Adolescent suicide prevention: the Oklahoma community reaches out

In the United States, Oklahoma currently ranks fifth in suicide attempts and ninth in suicide completion in the 10- to 24-year-old age group. Studies have shown that many teens are seen by their primary care physician within 6 weeks of their suicide attempt or completion. Building on this finding, a questionnaire focusing on what physicians and nurses knew about the warning signs and symptoms of adolescent suicide was created and distributed to area clinics. It was found that few of the health care providers were comfortable in recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of suicide. An educational program was developed focusing on the warning signs of suicide to help health care workers deal with this troubling problem.