Death by suicide is one of the greatest health risks in Tennessee and Virginia. More than 775,000 Americans attempt to die by suicide each year. Suicide affects people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups.

In Virginia, 1 out of every 12 high school students (8 percent) indiciated suicide attempts in the last 12 months. In 2003, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death in Tennessee.

Nationwide:

Death by suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth 10 to 24, the 8th leading cause of death for men, and the 11th leading cause of death for adults. Suicide deaths outnumber homicide deaths by 3 to 1. The suicide rate for the elderly is higher than any other age group.

Things to Remember:

• 70% of people who die by suicide tell
  someone first

• Those with serious attemps at death by suicide
  are at much higher risk

• Nearly 50% of victims who die by suicide have
  a positive blood alcohol level

• Although most depressed people are not
  suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed

Your friend or loved one may:

• Get a gun or stockpile pills
• Give away prized possessions
• Take more impulsive risks
• Cut themselves or other gestures of self-harm
• Neglect their appearance
• Isolate themselves from friends activities / run
  away / drop out
• Increase alcohol or drug use
• Show a dramatic change in mood
• Lose interest in school, hobbies, drop in grades

• Lose interest in work, family, hobbies
• Express hopelessness or helplessness
• Faced with perceived humiliation
• Recent severe loss, esp. relationship
• Drastic change in behavior, personality, risky
  behavior including violence, gunplay, alcohol /
  substance abuse
• Express no reason to live
• Change in eating/sleeping

Your friend’s behavior, feelings:
• Can’t stop the pain
• Can’t think clearly
• Can’t make decisions
• Can’t see any way out
• Can’t make sadness go away
• Can’t see possibility of change
• Can’t see self as worthwhile
• Can’t seem to get control

How Can I Help?

   If you think your friend, family member, or co-worker may need help, you can do something. To help save a loved one and End the Silence & Prevent Suicide:

Question: Talk Privately, Stay Calm & Allow Plenty of Time

• Ask if they’re considering suicide, have a plan,
  or have taken steps to carry it out
• Listen openly to your friend, tell them how
  much you care, and no matter how bad the
  problem is, help is available

• If you can’t ask, find someone
  who can!

Persuade: Give Them Your FULL Attention

• Don’t ‘judge’ or minimize their problems or
  feelings
• Offer hope & understanding but don’t try to
  cheer them up

• Don’t be sworn to secrecy
• Contract with the person to stay safe
• Have a ‘what next’ plan in mind

Refer: Create a Plan & Make Sure They Get Some Help

• Decide who to contact for professional help
• Don’t walk away believing they’ll get help; be
  part of the solution
• Stay with them to make sure they’re safe until
  the crisis passes, or until someone else takes
  responsibility for their safety

Get Help: Don't Walk Away or Expect Them to Go it Alone!

• Even if it will anger your friend, talk with an
  adult so you’re not carrying this alone
• Don’t try to ‘rescue’ your friend, or be the hero
  alone

• You can help the most by making sure your
  friend gets the help they need, while you
  continue to support them

Lee County Suicide Prevention Coalition

   4th Thursday
   2 p.m.
   Lee County Behavioral Health Services
The Suicide Prevention Coalition, formed to raise awareness and determine the available resources in the Lee County community for suicide survivors, will meet the fourth Thursday of every month. Anyone interested in helping support this cause, please contact Bill or Phyllis Russell at (276) 346-1641.

LENOWISCO Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition
  TBA
  Developmental Services, Big Stone Gap, Va.
The regional coalition is working to coordinate suicide prevention efforts in local communities. The regional coalition meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November). For more information on upcoming meetings, call (276) 523-8300.

Scott County Suicide Prevention Coalition
  Addington Hall
  First Thursday of every month

  3:30 p.m.
The coalition is working to raise awareness on the issue of suicide and to find out more about available resources in the Scott County community for suicide survivors. Anyone interested in helping support this cause or wishing to attend meetings, please call at (276) 431-4370.

Survivors of Suicide Support Group - Tennessee
  4th Monday
  6 p.m.

  Johnson City Medical Center, 5th Floor
SOS is for individuals who have lost someone by suicide, or for individuals who are interested in suicide prevention or who might have helpful information for those who do. The group meets the 4th Monday of each month from 6-8 p.m. Call Dorothy Gregory for more information, (423) 224-1300.

Survivors of Suicide Support Group - Virginia
 4th Thursday
 6 p.m.

 Lee Regional Medical Center
A support group for Survivors of Suicide is being held every 4th Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. For more information contact Bill Russell at (276) 346-1641.

Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network
 4th Tuesday
 10:30 a.m.

 Boones Creek Christian Church
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is the statewide organization responsible for implementing the Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention as defined by the 2001 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

TSPN is a grass-roots association which includes counselors, mental health professionals, physicians, clergy, journalists, social workers, and law enforcement personnel, as well as survivors of suicide and suicide attempts. For more infor, Harold Leonard, MA, LPC-MHSP, Northeast Regional Chair, Indian Path Pavilion, (423) 857-5231.

Wise County Suicide Prevention
  2nd Thursday each month

  10 a.m.
  Baptist Student Center, UVA Wise
The coalition formed to raise awareness and to determine available resources in the Wise County community for suicide survivors. Anyone interested in helping support this cause, please call (276) 523-8357.

Suicide Notes or Threats
1-888-443-1804, Crisis in Virginia

1-877-928-9062, Crisis in Tennessee
1-800-273-Talk, Suicide Hotline

1-800-711-7701, Jason Foundation Hotline

1-800-SUICIDE, American Association of
  Suicidology

Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

American Association of Suicidology

The Jason Foundation

Youth Suicide Prevention

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

Virginia Commission on Youth Suicide

CDC Suicide Prevention

Downloads:

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Survivors

Survivor Resource