Suicide -- for prevention, pay attention

By Mr. David Ramsey (Leonard Wood)September 15, 2014

Vigilant attention in our observations and interactions with others is key to preventing suicide.

Caring for each other, knowing the clues, and taking action to help can make all the difference.

Many of the suicide prevention efforts currently practiced place a serious burden on those who know the person at risk of suicide. One of the ongoing concerns of those efforts is that they don't necessarily result in the person at risk asking for help or divulging his or her need for assistance.

Ask direct questions

Caring, asking questions, and encouraging the person to talk can help. If in the course of that conversation we get the sense that the person is at risk for suicide, ask direct questions.

-- "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"

-- "Are you thinking about ending your life?"

-- "Is suicide what you are considering?"

These are never easy questions to ask. Yet, we know that most of the time people will answer honestly.

We've already placed ourselves in a position of trust with that person, and we've also freed them up to talk openly about suicide. Those two points create an environment in which a person feels heard, respected and safe.

Visible clues

Experiencing some type of loss is an indicator that can take many different forms. Problems in a relationship, a breakup, a service member facing disciplinary action under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, or a retiree experiencing a major financial crisis may be enough to cause the person at risk to consider suicide as a "solution."

These situations can quickly escalate in severity if more than one type of loss applies.

If we take the time to stay involved in one another's lives, we may be able to address these difficult situations before they reach the point that suicide appears to be a viable option to those at risk.

Visible clues often take the form of a noticeable change in a person's behavior, mood or appearance. They may also manifest in the person no longer enjoying things that used to bring them great pleasure.

Someone who is typically the center of attention but is now withdrawn, perhaps even spending a lot of time alone, could be at risk.

Those at risk may make comments such as "I don't want to live anymore," or "You won't have to be concerned about me much longer.

Take action

Make sure the person at risk gets help. This may mean escorting the person to the emergency room, to Behavioral Health, or to see the chaplain. The key point is to not leave the person alone or shrug it off as somebody else's responsibility.

We all have the responsibility to assist one another when suicide is part of the discussion.

The Behavioral Health Service Line is available on a walk-in basis from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital in room 63. These services are also available 24/7 at the GLWACH emergency room.

The on-call duty chaplain can be reached by calling the Fort Leonard Wood Emergency Operations Center at 573.563.6126.

The Military Crisis Line is also a 24/7 resource at 800.273.8255.

(Editor's note: Ramsey is a psychology technician at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital)

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood