Suicide prevention it takes a Community

Everyone experiences daily stress and major life events that can be difficult to handle. Examples of daily stress include health problems, time pressure, financial issues, work-related problems, family issues, etc. Major life events include death of a loved one, divorce, marriage, getting a new job, etc.

Everyone uses some sort of stress management to help them cope with the daily pressures of life and those major life events when they do occur. Talking to family members, friends, coworkers, supervisors, or counseling professionals about important issues represents one of the most effective ways to manage stress. Other effective methods include exercise, managing your diet, developing a consistent time of going to sleep and getting up, and replacing bad habits with more healthy behaviors.

For some individuals, a lack of coping resources and/or not using effective stress management techniques can make it much more difficult to adjust to everyday stress and major stressors. If people continue to make poor choices for themselves and have insufficient resources to develop good stress management skills, feelings of depression may begin to occur. If you suspect that you or someone you know is depressed, look for the following symptoms often associated with depression:

1. Sleep. People can sleep too much, too little, or frequently wake up.

2. Appetite. As with sleep, people can eat too much or too little resulting in weight loss or weight gain.

3. Withdrawal. People may decline invitations to go to social events, and they may not communicate as they once did.

4. Lack of interest. People who are depressed often will become less involved in activities they once enjoyed.

5. Poor concentration. People may have difficulty remembering appointments or finishing tasks.

6. Fatigue. People often report feeling very tired. Some people may lie in bed for hours at a time or sometimes go all night without sleeping.

7. Feeling worthless or guilty. People may feel guilty for even minor things that they had no control over.

If you know someone who seems depressed, you might suggest that they contact a mental health professional, chaplain or their Primary Care Manager for further assistance. Despite the resources that are available, people with depression or continuing stress can still struggle with coping. Some of these individuals may develop feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The combination of untreated depression with hopeless and helpless feelings can lead to suicidal thoughts for some individuals. People who have suicidal thoughts may exhibit some of the following factors:

* They may talk about suicide.

* They may make final arrangements.

* They can give away prized possessions.

* They could have had a previous suicide attempt.

* They may have experienced a severe loss or have serious legal, administrative, or relationship problems.

* The risk is compounded if they are abusing alcohol or other substances that lower inhibitions.

If someone is talking about suicide, you can -- as a friend -- contact a mental health professional, a chaplain or an Extended Hours Clinic immediately. Do not worry about betraying their confidence if they are making suicidal statements. It is more important to keep them safe. The secret will be out anyway if they are dead or even if they attempt to harm themselves. It is easier to live with the possibility someone may be angry with you than it is to live with the fact that someone is dead and you may have been able to prevent it. You cannot be too cautious in dealing with individuals who are in crisis.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ignoring Sians Can Cost a Life

TSgt. Dee Ann Poole

When I was a sophomore in high school, my older brother, Rick, moved in with my dad, my younger sister, and me. Rick was 29, a father of two, unemployed, having marital problems and having a hard time dealing with the loss of our mom a year earlier.

Rick and I didn't talk about personal feelings, though. Maybe it was because I was only 16. I assumed my dad talked to him, but I'll never know. Rick is no longer alive and my dad doesn't talk about that April day that ended so tragically.

In 1980. suicide was a whispered word and people didn't talk openly about it. Maybe it's because they didn't know how to recognize the signs and offer help. Maybe it was thought of as a cop out. It's not until after an event that people find themselves saying, "If only ..."

But why must we say that? There's no easy answer because we won't be able to stop all suicide attempts. But we can do our best to help someone who may feel suicide is the only answer to life's problems.

The Air Force began its battle against suicide in 1996 when it created the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program. It was designed to educate people on the symptoms of suicide and curb what appeared to be an increasing number of suicides among active duty members.

In the 5 years before the program started, the Air Force averaged 60 deaths annually. Since 1996, there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of suicides. Between 1998 and 2000, the service averaged 28 suicides annually.

Even though the trend is down, some people still see suicide as the only way to fix their problems. So far in 2001, the Air Force has suffered more than 20 suicides, said officials at the Air Force Surgeon General's office. Even one is one too many. The burden carried by the people who are left behind is tremendous. No one can be replaced. It's impossible.

So how can we help reduce the number of suicides? We must know the symptoms and help people find a cure. Many stressors can trigger a suicide. The most common are relationship, financial, and legal concerns.

When Rick died, we didn't know what to look for. We didn't have the training or the knowledge to help him overcome his problems. Would Rick still be here today if we had known how to help? I don't know. But I do know everyone in my family would feel better knowing we had tried to save his life. Instead, my dad lives with the guilt of finding my brother in the garage.

I urge all of you to be aware of what's going on with those you know and point them in the right direction before life's stressors overwhelm them. When a person is at risk of committing suicide, it's better to try to help than to live with the guilt of being quiet. Guilt can be a heavy burden. Just ask my dad.

Sergeant Stops Woman's Suicide Attempt

Denise Shorb

What would you do if you came across an individual contemplating suicide? Would you be able to recognize the signs, and then take the time to help that person? A technical sergeant from the 18th Flight Test Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., did recognize those signs, and took it upon himself to try to help a person in need.

TSgt. Matthew Griffin, an MH-53 Pave Low test director, was recently driving through Wayne County, Ga., when he noticed a woman leaning over the edge of a bridge. Deciding she looked a little out of place on a bridge in the middle of the night, he stopped to make sure she was all right. As it turned out, the woman was going through difficult times in her life and did not see it getting any better. She had decided to come to the bridge to end her life.

Griffin spoke with the woman at length, hoping to dissuade her from completing the attempt. Even after talking with her for a while, it became evident to him that she was not going to come away from the side of the bridge. The woman actually moved over the railing, and was on the verge of jumping when he continued talking while inching toward her. Fortunately, Griffin was close enough to lean over and grab her as she pushed herself off the bridge. He pulled her back onto the road and held on to her until the police arrived.

The Wayne County Sheriff applauded Griffin for his selfless act. Other people had seen the woman on the bridge and called the sheriff's department to report it, but none had actually stopped to check on her. Sheriff David Herrin pointed out in a letter how wonderful it was to know "there are still a few people like [Griffin] left in this world that care enough to actually get involved when someone is in such dire need of help." Griffin said, "I tried to remain calm, and felt like I was in control of myself, and lust kept telling her that it was not worth it, that there was too much to live for. I just wanted to make sure she was OK." Griffin credits the suicide prevention training he received at the NCO Academy and the yearly suicide prevention training he has received through Hurlburt's Behavioral Health Services Flight.

COPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Department of the Air Force
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group