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CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla joined County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Los Angeles Suicide County Suicide Prevention Network to Release 2019 Suicide Prevention Report to the Community

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(Los Angeles, CA, September 24, 2019) Earlier today, the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN), in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, released the 2019 Suicide Prevention Report to the Community providing an update on the status of suicide and suicide prevention activities throughout Los Angeles County.

The 2019 Suicide Prevention Report to the Community includes information about local suicide prevention efforts, information on help-seeking, supports and crisis resources, as well as data on suicide deaths and attempts.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and his wife Angela Padilla joined County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (Fifth District), along with Dr. Barbara Ferrer (Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health), Dr. Curley Bonds (Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Operations, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health), and Lisa Salazar (Policy Director, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti) to address Los Angeles County’s efforts to reduce suicides and provide supports to those impacted by thoughts of suicide.In addition to the person suffering from those thoughts, this includes their family, loved ones and community.

Dr. Ferrer provided an update on suicide deaths in Los Angeles County, noting that suicides increased over the six-year period from 2012-2017. Of the 891 suicide deaths in 2017, 27 suicide deaths were of youth and adolescents and 93 suicide deaths were of military veterans.

The report also included encouraging news highlighting that an increased number of people are reaching out for help and lending their support to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

In 2018, 102,312 calls, chats and texts were made to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Teen Line from Los Angeles County community members. Last year, over 16,000 community members were trained in suicide prevention, and more than 7,400 people attended suicide prevention awareness walk events. In addition, nearly 3.5 million youth and young adults were reached by awareness and media campaigns promoting mental health and suicide prevention in Los Angeles County.

“We know suicide disproportionately affects some specific communities, and our effort includes targeted outreach to those who need it most, including our first responders who face immense stress and trauma on the job,” said Supervisor Barger. “It’s our duty to educate our communities about how to recognize signs and offer support— and to provide a safety net for people in crisis.”

In response to the needs of the community, the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network (LASPN) is in the process of developing a strategic plan to provide a public health framework to reduce suicides in Los Angeles County.  Key elements of the plan include strengthening protective factors and wellbeing, raising awareness of the warning signs for suicide and local resources, early intervention by training those in a position to intervene, effective crisis response, and providing support after a suicide attempt or death.

“We know that suicide cannot be solved by one entity alone, and through the efforts of County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network we invite all community members to join us in finding their role in suicide prevention,” said Tracie Andrews, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Co-Chair of the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network. “There is a hero in each of us, that can assist someone in finding their reasons for living.”

Measuring and Meeting Mental Health Needs in a Pediatric Emergency Department

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A distressed 17-year-old in tears who took a handful of pills following the break up with her boyfriend. A ruminating 13-year-old who has been bullied throughout middle school and wondering if the world would be better off without him. A restless 12-year-old who presents with breathing difficulty but later reveals that she was sexually assaulted years ago and periodically cuts along her forearms.

Rarely does a shift go by that I don’t come across at least one depressed, anxious, self-harming and/or suicidal adolescent in our buzzing pediatric Emergency Department.

Sounds like a downbeat environment?

Well, I find addressing a patient’s ultimate despair as ultra-rewarding and satisfying. I feel motivated to make the most of what is often no more than a 20-30 minute potentially powerful window in a life.
The hospital where I work as an evening/weekend crisis clinical social worker – Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – sees around 97,000 patients annually in its Emergency Department which is a designated Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.

There’s been an increased focus on holistic wellness for our youth in recent years. And our Emergency Department is no exception to this vital trend which acknowledges the correlation between mind and body.

We frequently evaluate patients who come through our doors with primary complaints of suicidal ideation or those following a self-injurious act or an actual suicide attempt. But beyond that, we screen almost all adolescent patients age 12 and up, regardless of the initial reason for their visit, for thoughts of self-harm and/or suicide as well as other high risk mental health behaviors and circumstances.

So, whether a patient presents with an asthma exacerbation or a fractured elbow, an 11-item behavioral health assessment tool called the Emergency Department Distress Response Screener (ED-DRS) conducted by our physicians will be a part of the comprehensive medical intake process. The questionnaire was designed and developed by our medical director, Dr. Alan Nager, who recognizes that the Emergency Department is a suitable environment for determining risk factors and stepping in to help. Some patients don’t meet criteria for this confidential screening – including those who are in a critical medical crisis or those who lack the ability to complete the assessment due to developmental delay. A small portion of patients opt out of the assessment.

