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Suicide Awareness

2009

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SUICIDE PREVENTION:

IT TAKES

³PERSONAL

COURAGE´ 

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Operation S. A. V. E.S. A. V. E. will help you act with care and

compassion if you encounter a person who is

suicidal.

The acronym ³SAVE´ summarizes the stepsneeded to take an active and valuable role in

suicide prevention.

SSigns of suicidal thinking

AAsk questions

VValidate the person¶s experience

EEncourage treatment and Expedite

getting help

Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention

Operation S.A.V.E.Operation S.A.V.E.

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Suicide Prevention

Operation S.A.V.E.

Importance of identification

Suicidal individuals are not always easy to identify.

There is no single profile to guide recognition.

There are a number of warning signs and symptoms.

(Some of the signs of suicidality are obvious, but othersare not.)

Signs and symptoms do not always mean the person issuicidal but:

(When you recognize signs, it is important to ask theperson how they are doing because they may meanthat they are in trouble.)

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Threatening to hurt or kill self 

Looking for ways to kill self 

Seeking access to pills, weapons or other means

Talking or writing about death, dying or 

suicide

Hopelessness Rage, anger 

Seeking revenge

Acting reckless or engaging in risky

activities

Suicide Prevention

SSigns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking

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Feeling trappedFeeling trapped

Increasing drug or alcohol abuseIncreasing drug or alcohol abuse

Withdrawing from friends, family andWithdrawing from friends, family andsocietysociety

Anxiety, agitationAnxiety, agitation

Dramatic changes in moodDramatic changes in mood

No reason for living, no sense of purposeNo reason for living, no sense of purposein lifein life

Difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the timeDifficulty sleeping or sleeping all the time

Giving away possessionsGiving away possessions

Increase or decrease in spiritualityIncrease or decrease in spirituality

Suicide PreventionSuicide PreventionSSigns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking

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To effectively determine if a person is suicidal, oneTo effectively determine if a person is suicidal, one

needs to interact in a manner that communicatesneeds to interact in a manner that communicates

concern and understanding. As well, one needs toconcern and understanding. As well, one needs to

know how to manage personal discomfort (i.e.,know how to manage personal discomfort (i.e.,anxiety, fear, frustration, personal, cultural or anxiety, fear, frustration, personal, cultural or 

religious values) in order to directly address thereligious values) in order to directly address the

issue.issue.

Know how to ask the most important question:Know how to ask the most important question:

The most difficult S. A. V. E. step is asking theThe most difficult S. A. V. E. step is asking the

most important question of allmost important question of all ± ±

Suicide PreventionSuicide PreventionAAsk questionssk questions

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Suicide PreventionAsk questions

Things to consider when you talk with the person:

Remain calm

Listen more than you speak Maintain eye contact

Act with confidence

Do not argue

Use open body language

Limit questions to gathering informationcasually

Use supportive and encouraging comments

Be as honest and ³up front´ as possible

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Suicide PreventionValidate the veteran¶s experience

Validation means:

Show the person that you are following

what they are saying

Accept their situation for what it is

 You are not passing judgment

Let them know that their situation is

serious and deserving of attention

Acknowledge their feelings

Let him or her know you are there to help

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Suicide Prevention

Encourage treatment and Expedite getting help

For the cooperative person:

Tips for encouraging treatment:

1. Explain that there are trained professionals availableto help them.

2. Explain that treatment works.

3. Explain that getting help for this kind of problem is no

different than seeing a specialist for other medical

problems.

4. Tell them that getting treatment is his or her right.

5. If they tell you that they have had treatment

before and it has not worked, try asking: ³What if 

this is the time it does work?´

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Suicide PreventionOperation S. A.V. E.

There are plenty of resources available toThere are plenty of resources available to

someone who is suicidal but we needsomeone who is suicidal but we need youyou

to partner with us in identifying the suicidalto partner with us in identifying the suicidal

person and getting them into treatment.person and getting them into treatment.

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INTERVENTION

 ACE Ask your Buddy ± Have the courage to ask the

question, but stay calm

 ± Ask the question directly, e.g.Are you thinking of killingyourself?

Care for your Buddy ± Remove any means that could

be used for self-injury

 ± Calmly control the situation; donot use force

Escort your Buddy ± Never leave your buddy alone

 ± Escort to the chain of command, a Chaplain, abehavioral health professional,or a primary care provider 

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How to Refer 

Responsibility always rests with unit leadership

Emergency:

Threat to life and lethality is imminent or severe.

Consult with a behavioral healthcare provider or other healthcare provider, if behavioral health isnot available.

Escort immediately to the Emergency Room,Behavioral Health, Aid Station, Combat StressControl Team, or the Chaplain.

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How to Refer (continued)

Non-Emergency

Consult with a Chaplain or behavioralhealth care provider 

Counsel Soldier and give a copy of thecommand referral (DoDD 6490.1)

Observe Soldier¶s rights to see SJA and IG

Escort the Soldier to behavioral healthwith command referral memorandum

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Resour ces

During Deployment:

Combat Stress Control Teams 430-1893 Medics

Battalion Aid Station

Chaplain

All returning Soldiers form OIF or OEF can contact the MilitaryOne

Source @ https://www.militaryonesource.com

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Questions?

Thanks for Listening and Getting 

Involved! 

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