• Depression and SuicideDepression and Suicide

• What do you know?What do you know?

• What do you want to know?What do you want to know?

Scenario:Scenario:Fred is your roommate. Lately, he has been Fred is your roommate. Lately, he has been

sleeping a lot more, feeling down, and sleeping a lot more, feeling down, and pulling away from others. He makes pulling away from others. He makes statements like “it would be better if I statements like “it would be better if I wasn’t here” and “I don’t care about wasn’t here” and “I don’t care about anything anymore.” anything anymore.”

1.1. What is wrong with Fred?What is wrong with Fred?

2.2. How would you handle this situation?How would you handle this situation?

3.3. What if he has a plan?What if he has a plan?

Depression FactsDepression Facts1.1. 33rdrd most common disorder most common disorder

2.2. 1 in 5 people will suffer an MDD episode across 1 in 5 people will suffer an MDD episode across the lifetimethe lifetime

3.3. Almost twice as common in womenAlmost twice as common in women

4.4. Costs businesses an estimated $33 billion in Costs businesses an estimated $33 billion in salary productivity per year salary productivity per year

5.5. Most common in young adults and older adultsMost common in young adults and older adults

6.6. Expressed differently by culture and ageExpressed differently by culture and age• E.g., Chinese – somatic complaintsE.g., Chinese – somatic complaints• E.g, Children – anger/irritabilityE.g, Children – anger/irritability

Major Depressive DisorderMajor Depressive DisorderTwo weeks of 5 or more of the following:Two weeks of 5 or more of the following:

1. Depressed mood and/or1. Depressed mood and/or

2. Loss of interest2. Loss of interest

3. Weight loss or gain3. Weight loss or gain

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia4. Insomnia or hypersomnia

5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation (e.g., 5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation (e.g., restless) restless)

6. Loss of energy6. Loss of energy

7. Worthlessness/guilt7. Worthlessness/guilt

8. Concentration/indecision8. Concentration/indecision

9. Recurrent thoughts of death9. Recurrent thoughts of death

Dysthymia

Two or more of the following are present or at Two or more of the following are present or at least 2 years:least 2 years:

1.1. Poor appetite or overeatingPoor appetite or overeating

2.2. Insomnia or hypersomniaInsomnia or hypersomnia

3.3. Low energyLow energy

4.4. Low Self-esteemLow Self-esteem

5.5. Poor concentration/indecisionPoor concentration/indecision

6.6. Feelings of hopelessnessFeelings of hopelessness

- MDD episode cannot be present in these 2 - MDD episode cannot be present in these 2 yearsyears

Differences between MDD and Differences between MDD and DysthymiaDysthymia

1.1. IntensityIntensity

2.2. Time requirementsTime requirements

3.3. Symptom presentationSymptom presentation• Thoughts of deathThoughts of death• Weight issues Weight issues • psychomotor effectspsychomotor effects

4.4. Presentation for treatmentPresentation for treatment• MDD more likelyMDD more likely

Warning signs• 1. Changes in activity level1. Changes in activity level

• 2. Physical changes (e.g., weight)2. Physical changes (e.g., weight)

• 3. Emotional pain3. Emotional pain

• 4. Mood change (e.g., irritable, down, self-4. Mood change (e.g., irritable, down, self-critical)critical)

• 5. Changes in thought patterns 5. Changes in thought patterns (concentration, decision making)(concentration, decision making)

• 6. Thoughts/mention of death6. Thoughts/mention of death

Activity Time!!!!• Take out a piece of paper and answer “True” or Take out a piece of paper and answer “True” or

“False” for the following statements“False” for the following statements• 1. Suicide is less common than murder.1. Suicide is less common than murder.• 2. We should be gentle or tentative when 2. We should be gentle or tentative when

approaching someone we think may be suicidal.approaching someone we think may be suicidal.• 3. Once someone is intent on committing suicide, 3. Once someone is intent on committing suicide,

there is no way to stop them.there is no way to stop them.• 4. Psychologists and psychiatrists are the only 4. Psychologists and psychiatrists are the only

people who can help someone who is suicidal.people who can help someone who is suicidal.• 5. Suicidal people are only seeking attention.5. Suicidal people are only seeking attention.

Suicide Facts1.1. 77thth or 8 or 8thth leading cause of death overall in the last leading cause of death overall in the last

decade decade

2.2. 22ndnd or 3 or 3rdrd leading cause of death for adolescents leading cause of death for adolescents and young adultsand young adults

3.3. Most prevalent in adolescents and older adultsMost prevalent in adolescents and older adults

4.4. Twice as common in college students than non-Twice as common in college students than non-college counterpartscollege counterparts

5.5. Accounts for about 30,000 deaths annuallyAccounts for about 30,000 deaths annually

6.6. Women more likely to attempt, men more likely Women more likely to attempt, men more likely to completeto complete

7.7. Suicidal thoughts and attempts difficult to countSuicidal thoughts and attempts difficult to count

Associated Risk Factors/Causes• 1. Mood disorder1. Mood disorder

• 2. Gender2. Gender

• 3. Negative Life Event3. Negative Life Event

• 4. Neuroticism4. Neuroticism

• 5. Low self-esteem5. Low self-esteem

• 6. Low social support6. Low social support

• 7. Personality Disorder7. Personality Disorder

• **Most likely completed when mood is **Most likely completed when mood is improvingimproving

Warning Signs1. Talking about dying1. Talking about dying2. Recent loss2. Recent loss3. Depressive symptoms3. Depressive symptoms4. Talking about loss of control/harming self 4. Talking about loss of control/harming self

or othersor others5. Withdrawal from relationships5. Withdrawal from relationships6. Hopelessness6. Hopelessness7. Previous attempt**7. Previous attempt**8. “Finalizing behavior” (e.g., Giving things 8. “Finalizing behavior” (e.g., Giving things

away, tying up relationships, making out away, tying up relationships, making out wills)wills)

What should you do to help?• 1. Educate yourself on warning signs1. Educate yourself on warning signs• 2. Be direct2. Be direct• 3. 3. NEVERNEVER leave the person alone leave the person alone• 4. Assess immediacy of threat – plan and means? 4. Assess immediacy of threat – plan and means?

Remove if neededRemove if needed• 5. GET HELP!!!5. GET HELP!!!

– University Counseling CenterUniversity Counseling Center• 348-3863348-3863

– University Psychological ClinicUniversity Psychological Clinic• 348-5000348-5000

– 1-800-273-TALK1-800-273-TALK– DIAL 911 DIAL 911

A helping hand for Fred…Recall that Fred has Recall that Fred has

exhibited depressive exhibited depressive symptoms and talked symptoms and talked about death. How about death. How might you go about might you go about helping him?helping him?