In one study using the ED-DRS – Mental Health Screening Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the Emergency Department, Nager, AL, et al. Pediatric Emergency Care, 2017 – a total of 992 participating patients were examined. Symptomatic patients (those who responded “yes” to at least one of the 11 items) comprised 47.5% of the sample. Of those symptomatic patients, 33.8% had depressed mood, 30.4 % had anxiety, and 6.2% had thoughts of self-harm, suicide and/or homicide. Several other categories including a history of bullying, trauma and abuse were also screened.
Once a patient is identified with high risk symptoms such thoughts of self-harm or suicide on the survey, the Emergency Department clinical social worker conducts a more thorough assessment, determines level of risk and intervenes accordingly.

Since we don’t provide inpatient psychiatric care at our hospital, we occasionally arrange for our most affected patients to be transferred to a facility that can address their acute mental health needs. But more often, we send our patients home well-equipped with safety recommendations including counseling and hotline referrals.
With the use of screening tools like our customized ED-DRS developed by and for our Emergency Department, patients are often given an opportunity to vocalize serious concerns for the very first time.

And – that’s what I call a “power tool.”

About the author:  Claudia Boles, LCSW is a clinical social worker at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  She is also a member of the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Network, the Los Angeles Child & Adolescent Suicide Review Team.  Claudia volunteers for wellness organizations including Partnership for Awareness and volunteers for Crisis Text Line.  She’s raising three adolescents and enjoys leisure walks, aromatherapy, perfumery and independent films. 

Seize the Awkward Partners with Musicians Aminé, Hayley Kiyoko, Christina Perri and Lindsey Stirling to Encourage Young Adults to Start a Conversation About Mental Health

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NEW YORK, NY, September 5, 2019 – To coincide with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September), the Ad Council’s Seize the Awkward campaign is launching a new video series starring musicians Aminé, Hayley Kiyoko, Christina Perri and Lindsey Stirling to empower teens and young adults to talk about mental health with their friends. Through an anthem spot and four personal story videos, the artists share their own personal experiences of how starting a conversation about mental health with friends has impacted their lives. Throughout September, the national public service campaign in partnership with, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) will activate on digital, social and media platforms popular among teens and young adults to encourage them to reach out to a friend who might be struggling.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults and for every youth suicide it is estimated that 100-200 others attempt suicide. Young adulthood is a critical time when many people experience mental health issues as well as significant stress from life transitions such as gaining more independence and responsibility when moving from home and beginning college or a career. Many young adults will be returning to school or departing for college for the first time this September, making the Seize the Awkward message of checking in with a friend especially timely and relevant.

“This extraordinary group of musicians and major digital platforms gives us the opportunity to authentically reach and engage teens and young adults throughout the country,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “Each of these musicians has an impactful, relatable story that will hopefully encourage young adults to start important and potentially life-saving conversations.”

The digital-first creative content, including social videos produced with award-winning digital studio Portal A and radio spots, features four popular musicians with a total social audience of nearly 20 million people. In addition to starring in the videos, Aminé, Hayley Kiyoko, Christina Perri and Lindsey Stirling will also be amplifying their own personal stories across their platforms. By demonstrating true vulnerability in their respective personal story videos, the artists are encouraging teens and young adults to create a safe space for their friends to open up about mental health challenges.

“We commend each of these musicians and Portal A for supporting the campaign and bringing greater awareness by sharing their personal stories of taking care of our mental health in the same way we would our physical health,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer of AFSP. “Together, we can support each other in having conversations about struggles in our lives, and promoting help seeking and treatment when needed.”

The four musicians join a group of more than 20 digital talent and traditional celebrities including Liza Koshy, Markiplier, Hannah Hart and Tyler Posey, among others who have created content on behalf of Seize the Awkward. As trusted voices to young adults, particularly 16-to-24-year-olds, talent play a critical role in reaching the campaign target audience. Talent have amplified the Seize the Awkward message beyond their total audience of more than 50 million by creating over 30 pieces of content which have garnered more than 16.5 million views. Most recently, the campaign launched a personal video story with Billie Eilish in a month which has received more than 4 million views.

