Archive for June, 2009
Opportunities for Prevention Activities
Posted by: | CommentsThe variations in suicide rates by age groups and gender provide a wide array of opportunities for prevention and intervention activities.
Prevention strategies can cover a wide variety of target groups (e.g., population at large, those who have ever thought of suicide as an option, those who have made previous attempts at suicide, and those in immediate crisis who are contemplating suicide as well as those who have experienced the death of a family member or close friend).
Such activities can also range from a broad focus such as addressing risk and protective factors to a more narrow focus such as preventing imminent self-harm or death.
Although the data on effectiveness of various programs and interventions is limited, certain strategies are beginning to emerge as more effective than others. Clearly, a singularly focused intervention strategy such as a crisis line or gatekeeper training program will not have a lasting impact in isolation. Each program needs to be tightly integrated and interlinked with other strategies to reach the broadest possible range of persons at risk.
The groups are futher detailed in these groups:
Youth – Ages 15 – 21
Older Adults – Ages 20 – 44
Senior Caucasian Males, Over Age 55 (this group has one of the highest rates of suicide)
Source: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Part 2 – Prevalence of Suicide in Montana – Demographics and Geography
Posted by: | CommentsSuicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in our state (Montana), second only to motor vehicle accidents.
A second reason listed by State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf is:
Montana demographics and geography
• Montana is a large frontier state with many isolated communities
• Ongoing stigma towards seeking mental health services and concerns of maintaining confidentiality in small communities inhibit individuals from seeking needed treatment4
• A large percentage of Montana’s population lacks health coverage11
• Montana has a high availability of lethal means, especially firearms that increase the lethality of impulsive suicidal behaviors1
• Montana has high rates of alcoholism and other drug addictions; including the current devastating epidemic of Methamphetamine use
• Montana has high rates of sexual and physical abuse as well as domestic violence affecting both children and adults
• The farm and ranch economic crisis and the difficulty in attracting industry to provide a stable employment market in Montana are ongoing stressors.
This is the 2nd in a 4 part series. Check the archives for the other 3 parts.
Part 1 – Prevalance of Suicide in Montana – Lack of statewide coordination
Posted by: | CommentsSuicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in our state (Montana), second only to motor vehicle accidents.
Lack of statewide coordination
• Systems collaboration between tribal entities, counties and state government, especially for adolescent and young adult populations are inadequate.
• Coordination between community levels and state systems is inadequate. Local communities may not know about initiatives in other parts of the state or in state government. State government agencies are often not aware of prevention efforts related to suicide in other agencies.
• Development of suicide prevention strategies often occurs without the involvement of youth in the planning process.
• Screening for mental illness and suicide does not consistently occur in public schools, juvenile justice systems, or other child-serving agencies. Screening is inconsistent in the medical community
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
