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By Nita Grubbs, RN
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10 through 24. But using Scouting America’s U-S-A model can help leaders Be Prepared if they believe someone is in crisis.
Scouting America developed U-S-A to help Scout leaders understand their role if someone is experiencing mental, emotional or social health issues. That could mean advocating or supporting someone in crisis or knowing how to get them help.
U = Understand
A big part of U-S-A is understanding the signs that someone might be thinking about suicide or possibly even planning to carry it out. For instance, you might notice risk factors, such as a previous attempt or something in their lives creating high stress levels.
Other red flags might be:
- Talking about not having anything to live for
- Giving away possessions
- Suddenly participating in reckless behaviors
- Having significant mood swings
S = Speak to and support them
If you recognize any of these behaviors, don’t just hope things will get better. Talk with the youth as soon as possible and ask if they’re OK. (Scouting America’s Safeguarding Youth requirements apply here, so do this in sight of others while maintaining confidentiality.)
Ask open-ended questions to learn about how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking. Think about questions that can’t be answered with “yes,” “no” or “fine,” such as “How are you feeling today?” or “Which merit badge are you interested in earning next?” If the youth talks about negative feelings or feeling as if they don’t have anything to live for, ask if they’ve had these feelings before and, if so, who they talked to then.
Let them know you’ll support them and be there for them.
A = Advocate (and act, if needed)
Take every threat seriously, and never leave a person in crisis alone.
Let the youth know you care about them and their safety and that you will stay with them. You might need to contact their parent or legal guardian, unless there’s a known reason not to, or their therapist if they have one. In more serious situations, you may need to contact a community mental health emergency team.
If you’re unsure what to do, call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. (TDD is also available.)
After seeking help, notify your Scout executive or camp leadership about the situation.
No one ever expects to be in a situation in which they must act to help a person in a mental health crisis. But using the U-S-A model will help leaders better understand, support and advocate for youth who might be headed that way. Take every concern seriously — and get even more help with the resources below.
Resources
- Scouting America Safety Moment: Youth Suicide Prevention
- Scouting America Safety Moment: Mental, Emotional and Social Health
- Scouting America Safety Moment: Mindful Breathing
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) SAFE-T Flier
- National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Call 988
Nita Grubbs, RN, is a member of Scouting America’s SAFEguarding Medical Support Subcommittee.
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