“We all have the opportunity and ability to reach out and support the mental health of others and these small actions can make a real difference,” said John MacPhee, Executive Director/CEO, JED. “We are grateful to these artists for sharing their stories with teens and young adults and encouraging us all to start a conversation about mental health with our friends who might be struggling.”  

Additionally, throughout the month of September, the following digital, social and media partners will provide significant exposure and customized content for Seize the Awkward on their platforms:

  • Billboard:  Billboard, the global destination for the latest music news, issues and trends, will donate and run a comprehensive, supporting media campaign across its extensive ecosystem including social media promotion of the musician video series.
  • Café Grumpy: Café Grumpy, in partnership with Facebook, will offer Instagram users 2-for-1 coffee coupons to encourage them to visit a Café Grumpy with a friend to have a conversation about mental health over a cup of coffee.
  • Facebook: Facebook’s Creative Shop contributed creative services and donated media for a series of unique illustrations and animated videos on Instagram demonstrating the signs of emerging mental health problems and ways to help a friend by starting a conversation.
  • Goodtype: On September 17th, the Instagram art community Goodtype will promote a challenge to its more than 1 million followers. Followers will be encouraged to create an original work of art dedicated to Seize the Awkward and share why it’s important to talk about mental health with a friend.
  • Initiative: Global media company, Initiative, is providing their expertise to support the campaign through pro bono development and execution of a custom media strategy to secure additional high-profile targeted media.
  • Reddit: Reddit is supporting the campaign by promoting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) with a mental health expert during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Participants will be able to ask questions related to mental health and how to support a friend who may be in need during the school year.
  • Snap: During Suicide Prevention Week (September 8th to 14th) and World Mental Health Day (October 10th), Snap will promote a custom Snapchat filter nationwide to support the campaign.
  • UPROXX: UPROXX, one of the largest millennial focused news and entertainment sites on the web, will be sharing the musician video series across its social platforms.

Since its launch in January 2018, Seize the Awkward has garnered 21.5 million video views and over 377,000 sessions on SeizeTheAwkward.org, where visitors can explore resources and tools to help them start a conversation with a peer around mental health. To learn more about the campaign, visit SeizeTheAwkward.org and @SeizeTheAwkward on Instagram. To get immediate, free support 24/7, call 1-800-273-8254 or text “SEIZE” to 741741.

Guns and Suicide: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?

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This is the title of the afternoon keynote address that will be delivered by Dr. Mike Anestis on September 25th as part of the 9th Annual Suicide Prevention Summit hosted by the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network.  To register click here.

The keynote address will provide the audience with a thorough background on the relationship between firearms and suicide.  The discussion will be data-driven and will establish the magnitude of the relationship between firearms and suicide, will propose a theory-driven rationale for that relationship, and will propose solutions.  Information will be drawn from both military and civilian samples and will cover a range of solutions.

Dr. Mike Anestis is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the director of the Suicide and Dysregulation laboratory at the University of Southern Mississippi.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and his PhD from Florida State University.  His research focuses on risk factors for suicide, with a particular emphasis on the role of firearms.  Dr. Anestis is the author of over 130 peer reviewed scientific publications as well as the recent book Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic.  Dr. Anestis received the 2018 Edwin Shneidman Award for early career achievement in suicide research from the American Association of Suicidology and is currently the principle investigator on a randomized clinical trial focused on increasing safe storage behavior among firearm owning members of the Mississippi National Guard.

More resources on Means Restriction:

Finding the Right Tool for the Job (of preventing suicide).

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Have you ever heard the saying “it’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?” While a sledgehammer will certainly open the nut, it will also smash it to bits when there are better tools for the job. This points to the issue of how we respond to someone who reveals that they are thinking about suicide.

If you have ever been in this position, you know how difficult it can be. The fear of saying or doing the wrong thing, or not enough, can be overwhelming. The safest response might seem like calling 911. While this is true in some situations, in others a less drastic response may be more helpful.  

