Youth & Adolescent Suicide Prevention Flashcards

Which online behavior pattern is considered a warning sign for imminent suicide risk in adolescents?

Answer: Giving away prized virtual items or digital assets and saying goodbye online

Giving away meaningful possessions—including virtual ones—and posting farewell messages online mirror traditional warning signs of imminent suicidal intent.

Cyberbullying is associated with adolescent suicide risk primarily through which mechanism?

Answer: Amplifying feelings of shame, hopelessness, and social exclusion

Cyberbullying intensifies psychological pain by making victimization public, persistent, and inescapable, increasing hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

A parent asks whether their teenager's suicidal ideation will increase if they ask directly about it. The evidence-based response is:

Answer: No, research consistently shows direct inquiry does not increase risk

Multiple studies confirm that directly asking about suicidal ideation does not increase risk and often provides relief to the adolescent.

Which of the following represents a means restriction strategy specifically recommended for households with adolescents at suicide risk?

Answer: Storing all firearms unloaded and locked with ammunition stored separately

Best practice is to store firearms unloaded, in a locked container, with ammunition stored separately or removed from the home entirely.

The 'interpersonal theory of suicide' proposed by Joiner identifies which two constructs as necessary preconditions for suicide attempt?

Answer: Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness

Joiner's theory holds that thwarted belongingness (not fitting in) and perceived burdensomeness (believing one is a burden) together create the desire for suicide.

LGBTQ+ adolescents face elevated suicide risk primarily due to:

Answer: Minority stress including rejection, victimization, and lack of family acceptance

Minority stress theory explains that stigma, discrimination, bullying, and family rejection—not identity itself—drive elevated suicide risk in LGBTQ+ youth.

In gatekeeper training programs for youth suicide prevention, the primary goal of the 'intervention' skill is:

Answer: Connecting the at-risk person to professional help

Gatekeeper intervention training focuses on the ACT model—Acknowledge, Care, Tell a trusted adult or connect to professional resources—not clinical diagnosis or treatment.