Each year 30,000 Americans die at their own hand and more than 550,000 people attempt suicide, according to the National Mental Health Association. To increase awareness of the pervasive problem of suicide and to try to provide help and resources to service members and their families in need, the Military Health System is observing September as suicide prevention month. (www.health.mil/suicideprevention)
While reasons for suicides vary, most attempts are expressions of extreme distress, not harmless bids for attention, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. service members experience a wide range of personal and professional stressors. These stressors can be increased by serving or having served overseas in hostile environments and in combat operations. Significant stressors such as repeated exposure to—or the constant threat of—death or injury can take a serious toll on the mental health of service members. Back home, stress from problems at work or with a personal relationship can build to the point where the service member feels overwhelmed.
The Department of Defense and the MHS have an obligation to provide superior mental health care and a strong support system to all DoD beneficiaries. This September, the MHS wants to stress the significance of suicide prevention and recovery, and to help abolish the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment.
A person who appears suicidal should not be left alone and should immediately seek mental-health treatment. If you or anyone you know suspects that someone may be feeling suicidal, help them to obtain professional help at once. If you know someone who is suicidal, it is a health emergency so dial 911 and save a life. Assistance is available from many sources, including TRICARE (http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/GettingHelp) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/), which provides free 24/7 counseling at 800.273.TALK.
This September, the MHS is providing a wide range of articles, resources, videos, web links and other materials at health.mil/Themes/Suicide_Prevention in order to address the issue of suicide in the military.
While reasons for suicides vary, most attempts are expressions of extreme distress, not harmless bids for attention, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. service members experience a wide range of personal and professional stressors. These stressors can be increased by serving or having served overseas in hostile environments and in combat operations. Significant stressors such as repeated exposure to—or the constant threat of—death or injury can take a serious toll on the mental health of service members. Back home, stress from problems at work or with a personal relationship can build to the point where the service member feels overwhelmed.
The Department of Defense and the MHS have an obligation to provide superior mental health care and a strong support system to all DoD beneficiaries. This September, the MHS wants to stress the significance of suicide prevention and recovery, and to help abolish the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment.
A person who appears suicidal should not be left alone and should immediately seek mental-health treatment. If you or anyone you know suspects that someone may be feeling suicidal, help them to obtain professional help at once. If you know someone who is suicidal, it is a health emergency so dial 911 and save a life. Assistance is available from many sources, including TRICARE (http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/GettingHelp) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/), which provides free 24/7 counseling at 800.273.TALK.
This September, the MHS is providing a wide range of articles, resources, videos, web links and other materials at health.mil/Themes/Suicide_Prevention in order to address the issue of suicide in the military.