Below are some considerations for finding the right tool for the job.  Sometimes the best way to identify what steps to take is to ask the person what they think will help keep them safe.  You can find reassurance in the knowledge that most suicidal crisis last for a brief period of time. Therefore staying with the person (as long as the scene is not unsafe) and connecting them to resources and ongoing support when the situation has calmed down might be the most effective course of action.

When is a call to a crisis line the right tool?

Crisis lines are designed to quickly assess the level of risk in a situation and get the caller to the appropriate services. If you are calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or one of its member crisis centers in California, the call will be answered by someone trained in assessing suicide risk and conducting a phone-based intervention designed to reduce their risk. Many Lifeline/crisis center calls are life-saving interventions, and they are equipped to call 911 on the person’s behalf if they believe a suicide attempt has occurred or the person’s life is in imminent danger.

Crisis lines are useful in a range of situations, from direct intervention to someone in an acute crisis, to calling yourself to talk about how you might help someone you are concerned about. Crisis lines can also help you or the person in crisis to find a mental health provider in your community.

The Suicide Prevention Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7 and answered by trained counselors who are skilled in intervening with those who are acutely suicidal, as well as individuals who are concerned about someone else.  Chat services are also available online: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.  Individuals can also text HOME to 741-741.

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline can also connect callers to the Spanish language network through a prompt or by calling directly (1-888-628-9454).  There is also an option for the deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889. Callers to the Lifeline can also choose a prompt to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line, which can also be reached by texting 838255 or through an online chat service. 

When is a call to 911 the right tool?

Calling 911 connects the situation to first responders, such as law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs. If you suspect that someone is about to or has already harmed themselves and requires medical attention, or if you are in danger, this is the right tool. 

But it may not be the right tool in every circumstance.  More often than not other tools in the community can help avoid the potential trauma of a 911 response. For example, crisis hotline staff have the skills to assess and intervene to help someone who is acutely suicidal.  Imagine someone being in emotional pain and rather than emotionally stabilizing on the phone or in-person with a caring and compassionate, friend, family member or mental health professional, they are potentially hand-cuffed and transported to the nearest Emergency Room in a police car, only to experience long wait times or hold for psychiatric assessment.   This experience might deter them from seeking the appropriate help later.

How do I know if I should be worried about someone?

Becoming familiar with warning signs and resources, being willing to listen, and ready to take steps to reduce access to lethal means are tools you can always have in your toolbox.

Know the Signs: Pain isn’t always obvious, but most suicidal people show some signs that they are thinking about suicide. The signs may appear in conversations, through their actions, or in social media posts. If you observe one or more warning signs of suicide, especially if the behavior is new, increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change, step in or speak up.

Find the Words: “Are you thinking of ending your life?” Few phrases are as difficult to say to a friend or loved one. But when it comes to suicide prevention, none are more important. Visit the “Find the Words” section of www.suicideispreventable.org for suggestions to get the conversation started. Having the conversation is less about persuading someone not to end their life, and about showing that you are concerned, helping the person to find hope and remember their reasons for living.

Reach Out: You are not alone in helping someone in crisis. There are many resources available to assess, treat, and intervene. Crisis lines, counselors, intervention programs and more are available to you as well as to the person experiencing the emotional crisis. Visit the Resources page to learn about local resources.

Instinct and compassion: two tools you can always count on

There is no foolproof process for knowing exactly the right thing to do. Trust your instinct if it tells you something is wrong. Leading with compassion can help create safe spaces for people to talk about their pain and this is one of the most helpful things you can do.

Many people who have lost someone to suicide don’t feel the same compassion from others that those who have lost a loved on another way experience. Some of this is because people are uncomfortable talking about suicide. Consider reaching out to someone who has lost a friend or loved one to suicide. Ask them about how the person they lost lived rather than focusing on the way they died.

The more we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, the more we can reduce the stigma around the subject and infuse our communities with hope and healing.

Additional Resources:

Reference the UB School of Social Work’s Self Care site which provides a Self-Care Starter Kit with valuable resources.

Visit the Mental Health America website for tools and tips at https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ten-tools.

For additional self-care resources visit the Self Care section of the 2019 Each Mind Matters Suicide Prevention Week Toolkit at https://www.eachmindmatters.org/spw2019/

Love the person you are – figure out what makes you happy and do more of it!