13 Reasons Why & Talking Points for Families (www.sscps.org - Counseling Department)

Christine Cissy White 5/22/185:15 PM

The South Shore Charter Pubic School (in MA) emailed a letter to families last week prior to the airing of season two of the Netflix series "!3 Reasons Why." They also shared some questions and talking points I found helpful. I know people have mixed feelings about how the show depicts teens, adults, depression, trauma, sexual assault, and death by suicide. For those that are watching and discussing the series and these issues, it seems like a great time to talk about childhood adversity impacts kids and families, during the teens years and as adults. Please share any of your thoughts, opinions or other resources in the comments or as a blog post.

Questions for Young People
● What should someone do if a friend is thinking about suicide? Who can they go to for help?

● Why is it important not to be a “bystander” when someone is being bullied, cyberbullied, or needs help?

● What do you think some of the warning signs of suicide are? What should you do if you are worried about someone?

Talking Points for Young People
If someone you know may be considering suicide, use this three-step response:

Listen without judgment
Ask directly if a person is considering suicide
- If yes, stay with the person and call a crisis center, seek out a school counselor, or tell a parent or other trusted adult.
- Sometimes, people worry if they ask someone if they are considering suicide, they will “plant” the idea. Years of research and clinical interventions have proven this is simply not true. If you are worried someone is considering suicide, ask them if they are considering suicide, and get them help.
Never keep a secret if someone you know is considering suicide. Connect them with help right away.

RESOURCES
Call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency room if you or someone you know is in danger.
Crisis Textline: Text “HOME” to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
“Are You Okay?” Video from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
More discussion questions (13 Reasons Why
Book Discussion Guide)
Guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists regarding the series

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Comments (2)

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Christine Cissy WhiteIt's not trauma-informed unless it's informed by trauma survivors.

Lisa Frederiksen posted:
This is great, Cissy - thank you.
I think conversations around ACEs - what they are and how they can change a brain in a manner that conscious, discerning, reasoned thought (which often is not even developed) is overridden by the stress response and thus leaves a teen without the tool it needs to "think" and know suicide is not the answer - could be a huge help.
If teens understand ACEs, then a close friend may know what their friend's home life is like and realize that friend has experienced ACEs. Knowing that 4 or more ACEs increases the risk of attempting suicide 12 times and giving teens talking points around ACEs and this ACEs-suicide connection can help make that friend's support feel more meaningful to the teen in trouble.
Similarly, conversations around ACEs and toxic stress can help families with discussions around underage alcohol or other drug use and the reasons for delaying first use.
To give readers a bit of background on this brain development/ACEs connection, here's a recent blog post https://www.pacesconnection.com/...ood-experiences-aces (although it does not address suicide, directly).
Thanks again, Cissy!

Lisa:
Thank you! I'm so grateful you are part of this community and doing this work and helping all of us do this work as well! You are right, awareness about ACEs can help, and that stats on high ACEs and death by suicide are SO important. Thanks for calling out the connection so clearly! And how talking, sharing and understanding can help! And the link!

Cissy

5/24/182:40 AM

Lisa FrederiksenMember

This is great, Cissy - thank you.

I think conversations around ACEs - what they are and how they can change a brain in a manner that conscious, discerning, reasoned thought (which often is not even developed) is overridden by the stress response and thus leaves a teen without the tool it needs to "think" and know suicide is not the answer - could be a huge help.

If teens understand ACEs, then a close friend may know what their friend's home life is like and realize that friend has experienced ACEs. Knowing that 4 or more ACEs increases the risk of attempting suicide 12 times and giving teens talking points around ACEs and this ACEs-suicide connection can help make that friend's support feel more meaningful to the teen in trouble.

Similarly, conversations around ACEs and toxic stress can help families with discussions around underage alcohol or other drug use and the reasons for delaying first use.

To give readers a bit of background on this brain development/ACEs connection, here's a recent blog post https://www.pacesconnection.com/...ood-experiences-aces (although it does not address suicide, directly).

Thanks again, Cissy!

5/23/181:58 PM

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