AFSP Asks, Adolescent Angst ... or Something More Serious?

New Screener Predicts Teens at Risk for Suicide
WASHINGTON, March 8 - PRNewswire

Screening adolescents in a school setting effectively identifies teens who are currently at risk of suicide and predicts those who will continue to be at risk into adulthood, according to a five-year study of high school students in the New York area. Results of the screening research, conducted by Columbia University, will be discussed at abriefing hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) today at the National Press Club.

At the press briefing, AFSP will unveil a new public service announcement(PSA) on teen suicide prevention and a checklist of action steps parents and teens can take to help prevent these tragic deaths (see attachment to release).

Suicide is the third leading cause of death of youth age 15-24 -- more youth die by suicide than from all natural causes combined. Risk factors in teen suicide are a previous suicide attempt, a mood disorder (depression orbipolar disorder), substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.

"This study is critical to saving young lives," said David Shaffer, MD,Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and principal author of the research. Suicide should be thought of as a fatal complication of treatablepsychiatric disorders, according to Dr. Shaffer. "If we can find teens who are having problems at age 15 or 16, we can get them into treatment and improve their functioning at a crucial juncture in their social and academic lives."

The study screened 1,729 teens in grades 9-12 from seven high schools inNew York and New Jersey. Participants were first given the Columbia TeenScreen, composed of five questions on suicide risk factors. Those who scored positively on that screener were then given the National Institute for Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). Eighteen percent were identified as being at risk.

533 students (262 screen positive and 271 controls) were followed up four-to six years later. Ninety-two young adults were found to be depressed or suicidal in the follow-up interviews, of which 59 (64%) had been identified as"at risk" at the time of the high school screen. The follow-up results were published in the March 1999 supplement to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

While most of the at-risk teens did not have problems five years later,36% of those who screened positive continued to have a mood disorder or problems with suicide attempts or ideation in their early twenties. "This provides additional evidence that, if left untreated, mental disorders do notsimply go away," said Dr. Shaffer. "These disorders need to be treated to reduce the risk of suicide and improve the quality of life for those who suffer from them."

Many mental illnesses that increase suicide risk begin in adolescence,including depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Estimates are that 25-50% of people with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at least once. The good news is that suicide may be prevented in many cases through medication, such as lithium therapy for people with bipolar disorder, and other interventions, such as psychotherapy.

Other topics addressed at the press briefing include trends in adolescent suicide, new research on the neurobiology of suicide and the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in adolescents.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which has a long-standing commitment to AFSP and suicide prevention, will also present its pledge of $1 million toward AFSP's current fundraising campaign. Participating in the briefing will be:

• Research and Education: The Keys to Preventing Teen Suicide
  Robert Gebbia, Executive Director, AFSP
• AFSP's Response to the Surgeon General's Call to Action
  Herbert Hendin, MD, Medical Director, AFSP
• The Private Sector RoleDavid A. Dodd, President and CEO, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Member of the AFSP Board of Directors & Chairman of the 10th Anniversary Endowment Campaign
• Preventing Teen Suicide
  David Shaffer, MD, Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, President of AFSP
• Bipolar Disorder in Teens: Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment
  David Brent, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Member of AFSP Scientific Council
• The Neurobiology of Suicide/Treating Mood Disorders to Reduce Suicide Risk
  J. John Mann, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and Chief, Department of Neuroscience, NY State Psychiatric Institute, Chair of AFSP Scientific Council

AFSP will unveil a new public service announcement (PSA) on teen suicide that will air in movie theaters and on television stations nationwide. The PSA, funded by Ronald McDonald House Charities, features teenagers who have had the real life experience of having a friend who is suicidal. They address the difficulty of speaking openly about suicide but urge teens to take their friend's actions seriously and talk to an adult they trust.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of suicide and ways to prevent it. AFSP is the only national not-for-profit organization funding the research, education and treatment programs needed to prevent suicide.

NOTE: See below for more information on steps parents and teens can take to prevent suicide.

Preventing Teen Suicide Today
What Parents and Teens Can Do

Sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

UNDERSTAND THE RISK FACTORS FOR TEEN SUICIDE

1. Previous suicide attempts/current suicidal thoughts
2. Psychiatric disorders (such as bipolar disorder or depression, impulsive aggressive behavior)
3. Drug and/or alcohol abuse
4. Access to firearms
5. Situational stress

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS Five Warning Signs of Depression in Teens

1. Sad, anxious or "empty" mood
2. Declining school performance
3. Loss of pleasure/interest in social and/or sports activities
4. Sleeping too little or too much
5. Changes in weight or appetite

Five Warning Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens

1. Difficulty sleeping
2. Excessive talkativeness, rapid speech, racing thoughts
3. Frequent mood changes (both up and down), and/or irritability
4. Increase in risky behavior
5. Exaggerated ideas of ability and importance

TAKE ACTION
Three Steps Parents Can Take

1. Get your child help (medical or mental health professional)
2. Support your child (listen, avoid undue criticism, remain connected)
3. Become informed (library, local support group, Internet)

Three Steps Teens Can Take

1. Take your friend's actions seriously.
2. Encourage friend to seek professional help, accompany if necessary.
3. Talk to an adult you trust. Don't be alone in helping your friend.

SOURCE: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention