A BREAKTHROUGH!
A recent study at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is producing exciting results. At SANS we focus on early intervention and education to prevent suicide. Part of that education is the introduction of children to recognizing the signs of suicide. A very well known indicator of suicide is suicidal ideation. Those individuals who struggle with depression and/or suicidal ideation are at a greater risk of death by suicide. According to the study, Attachment- Based Family Therapy has produced result of individuals being four times more likely to have no suicidal thoughts at the end of three months of therapy. Depression symptoms were also greatly decreased as compared to other community-based therapies.
This study is the first significant breakthrough in terms of suicide preventative treatment. “Family conflict, chaos, and strife can contribute to youth suicide, while at the same time family love, trust, and communication can buffer against it,” [says Dr. Guy Diamond of the hospital's Center for Family Intervention Science, who directed the study]. “This therapy aims to resolve family conflicts and promote family strengths so that the appropriate bond of attachment can protect youth from self harm.”
http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2809%2900014-8/abstract
Do Not "Occupy" Real Issues!
This week was a sad week in the news. In Burlington Vermont a military veteran died by suicide. This should have been the headline, but instead it was reported along side the “occupy” movement. The difficult reality is that with so many soldiers returning home in the coming year there will be a great need for support services for the military and their families. These are men and women who have fought for our country, and they will continue to fight for their lives as they face the challenges of reintegration and transitioning from military life.
Suicide amongst men is high, suicides among male veterans are even higher, this is the story that the NY Times should have covered. The Suicide Prevention Action Network publishes clear guidelines on how to cover suicide events in the news. The NY Times did not write a respectful article about the dangers of this disease or about the need for military veteran support, they wrote a political article and masked it with a tragic death.
Help remove the stigma that surrounds suicide and speak out against articles like this.
SANS- Week of November 7th
The New Hampshire State Suicide Prevention Conference, held November 4th, 2011, was an inspiring event. SANS has been a long time major contributor to this conference and the power of the words shared will stay with us for a long time to come. The keynote speaker, Thomas Joiner Ph.D. a distinguished faculty member at the University of Florida and author or many works including Why People Die by Suicide (ISBN 978-0674019010) presented a new and insightful theory on suicide. He was not the only noteworthy speaker; we were thrilled to hear from Susan Rose Blauner author of How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying To Kill Me: One Person’s Guide to Suicide Prevention. Her insights were unique as she has survived suicide attempts and has also experienced years of therapy, thus gaining useful tools from the perspective of a patient. I wish everyone struggling with mental health challenges could hear her encouragement and draw upon her positive energy. I am looking forward to reading her book!
In addition to the New Hampshire State Suicide Prevention Conference, members of SANS were invited to A Quilter’s Gathering in Nashua, NH where we were the only charitable foundation to present a raffle quilt. We had a wonderful time selling tickets and raising money for suicide prevention programs. One highlight of the day, as it is in any time SANS has a presence, was the opportunity to hear stories from survivors and others who have felt the sting of suicide in their lives. Everybody is at a different place on the road to recovery or to coping with loss, and being at that show allowed a few brave people to approach us and start that healing process through conversation. If you would like to experience these wonderful opportunities, please contact us and join us in 2012 as we sell raffle tickets.
SANS- Week of October 31st
Every year SANS receives a quilt donated by local quilters and we then raffle off tickets as a fundraiser for that quilt. Tickets are only $1 and although that price may seem arbitrary it actually holds beautiful significance. The primary program funded by SANS and given to schools for free is the Signs of Suicide Program developed by Screening For Mental Health. That program is designed to teach students how to recognize the signs of suicide in themselves and in others. Each program (known as a kit) costs SANS money and cannot be reused. The cost per kit/ the number of students educated per kit equates to about $1 per child. So while that raffle ticket is not just a chance to win a lovely quilt, it is one more child in your community educated about a disease, which is preventable.
There are still opportunities to get your raffle tickets. This weekend SANS with be at A Quilter’s Gathering at the Radisson in Nashua, NH selling raffle tickets. Also the quilt will be on display in the usual spot at The Quilted Crow in Boxborough where tickets are also available between now and the drawing on December 3rd. For more information visit the quilt section of www.4sans.org