Suicide is a significant public health crisis that has lasting effects on individuals, families, and the community.

Suicide, Violence & Abuse Assessments

Suicide is a significant public health crisis that has lasting effects on individuals, families, and the community. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 34 in Michigan, and the 10^th overall leading cause of death in Michigan.

Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that can increase the chance that a person may try to take their life. Suicide risk factors include: a prior suicide attempt, the loss of a loved one to suicide, alcohol and drug use, mental and/or physical illness, feelings of hopelessness, access to lethal means, and a history of self-injury.

Warning Signs

It is important to recognize suicide warning signs so the person can receive help. These can include:

Thinking, talking about, or threatening suicide
Giving things away, writing a will, apologizing for old arguments, and visiting old friends, relatives, teachers
Increase in drug or alcohol use
Impulsive thoughts of death and dying
Withdrawing from friends and activities
Obtaining the means for suicide

Violence Assessments Early Warning Signs

Before seeking or referring a student to a clinician for an assessment for violence, it is helpful to know the early warning signs of this behavior. These signs should be used only as an aid for identifying and referring a child or adolescent for a violence assessment. According to the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice, the following are possible early warning signs for violent behavior:

Social withdrawal
Excessive feelings of isolation and being alone
Excessive feelings of rejection
Being a victim of violence or abuse
Feelings of being persecuted
A drop in grades and less interest in school
Expression of violence in writings and drawings
Uncontrolled anger
Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating, and bullying behaviors
History of discipline problems
History of violent and aggressive behavior
Intolerance for differences and prejudicial attitudes
Use of drugs and/or alcohol
Affiliation with gangs
Inappropriate access to firearms
Serious threats of violence

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