Suicide prevention starts with peers and parents.

Byline: Anne Williams The Register-Guard

Since 1986, when the Lane County medical examiner first began tracking local cases, 31 youths younger than the age 18 have taken their own lives.

The numbers may seem small, but the impact of a child's suicide is immeasurable.

"It goes beyond grief - it is untouchable, the kind of pain of having a son or daughter do this," said Jill Hollingsworth, a program coordinator and prevention specialist at Looking Glass Youth and Family Services.

The best way to prevent such tragedies, Hollingsworth says, is to teach peers, school employees and parents to better recognize the warning signs in potential victims and get them help.

To that end, Hollingsworth coordinates SAFE:TEEN, a national youth suicide prevention program that was piloted locally in three high schools in 2003. Hollingsworth has been working on suicide prevention since 1999, when she was approached by a committee of local public health workers who were concerned about a recent rash of youth suicide attempts.

Attempts outnumber "completions," as Hollingsworth calls them, by about 3 to 1, she said.

As of this fall, with the infusion of a $34,200 grant from the Northwest Health Foundation, the program is offered in 14 Lane County high schools: North Eugene, Marist, Thurston, Springfield, Gateways Learning Center, Sheldon, Churchill, Kalapuya, Willamette, South Eugene, Crow, Junction City, Mohawk and Pleasant Hill. Hollingsworth's goal is to eventually expand it to other high schools in the county.

Willamette is one of six schools new to the lineup this year, and this week students in health teacher Bill Wilgus' classes had their first of four trainings - a 40-minute session that consisted of a slide presentation and a documentary video about three middle-school boys who sought help from a school counselor for a suicidal buddy.

Even with just that much, several students said they learned something they'd use to help a friend in trouble.

Parent turnout sparse

Freshman Wid Jensen said he'd know better what not to say if a friend voiced suicidal thoughts.

"If I knew someone who talked about it, I might have thought they were joking and said something like, `That's really dumb,' ' he said. "But there are better ways (to respond)."

The training also includes a second video on recognizing warning signs, with a follow-up discussion; a question-and-answer session loosely following the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game-show format; a role-playing exercise; a rating exercise that tries to gauge the point at which the student would seek help; and a wrap-up discussion. In all, it takes about 180 minutes, Hollingsworth said.

The SAFE:TEEN program (SAFE stands for Suicide Awareness for Everyone), developed in the 1980s, also includes training for all school staff and a workshop for parents.

The latter is its biggest weakness, Hollingsworth said. Turnout at such workshops has typically been sparse; at a recent workshop at Marist High School, for example, just six parents attended.

One of them was Tina Auld, the mother of twin 16-year-old boys. As a member of the school's Parent and Alumni Association, she had to be there to coordinate snacks and beverages, but said she probably would have come anyway.

"I don't know, I guess people think it doesn't apply to them, and I kind of had that feeling, too," she said. "But the more I heard about it ... Most of these kids are normal kids - they're not troubled kids. And then to hear the story of the couple who came and spoke, it just tore your heart out. They really actually had no idea."

Auld was referring to Tim and Darlene Baker, whose 16-year-old daughter, Jennifer Baker, killed herself in 1997. She'd given a warning note to friends at Pleasant Hill High School days earlier, but no one told an adult. Breaking down that teenage reluctance to take it seriously or speak with an adult is the centerpiece of the program.

Auld had a talk with her sons the minute she got home.

"I just told that story and said, `Be aware, and always, always tell somebody,' ' she said.

Hollingsworth said she's in the process of tweaking the parent piece of the program, and hopes to team up with other prevention programs to offer the suicide awareness training as part of information sessions on more general teen issues, such as substance abuse or driving dangers.

Marist and North Eugene were among the pilot schools, and have offered the training to freshman and parents for three years now. Staff members have had brief "refresher" sessions this year and last, and will undergo a second thorough training next fall.

Understanding depression

At North Eugene, where there's not been a suicide in at least 20 years, school nurse Debbie Knox said she's noticed subtle effects from the program.

"What I've seen is a greater level of sophistication with kids in understanding what depression is and what it looks like and recognizing that it actually is something that is serious and that there's something that can be done about it," she said. "There also may be less reticence to talk to adults and parents about what's going on because they have the words and can articulate it better."

Knox said other factors have contributed to that openness, including the school's longtime "Natural Helper" program and the 1998 shooting at Thurston High School. Then-freshman Kip Kinkel killed two students and injured 24.

"I think since Thurston, and with other things that have happened in schools, kids are much more active in seeking help when they feel it's a safety issue," she said.

"They don't feel obliged to keep those secrets."

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Oregon between the ages of 10 and 24. Oregon's suicide rate is approximately 30 percent higher than the national average, according to state statistics.

WEB RESOURCES

For more information on suicide prevention and youth suicide, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at www.sprc.org or the state Department of Human Services at www.dhs. state.or.us/publichealth/ ipe/uicide.cfm.

WARNING SIGNS

Parents may be the first to notice when their child is struggling with depression, which, if severe and enduring, can lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts. Some signs to watch for:

A depressed or irritable mood lasting two or more weeks. Exhibits rebellious behavior, listens to violent music or writes with these themes, wears somber clothing, cries frequently.

Loss of interest in activities. Withdraws, pays less attention to hygiene, hangs out with a more troubled peer group.

Significant changes in appetite or weight. Is suddenly finicky, snacks frequently, eats under stress.

Agitation or slowing down. Uncharacteristic movement or lethargy.

Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt. Describes self as "bad" or "stupid," seems hopeless about the future, always tries to please others, blames self for family problems.

Indecisiveness or decreased concentration. Often responds with "I don't know," drops in grades or skips school, takes longer completing tasks, makes poor eye contact.

Significant changes in sleeping habits. Struggles to get to sleep, wakes too early, sleeps too much.

Fatigue or loss of energy. Is too tired to work, play or cope with conflict, leaves school exhausted.

Recurrent thoughts of suicide. Talks about suicide, gives away personal possessions, asks about ways to die, wants to join a person who has died, attempts suicide.

- From "Recognizing Depression in Youth-A Key to Solving One of Oregon's Most Serious Problems: Youth Suicide," by Dr. Kirk D. Wolfe.

CAPTION(S):

Jill Hollingsworth coordinates SAFE:TEEN, a national youth suicide prevention program, in 14 Lane County high schools. "It goes beyond grief - it is untouchable, the kind of pain of having a son or daughter do this." - JILL HOLLINGSWORTH, LOOKING GLASS YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES