Almost 12 per cent of students on southern Vancouver Island who listened to a presentation on suicide prevention over the past year disclosed that they or a friend had thought about killing themselves.
Justine Thomson, NEED2 suicide education and awareness manager, has talked to 2,400 middle and high school students, said she was surprised at the numbers, even though the rates are similar to other parts of B.C.
“That means about 282 students have said they are concerned about themselves or a friend,” she said.
After listening to Thomson’s talk, students are asked to leave their name if they have thought of suicide. They are then connected with a teacher, counsellor or other trusted adult.
Thirteen southern Vancouver Island schools have adopted the NEED2 suicide awareness program, which involves the whole school, and another 15 schools have had presentations this year.
“We go to some schools every year and some schools are difficult to get into,” Thomson said.
“There is a lot of fear around it.”
Greater Victoria school trustee Edith Loring-Kuhanga, who lost a brother to suicide, wants her district to adopt the NEED2 program in all middle and secondary schools.
“If there’s a number of schools in the district who are actually doing it, then maybe we need to take a step as a board to give some guidelines and direction to schools on addressing suicide,” she said.
Loring-Kuhanga has worked on the issue nationally as well as in her job as director of health, education and social services department with the Tsawout First Nation. She said too many young people are suffering in silence.
“I know it’s sensitive and I know that many people have been impacted by it, but that doesn’t mean that we stop talking about it,” she said.
The board has agreed to discuss the issue at its next operations committee meeting in September to give staff time to research the issue.
“We are very interested in the subject and I certainly want to know more about what she’s proposing,” board chairwoman Peg Orcherton said.
Thomson said she talks to teachers before a NEED2 presentation so they know what is expected and students fill in surveys before and after taking part in the discussion.
The emphasis is on the need to talk about their feelings and the surveys have found that, after the program, many more students would talk to a friend they feared was contemplating suicide and, if necessary, would go to someone for help, even if they were sworn to secrecy.
Before the presentation, 48.4 per cent of students said they would ask a friend about suicide and, after the presentation, that number jumped to 77.8 per cent.
“Sometimes, a secret is just too important to keep. You have to tell someone, even if a friend tells you not to tell,” Thomson said.
“What is the worst thing that can happen? They will be really mad at you. A real friend will find a safe person to talk to.”
Thomson emphasizes to students that they must ask direct questions if they suspect a friend is having a tough time.
“What we tell students is TALK: Tell, Ask, Listen, Keep safe,” she said.
Part of the fear surrounding conversations about suicide — especially after the high-profile deaths of Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons, who generated firestorms of media coverage after killing themselves — is that they could spark copycat suicides.
But, Thomson said that while such cases increase the amount some teens think about suicide, she does not believe the number of attempts increases.
“I don’t think talking about it puts the idea in someone’s head. If someone is struggling, they are already thinking about suicide,” she said.
The McCreary Centre Society’s 2008 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey found that 12 per cent of youth between 15 to 24 contemplate suicide and, each year, five per cent attempt suicide.
That is down from 16 per cent contemplating suicide in 1992 and seven per cent attempting suicide.
In the capital region, more than 360 young people require medical attention every year because of a suicide attempt.
Suicide warning signs
What are the warning signs that someone could be contemplating suicide?
• Socially isolating behaviour
• Changes in behaviour and mood swings
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Increased risky behaviour
• Increased use of drugs and alcohol
• Talking or making jokes about suicide
• Feeling hopeless or experiencing unbearable pain
• Giving away prized possessions
• Loss of interest in things one cares about
• Saying goodbye or getting affairs in order
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, call the Vancouver Island crisis line at 1-888-494-3888 or the provincewide line at 1-800-SUICIDE.
Young people can also get help online at youthspace.ca.
— Source: NEED2
