselor of all of the people hobbies
counselor of all of the people hobbies
counselor of all of the people hobbies interests that they have and other
interests that they have and other
interests that they have and other options than attempting suicide but
options than attempting suicide but
options than attempting suicide but above all else this care coordinator
above all else this care coordinator
above all else this care coordinator serves as an additional layer of support
serves as an additional layer of support
serves as an additional layer of support for someone who desperately deserves to
for someone who desperately deserves to
for someone who desperately deserves to have someone in their corner having a
have someone in their corner having a
have someone in their corner having a support system and a sense of purpose in
support system and a sense of purpose in
support system and a sense of purpose in life is a protective factor for suicide
life is a protective factor for suicide
life is a protective factor for suicide meaning that it decreases the risk if we
meaning that it decreases the risk if we
meaning that it decreases the risk if we were all to make a list of the reasons
were all to make a list of the reasons
were all to make a list of the reasons why we’re here today the reasons why
why we’re here today the reasons why
why we’re here today the reasons why we’re alive we might have our family our
we’re alive we might have our family our
we’re alive we might have our family our friends our hobbies our careers on that
friends our hobbies our careers on that
friends our hobbies our careers on that list all of the components that make up
list all of the components that make up
list all of the components that make up our sense of purpose
our sense of purpose
our sense of purpose but for those who are thinking about
but for those who are thinking about
but for those who are thinking about suicide a similar list would be very
suicide a similar list would be very
suicide a similar list would be very daunting for them as they often believe
daunting for them as they often believe
daunting for them as they often believe that nobody cares about them and they
that nobody cares about them and they
that nobody cares about them and they don’t have a purpose here the last thing
don’t have a purpose here the last thing
don’t have a purpose here the last thing that we want is for them to leave our
that we want is for them to leave our
that we want is for them to leave our care our hospitals our crisis
care our hospitals our crisis
care our hospitals our crisis stabilization units still feeling this
stabilization units still feeling this
stabilization units still feeling this way and still feeling so alone I’ve used
way and still feeling so alone I’ve used
way and still feeling so alone I’ve used the term we a lot today because we don’t
the term we a lot today because we don’t
the term we a lot today because we don’t need to be in mental health or in
need to be in mental health or in
need to be in mental health or in medical care to follow up with someone
medical care to follow up with someone
medical care to follow up with someone to call them to invite them out for
to call them to invite them out for
to call them to invite them out for lunch to show them that we care and
lunch to show them that we care and
lunch to show them that we care and check in on their treatment so let’s
check in on their treatment so let’s
check in on their treatment so let’s change our conversation from we can’t
change our conversation from we can’t
change our conversation from we can’t save everyone to let me do the best that
save everyone to let me do the best that
save everyone to let me do the best that I can with the people who are in my life
I can with the people who are in my life
I can with the people who are in my life that I know are struggling and I know
that I know are struggling and I know
that I know are struggling and I know need my support and my help care
need my support and my help care
need my support and my help care coordination is the way to do this there
coordination is the way to do this there
coordination is the way to do this there are a lot of wonderful grants out there
are a lot of wonderful grants out there
are a lot of wonderful grants out there throughout the country that are doing
throughout the country that are doing
throughout the country that are doing this right now but we can also play our
this right now but we can also play our
this right now but we can also play our part as well follow-up show that you
part as well follow-up show that you
part as well follow-up show that you care save lives thank you
care save lives thank you
care save lives thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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