Suicide Prevention

Introduction• Over the last 15 years, roughly four

Sailors complete suicide every month. This makes suicide the second-leading cause of preventable deaths after automobile

crashes. • While the number of suicides in the Navy is well

below the national average, the loss of even one shipmate or friend to suicide is a painful, unnecessary, and preventable loss. This tragic loss exacts a heavy toll on the family, friends, coworkers, and command left behind.

Importance

• Loss of life to suicide is of great concern within the Department of the Navy (DON). The goal of the Navy’s suicide prevention program is to help you recognize and understand suicide risk, protective factors, and how to help and effectively intervene.

Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:–Define suicide and related terms – Identify risk factors and warning signs for suicide– Identify how to be a First Responder

Outline

This lesson contains the following topics: • Terms to Know • Risk Factors & Warning Signs • First Responders • Suicide Resources

Suicide

Suicide is an intentional act resulting in one’s own death.

Suicide Attempt

A suicide attempt is an intentional act, causing self-harm, where death would have occurred without direct intervention.

Suicide Gesture

A suicide gesture is similar to a suicide attempt, except there is NO attempt to kill oneself.

Suicide Behaviors

Suicide behaviors encompass a broad range of acts, including suicide attempts, gestures, threats, and suicidal thoughts.

Which term describes an intentional act resulting in one’s own death?

• Suicide gesture• Suicide attempt• Suicide behavior• Suicide

Which term describes an act focused on taking one’s life that is unsuccessful in causing death?

• Suicide gesture• Suicide• Suicide attempt • Suicide wish

Which term describes an act where there is NO attempt to kill oneself?

• Suicide gesture• Suicide wish• Suicide attempt • Suicide

Which term encompasses a broad range of acts, including suicidal thoughts?

• Suicide attempt• Suicide gesture• Suicide behavior • Suicide

• Terms to Know • Risk Factors & Warning Signs • First Responders • Suicide Resources

Key Risk factors

• Mental health problems, such as depression• Substance abuse or increased alcohol use• Situations that a Sailor labels as “hopeless,” such as: – Relationship difficulties – Serious work problems – Serious legal trouble – Serious financial trouble – Traumatic events

• Suicide behaviors, such as: – Previous suicide attempts or suicide gestures – Hints or talk about suicide

Warning SignsSo, how do you know whether someone is suicidal?

• You look for warning signs in addition to the key risk factors. It is those warning signs that call our attention to the potential for suicide or suicidal behavior.

• Some general warning signs include: • Buying a weapon • Excessive spending • Giving away possessions • Impulsive anger or behavior • Inability to connect with potential help • Isolation or withdrawal from family and friends• Mood changes

Most people considering suicide show more than one sign, but remember, there is no "typical" suicide victim. One person may show many warning signs, and another may show none at all. It is better to look for warning signs and possibly help someone considering suicide than stand by and let it happen.

Protective FactorsOne strategy to prevent suicide is to reduce risk factors or

strengthen and increase protective factors, such as:

• Belief that it is OK to get help • Early intervention by the command • Good problem-solving and coping skills • Optimistic outlook • Positive attitude about getting help early • Positive family and social support • Spiritual support

By reducing risk factors and strengthening protective measures, you can help prevent the problems that contribute to suicide.

Identify TWO risk factors for suicide.

• Abusing substances, such as drugs or alcohol• Being picked last for command sports teams• Experiencing depression• Experiencing road rage• Having feelings of elation• Receiving deployment orders

Identify THREE warning signs for suicide.

• Suicide gesture• Becoming very stingy• Buying a weapon• Calling in favors• Creating a reasonable problem-solving plan• Exhibiting impulsive anger or behavior• Giving away possessions

• Terms to Know • Risk Factors & Warning Signs • First Responders • Suicide Resources

ACT

Most people have the protective factors needed to avoid suicide. Those who do not need help and support; they need a First Responder.

• To be a First Responder, you must: • Know the warning signs of suicide • Let your shipmate, friend, or family member know that you

are worried, concerned, and care about him/her • Take all talk about suicide very seriously• As a First Responder, you can follow the acronym ACT:– Ask – Care – Treat

• The important thing is for you to ACT immediately.

Ask

• The first step in the ACT process is to Ask.• If you notice some of the warning signs in a shipmate, friend, or

family member, now is the time for you to respond.

DO: • Ask your shipmate if s/he is thinking about suicide • Actively listen to what s/he has to say • Acknowledge his/her talk, behavior, and feelings

DON’T:• Debate whether suicide is right or wrong • Discuss whether feelings are good or bad • Lecture the person on the value of life

Care

The second step in the ACT process is to Care.

DO: • Let your shipmate know you care and that you understand his/her

problems must be very painful if s/he is thinking of harming himself/herself

• Discuss and care about what is troubling him/her • Ensure that you maintain good eye contact, lean forward, and give

your shipmate undivided attention • Care if a shipmate has a plan for suicide

DON’T:• Encourage him or her to do it • Act shocked—this will put distance between you

Treat

• The final step in the ACT process is to Treat.

DO: • Obtain professional help as soon as possible by calling

Medical, taking the person to the Emergency Room, or calling 911

DON’T:• Leave the person alone, no matter what the suicidal

person says • Be sworn to secrecy• Seek support NOW!

Don’t get MAD

As a First Responder, it is important that you don't get MAD!

DON'T: • Miss or mistake signals• Avoid the person• Disregard signals• It is so easy with our busy lives to get MAD and try

to convince ourselves that a shipmate will be OK, even when we haven’t taken the time to really talk to him or her.

What does the acronym ACT represent?

• Advise, Counsel, Teach• Argue, Care, Teach• Argue, Challenge, Tease• Ask, Care, Treat

What are THREE actions a first responder should do?

• Actively listen• Challenge him/her to do it• Discuss the pointlessness of suicide• Get help immediately• Leave the person alone if s/he says s/he will

be OK• Show concern

• Terms to Know • Risk Factors & Warning Signs • First Responders • Suicide Resources

Suicide resources• If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide,

here are some resources who are ready to help immediately:

• Chaplains – In addition to contacting your local chaplain, the following website provides a phone number and email contact information to speak directly with a chaplain: http://chaplaincare.navy.mil/index.htm

• Command leadership • Fleet and Family Support Centers • Marriage and Family Counselors • Medical Services

Suicide Resources• Mental Health – In addition to seeking help from your local

mental health professionals, you can visit the following website to take a brief online assessment: https://www.militarymentalhealth.org/welcome.asp

• Military OneSource – If you would like confidential access to a counselor, visit this website. It provides articles, brochures, and contact information for dealing with suicide issues: http://www.miltaryonesource.com

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – If you need to talk to someone right now about suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit their website: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

• Substance Abuse Counselors

Review

• This concludes the Suicide Prevention lesson. You should now be able to: – Define suicide and related terms – Identify risk factors and warning signs for suicide – Identify how to be a First Responder

Additional Resources• The following items will provide more information on

the topics that were covered in this lesson:• American Association of Suicidology –

http://www.suicidology.org • National Center for Injury Prevention and Control –

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc • Navy Environmental Health Center – Suicide

Prevention Home Page – http://www.nehc.med.navy.mil/hp/suicide/index.htm

• Navy Suicide Prevention Program – http://npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/SuicidePrevention

Inquiries or Suggestions

• If you have any suggestions to improve this GMT lesson or have any other GMT-related comments, please contact the GMT development team at:

• gmt.distribution@navy.mil