National week of observance promotes suicide prevention

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) --  Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day Sept. 10 and hosted by the International Association for Suicide and Prevention, the week of Sept. 9 through Sept. 15 marks National Suicide Prevention Week.

"This is a good opportunity to spread knowledge and training to people who find themselves in situations involving suicide," said Senior Airman Jaren Davis, a 92nd Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician. "It's also a good time to let people know what resources are available to them."

Promoting awareness is the goal of this national observance in the hopes that prevention will prevail to ensure victims, families and friends will not have to endure the emotional strains suicide can bring to their lives.

Just how common is suicide? It is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., averaging one suicide every 16 minutes.  It is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Approximately 811,000 Americans attempt suicide each year; and suicide is known to people of all ages and ethnic, economic and social backgrounds, according to the American Association of Suicidology.

The factors involved in attempted and completed suicides are many, as are the factors in suicide prevention.

"Depression, seclusion, feeling as if there is no hope for the future, talking about suicide and actually having a suicide plan" are a few common signs of suicide," Airman Davis said.

Other factors include substance abuse, mental instability, previous suicide attempts or family history of suicide, recent loss and unemployment.

On the other hand, a close-support system of family and friends, involvement in regular social activities, and an ability to cope are factors that can reduce those helpless feelings.

You, like many others, may say to your self that something must be done to thwart this rising plague of despair. Prevention is reliant on knowledge of understanding, and in return, a knowledge and understanding of available resources may be the tools that aid you in assisting someone in need.

There are ways of aiding someone who confides that they are thinking of or are acting on their plans to commit suicide.

"Be a good wingman," Airman Davis said . "If someone starts talking about committing suicide, listen to them, ask open-ended questions and try not to judge them. Be direct and stay on subject. Things you should not do  are take the person out drinking, or try to use reverse psychology, or avoid or deny the problem."

And if someone is acting on their plan to commit suicide, "contact professional help such as security forces, the Mental Health Clinic, or the emergency room if it's after hours," he said. "Don't leave the person alone, and if you're on the phone, keep talking."

Officials at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center recommend other ways of being helpful to someone who may be thinking of or is threatening to commit suicide. Keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs, such as talking about suicide or death, making statements about not wanting to be alive or less straightforward statements, isolation, expressing feelings of meaningless, giving away possessions, and neglect of appearance and hygiene

SPRA offici also recommends becoming involved in suicide prevention activities, learning about and implementing suicide prevention programs, and supporting prevention policies and funding.

Fairchild has various resources readily available to Airmen and their families for many problems that may lead to suicide.

"The Mental Health Clinic has professional psychologists and social workers who are qualified to deal with suicide issues," Airman Davis said. "There are also programs for people with family issues such as family advocacy or family support, marriage counseling, financial advisement, and stress and anger management class at the clinic."

It all comes down to the reasoning that there are ways of preventing and acting upon suicide, to hinder attempts, and find help for those in a bind. Observe National Suicide Prevention Week by finding out what you can do to help.

(Information from the American Association of Suicidology and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center was used in this story) 

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