Some Facts About Suicide
and Depression
Presented By
ARIANE MAE T. RABAGO
Peer Facilitator Adviser
JHS Guidance Advocate
PEER FACILITATORS’ TRAINING
Escalante National High School
July 4-5, 2019
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression is the most prevalent
mental health disorder. The lifetime
risk for depression is 6 to 25%.
According to the National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH),
There are two types of depression. In
major depression, the symptoms listed
below interfere with one’s ability to
function in all areas of life (work,
family, sleep, etc). In dysthymia, the
symptoms are not as severe but still
impede one’s ability to function at
normal levels.
Common
symptoms of
depression,
reoccurring
almost every
day:
• Depressed mood (e.g. feeling sad or
empty)
• Lack of interest in previously enjoyable
activities
• Significant weight loss or gain, or
decrease or increase in appetite
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Agitation, restlessness, irritability
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness,
guilt
• Inability to think or concentrate, or
indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent
suicidal ideation, suicide attempt or plan
for completing suicide
A family history of depression
(i.e., a parent) increases the
chances (by 11 times)
The treatment of depression is
effective 60 to 80% of the time.
However, according the World Health
Organization, less than 25% of
individuals with depression receive
adequate treatment.
If left untreated, depression can
lead to co-morbid (occurring at the
same time) mental disorders such
as alcohol and substance abuse,
higher rates of recurrent episodes
and higher rates of suicide.
FACTS ABOUT
SUICIDE
In 2006, suicide was the eleventh
leading cause of death in the U.S.,
claiming 33,300 lives per year. Suicide
rates among youth (ages 15-24) have
increased more than 200% in the last
fifty years. The suicide rate is also very
high for the elderly (age 85+).
Four times more men than
women kill themselves; but
three times more women than
men attempt suicide.
Suicide occurs across
ethnic, economic, social
and age boundaries.
Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal
people desperately want to live; they
are just unable to see alternatives to
their problems. Most suicidal people
give definite warning signals of their
suicidal intentions, but others are often
unaware of the significance of these
warnings or unsure what to do about
them.
Talking about suicide
does not cause
someone to become
suicidal.
Surviving family members not only
suffer the loss of a loved one to
suicide, but are also themselves at
higher risk of suicide and
emotional problems.
THE LINKS
BETWEEN
DEPRESSION AND
SUICIDE
Major depression is the psychiatric
diagnosis most commonly associated
with suicide. Lifetime risk of suicide
among patients with untreated
depressive disorder is nearly 20%
(Gotlib & Hammen, 2002). The suicide
risk among treated patients is
141/100,000 (Isacsson et al, 2000).
About 2/3 of people who
complete suicide are
depressed at the time of their
deaths.
About 7 out of every hundred
men and 1 out of every hundred
women who have been
diagnosed with depression in
their lifetime will go on to
complete suicide.
Individuals who have had
multiple episodes of
depression are at greater risk
for suicide than those who
have had one episode.
People who have a
dependence on alcohol or
drugs in addition to being
depressed are at greater
risk for suicide.
Individuals who are
depressed and exhibit the
following symptoms are at
particular risk for suicide:
• Extreme hopelessness
• A lack of interest in activities
that were previously
pleasurable
• Heightened anxiety and/or
panic attacks
• Insomnia
• Talk about suicide or
have a prior history of
attempts
• Irritability and agitation
BE AWARE OF
THE WARNING
SIGNS
A suicidal person may:
• Talk about suicide, death, and/or
no reason to live.
• Be preoccupied with death and
dying.
• Withdraw from friends and/or
social activities.
• Have a recent severe loss
(esp. relationship)
• Experience drastic changes
in behavior.
• Lose interest in hobbies,
work, school, etc.
• Prepare for death by making
out a will (unexpectedly) and
final arrangements.
• Give away prized
possessions.
• Have attempted suicide
before.
• Take unnecessary risks; be
reckless, and/or impulsive.
• Lose interest in their personal
appearance.
• Increase their use of alcohol or
drugs.
• Express a sense of hopelessness.
• Be faced with a situation of
humiliation or failure.
• Have a history of violence or
hostility.
• Have been unwilling to
“connect” with potential
helpers.
BE AWARE OF
FEELINGS,
THOUGHTS, AND
BEHAVIORS
If you experience any of
these feelings, get help!
or
If you know someone who
exhibits these feelings, offer
help!
Nearly everyone at some time in his or
her life thinks about suicide. Most
everyone decides to live because they
come to realize that the crisis is
temporary, but death in not. On the
other hand, people in the midst of a
crisis often perceive their dilemma as
inescapable and feel an utter loss of
control. Frequently, they:
• Can’t stop the pain
• Can’t think clearly
• Can’t make decisions
• Can’t see any way out
• Can’t sleep eat or work
• Can’t get out of the depression
• Can’t make the sadness go away
• Can’t see the possibility of
change
• Can’t see themselves as
worthwhile
• Can’t get someone’s attention
• Can’t seem to get control
TALK TO SOMEONE -- YOU ARE NOT
ALONE. CONTACT:
A community mental health agency
A private therapist
A school counselor or psychologist
A family physician
A suicide prevention/crisis intervention
center
A religious/spiritual leader
