Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet

Introduction According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the suicide rate for individuals with mood disorders is 25 times greater than that of the general population. As we learned in our readings, there is a dramatic increase in suicide rates among the elderly and adolescents. In this assignment, you will focus on suicide prevention facts and resources for either adolescents/teens (ages 10-24) or the elderly population (ages 65 +). You will examine research on the numbers of victims, risk factors, warning signs, and prevention resources and will then develop a Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet for your assigned population. You will be assigned to research either the elderly or adolescent/teen population based on the 1st letter of your last name. (See Content Expectations for the assigned topic.) Assignment overview—What Is a Fact Sheet? Fact sheets are short reports that present information in a readable and interesting format. They enable scientists and researchers to concisely summarize the results of research, so it is shareable with the public or other professionals. However, be aware that Fact Sheets are more than just random lists of words or numbers. A useful Fact Sheet has a clear organization and structure. It names the issue at hand, discusses relevance, gives data (usually numerical or statistical), describes interventions and makes recommendations. Because Fact Sheets summarize data in a report format, they must provide accurate citations and references for the sources. An example of a Fact Sheets is provided by the Child Welfare Information Gateway on Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities  (Links to an external site.)  (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader  (Links to an external site.)  to access this file) and the Fact Sheet provided on Suicide Prevention  (Links to an external site.)  from SAMHSA. These are attached as documents for you to review. General Format and Audience Most fact sheets are two to four pages in length. They should have a good balance of text (in a readable font), white space, and images or charts and graphs. An effective fact sheet is informative and visually interesting. Many use a two-column format, as well as color fonts, headers and photographs. [Given the sensitive nature of this fact sheet, images of actual suicides, death, weapons, etc. are not appropriate]. Pie charts or histograms with statistics are ideal for Fact Sheets. It is important to keep your audience in mind, as you write the text, for your Fact Sheet. Use headings throughout the Fact Sheet to guide your reader through the Fact Sheet. For the purposes of this assignment, assume you are working with an agency and are developing this Fact Sheet for distribution among the general public to inform them of either adolescent/teen or elderly suicide and prevention. Content Expectations Produce a 1000-word Fact Sheet (two to four pages) on suicide prevention using assigned resources/textbook and two resources found on your own. If the first letter of your last name is A–P, you will develop a Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet on the Adolescent/Teen population (ages 10–24). If the first letter of your last name is Q–Z, you will develop a Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet on the Elderly population (ages 65 and older). Your fact sheet should: Describe the prevalence of suicide within your assigned age population (elderly or adolescent/teen). This should include statistics and growth rates. Present and explain statistical evidence relating to suicide and co-existing disorders such as mood disorders and substance abuse. Explain the three indicators of suicidal behavior (ideation, plan, and attempt) and provide statistical evidence of the prevalence of each within your assigned population. List and discuss risk factors and warning signs for suicide among your assigned population. Provide three national resources for suicide prevention (hotlines, websites, etc.). Use required resources to write the fact sheet. Use a minimum of two additional scholarly references (this is in addition to your required resources/textbook). Scholarly references can include peer-reviewed articles, journals, government websites, and any course supplemental resources. Format Expectations Your Fact Sheet Must: Cite all information from the required resources/textbook plus the additional scholarly references you use in the Fact Sheet. Use APA style. Have a minimum of 1000 words (two to four pages). Have a balance of readable text, images, and white space. Use headings to guide the reader. Use color in headings, charts, and graphs. Use Word to create a pie chart or a histogram to represent data on assigned age population. Not cut and paste text or tables from your sources. Be well-organized and free of spelling and grammatical errors. Use two additional scholarly sources besides the textbook and required resources. Not copy from any existing fact sheet or handout.