JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Suicide Prevention for Military Families
Learn the facts about suicide. See the links below for areas you can visit to do your own research on suicide and suicide prevention. Suicide is a problem that affects military and civilian families alike. Suicide not only affects individuals and families but it also has an enormous impact on our schools, our workplaces and our military units.
Suicide among some military units has increased. Our military veterans may account for 20 percent of all suicides death in the United States. Research has shown that a high percentage of those who die by suicide may have had a diagnosable mental disorder at the time of their death. The underlying causes of suicide can be effectively treated. The underlying causes of suicide often go unrecognized and people avoid seeking treatment. Treatment is available. Treatment saves lives.
Some suicide risk factors are: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major depression, Alcohol/drug abuse and dependence, Bipolar disorder, General Anxiety disorder, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Some of us military combat and non-combat veterans and retirees may have some of these risk factors. Those of us who are the blessed, lucky, fortunate and maybe even just knowledgeable about suicide risk factors came home from combat and non-combat tours of duty to our jobs, families, schools and good supportive environments that helped us to continue to lead productive lives. Some of us need help.
Help Is Available
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can help. Please call 1- 800 -273-8255. Military/veterans press 1 for help from persons who understand our culture.
Military OneSource can help. Call 1- 800-342-9647 or visit www.militaryonesource.com.
Air Force: http://afspp.afms.mil. Or call 1-800-273-8255
Army: http://www.armywell-being.org/skins/WBLO/home.aspx. Click on Suicide Prevention or call 1-800-784-2433.
Marines: http://www.usmc-mccs.org/suicideprevent/. Or call: 1-800-273-8255.
Navy: http://www.npc.navy.mil/commandsupport/suicideprevention. Or call 1-800-784-2433.
Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK, Veterans Press 1
Protective Factors/Interventions
· Talk openly about your problems with your doctor, minister, priest, or counselor.
· Seek clinical care for mental health problems.
· Stay connected to your family and friends.
· Stay away from the physical and medical tools of suicide.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. Visit www.afsp.org for more information.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by suicide, the AFSP can help. There is a local chapter of the AFSP - they can help you find local resources and support groups. Email the National Capital Area Chapter of AFSP at NCAChapter.AFSP@gmail.com
The Retiree Activities Office is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may visit our office in room A-200A, 1535 Command Dr., call us at 301-981-2726, your voice mail message will be answered, or you can e-mail us at rao@andrews.af.mil.
We recommend you call the office prior to visiting us to ensure someone is on duty. We have a Web site at http://www.andrews.af.mil click on ''Retirees" on the right side of the page. There you will find a wealth of information that is of interest to you.
Back copies of all "Retiree Activities Corner" articles are available on-line. Go to our Retirees webpage and follow the instructions under the heading "Newspaper Column".