Risk and Protective Factors

This issue of Well Aware Bulletin discusses suicide risk among student athletes and how the sports culture’s "tough it out" attitude can define social norms and expectations and compromise an athlete's outlook on reaching out for help. Those with predisposed vulnerabilities, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, stress disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders may be at especially high risk. Also discusses what adults can do to best address this risk and keep young athletes safe. 
 

The Mental Health First Aid program is an interactive session which runs 12 hours. It can be conducted as one two-day seminar, two one day events spaced over a short period of time or as four 3-hour sessions. Mental Health First Aid certification must be renewed every three years. The course covers risk/protective factors and warning signs for mental health problems, prevalence data, stigma, assessment, intervention, connecting individuals in crisis with appropriate care, as well as evidence-based professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem. Separate courses are offered for adults and youth. 
 

Authors discuss athletes’ psychiatric risks after injury; expression of pain; risks of having an identity driven solely by sports; distress tolerance and provide tips for making a differential diagnosis and providing treatment. This information is based on experience treating athletes, supplemented by relevant literature. Includes "Athletes and suicide: Who is at risk?"
 

The purpose of this handbook is to assist coaches in identifying student-athletes who may be having difficulty and to help coaches learn to respond appropriately and effectively with those student-athletes. Chapters provide information on mood disorders (includes suicide intervention), anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse and management issues.

This sheet provides basic information to help law enforcement officers recognize and respond to people who may be suicidal or at high risk. It also contains a list of relevant resource materials and organizations. Extensive input and review from law enforcement officers at the national and local levels were obtained in developing the sheet.

Child Trends analyzed data from 6,763 heterosexual adults who completed all three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).  They found that young, heterosexual adults who reported depressive or suicidal symptoms during adolescence are significantly more likely to report violence in their adult romantic relationships and sexual infidelity—their own or a partner’s—in their relationships. The study points out long-term importance of helping adolescents dealing with depression or suicidal symptoms, as well as identifying and helping adolescents at risk for these problems and the need for research exploring specific factors (such as poor problem-solving or communications skills, or past victimization) that impact relationship outcomes for this population, and for translating the results of that research for practitioners.

From February 2009 to February 2012, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services reported 16 suicides among Bhutanese refugees who resettled in the United States. ORR requested that the Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center (RHTAC) of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct an investigation of the multi-state cluster of suicides in this population.
The main objectives of the investigation were to 1) describe suicides that have occurred; 2) identify factors associated with suicidal ideation; and 3) formulate recommendations for stakeholders to prevent additional suicides. Key recommendations are made for local resettlement networks, community mental health providers, ORR and other partners.
 

QPR is centered on the “question, persuade, refer” strategy of suicide prevention training for gatekeepers, including workplace managers. The Institute offers training and information materials tailored for a variety of organizations and workplace settings.  (Under “QPR for Organizations,” click on “Business.”)
 

This brief presents research findings on the characteristics of adolescents who demonstrate resilience, along with strategies that promote resilience in adolescents and other useful resources. One of three Adolescent Health Highlights, a series on adolescent mental health, this brief discusses six factors that are associated with resilience and promote positive mental health.  
 

Presenters discuss the importance of changing perceptions, practices, and culture to address the needs of underserved LGBTQI youth. Webinars in the series include "Understanding and overcoming the challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex youth in schools and communities”, “The critical role of families in reducing risk and promoting well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex youth” and Understanding the importance of implementing an effective justice system response for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex youth in custody”