Signs of Suicidal Behavior - do you know them?

I decided to write about this because of recent events around here. We have had several soldiers commit suicide and I keep wondering to myself, "did anyone see this coming?" Now I know that if someone really wants to do it they will, but what if others had noticed the signs and intervened? We may still have some people with us. Most of the time there are signs that lead up to someone committing suicide. Some of these signs are:

Depression: they will start experiencing many different emotions including sadness, anxiety and hopelessness...they may lose interest in things they once enjoyed or don't seem to care about what is going on around them. People with depression can be helped, even major depression can be helped when caught in time.

Talking about dying: they may become kind of obsessive about death. Maybe talking about how they want to die or how others have died. Thinking and talking about death all the time and more specifically including themselves.

Sleep patterns: Someone who's depressed and considering suicide may change their sleeping habits. This can range from them sleeping too much to not sleeping at all and being restless all of the time. Often times, they'll move from a regular schedule to being hyperactive. They then move into periods of sleeping for long periods of time.

Other things:
*loss of appetite w/ sudden loss of weight
*loss of concentration
*feeling worthless
*hating themselves
*hating everything
*loss of goals or interest in the future
*making plans for others to care for their pets
*giving away personal things or money
*getting their WILL in order
*loss of control

One important thing to look at is their past!! Do they have a past history of suicide attempts or depression?

Here are some links to follow for more info and help:

Suicide - medicineNet.com
Recognizing Suicidal Behavior
What can I do to help someone who is suicidal?
Depression (military onesource

If you have a mental health emergency you can always call Military Onesource:
Contact a Consultant Now
1.800.342.9647

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1.800.273.TALK (8255)

If you need it, get help, get your loved ones help. Don't wait.

Risk Factors & Warning signs for Families - Suicide prevention

*While at the ACS building today I picked up some pamphlets and such to share with everyone. (for those of you who are new and not up on the acronyms, ACS = Army Community Service... you can brush up on acronyms here -->Army Acronyms)

From the "Suicide Prevention Training Tip Card" -

Risk factors for adults (including soldiers) and children:
*previous suicide attempts
*close family member who has committed suicide
*past psychiatric hospitalization
*recent losses (death of family member, divorce/separation, break up with gf/bf)
*poor social skills (difficulty interacting with others, problems starting a conversation and making friends)
*drug or alcohol use (drugs decrease impulse control making impulsive suicide more likely, some try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol)
*violence in the home or social environment
*handguns in the home
*work-related problems
*serious medical problems
*poor school performance

Warning signs that an adult/soldier needs help:
*noticeable changes in eating and sleeping habits
*talking or hinting about suicide
*obsession with death (in music, poetry, artwork, etc)
*irritability
*alcohol and or drug use or abuse
*isolation
*giving away possessions/suddenly making a will
*feeling sad, depressed, hopeless
*finalizing personal affairs
*coworkers, family & friends are concerned

Warning signs that a child/adolescent needs help:
*noticeable change in eating and sleeping habits
*unexplained, or unusually severe, violent or rebellious behavior
*running away
*unusual neglect in appearance
*drastic mood swings
*hostile towards other children
*withdraws from peers
*gives away possessions
*feeling sad or depressed
*obsession with death (music, poetry, art, etc)
*physical complaints that are not real
*talks about death
*your child's teacher or other trusted adult tells you that your child is acting different and may need help

Your Resources:
Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM)
Community Mental Health Clinic (CMHC)
Church/Chaplains
Family Readiness Groups (FRG) -for more on FRG, read here -->What is the FRG?
Military OneSource - 1-800-342-9647
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
School Counselors
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Some books you may find Helpful:








*please take note if you can't see the links to the books, you have view my blog to see it (if this is coming through the news feed)

My blog link ---> Soldier's Angel