By Katie Lange, DoD News, Defense Media Activity / Published
September 10, 2015
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Thoughts of suicide are
not necessarily something people explicitly announce to the world, which means
loved ones often have no idea that their friend or family member is
contemplating it. But there are signs and risk factors, and while somebody
might think they can’t make a difference by themselves, that’s wrong. Experts
say that’s sometimes all it takes.
That’s the point of the Power of 1 campaign, launched by the
Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs in observance of Suicide
Prevention Month.
“One smile, one conversation, one comment, one caring
gesture toward somebody at risk can make a difference in their experience and
perhaps instill hope and get them to help,” said Dr. Keita Franklin, the
Defense Suicide Prevention Office director.
The number one thing to know: Suicide is preventable.
Warning signs are just missed sometimes.
“Inevitably, we always know that somebody has told somebody
that they were struggling,” Franklin said of her office’s research.
“Unfortunately, that person may not have known the extent of the risk.”
To be better prepared, here are some of the signs you can
look for:
- Expressing sadness often
- Anxiety and agitation
- Deteriorating physical appearances and neglect of personal
welfare
- Sleeping all the time, or having trouble sleeping
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Losing interest in hobbies; loss of appetite
- Performing poorly at work or school
- Dramatic and frequent mood changes
- Acting recklessly; showing violent, self-destructive
behavior
- Expressing feelings of guilt, shame or failure
- Desperation – feeling like there’s no way out or no
solution to the problem
- Giving away prized possessions
- Making out a will or otherwise getting his or her affairs
in order
- Trying to secure weapons, pills or other things that can be
used for harm
Common risk factors for suicide include relationship,
financial or legal struggles.
It’s OK to not be OK
Franklin said a big part of suicide prevention in the
military is making sure those at risk feel like they belong and are valued in
their roles. That means making sure the at-risk person knows his or her chain
of command cares and is willing to help – that it’s OK to not be OK.
“Leaders need to be able to convey to their units that
people can bounce back from their stress issues and that they’re not always
terminally broken,” Franklin said.
She said it’s important for at-risk people to know that
getting help with mental health issues is a sign of strength, not weakness.
“It’s a big first step, and it can save a life, whether
you’re the person at risk or the person helping the person at risk,” Franklin
said.
She said service members are also provided peer-to-peer
training that focuses on them looking for signs and risk factors and, more
importantly, asking the question, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
“We won’t know if people are at risk until then,” Franklin
said.
For more resources on how to support military members and
veterans in crisis, visit Veteranscrisisline.net or the Defense Suicide
Prevention Office website. Service members and veterans who need help can call
the Military Crisis Line and speak to a counselor by dialing 800-273-TALK and
pressing 1. If overseas, you can still get help by calling:
In Europe: 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118*
In Korea: 0808 55 118 or DSN 118
In Afghanistan: 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111
DOD statistics show that in 2014, there were 268 confirmed
suicides among active-duty military members, 79 confirmed in the Reserves and
87 in the National Guard.
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