Together, We Can Save a Life

Did you know that depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for people between the ages of 15 and 44? That’s right, Major Depressive Disorder affects over 15 million American adults. With prevalence being as expansive as it is, it is likely that you know at least one person who lives with depression. And if that person isn’t aware that they live with depression or not getting the proper treatment for it, there is something you can do to help them.

You can tell them about National Depression Screening Day (NDSD).

Colleges, workplaces and community organizations across the country have participated in National Depression Screening Day for the past 25 years. This awareness event is focused on providing screenings for depression and other common mental health disorders as well as resources for finding help in their communities.

In addition to depression, individuals can be screened for generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, alcoholism and other substance use disorders. There is also a screening parents can take on behalf of their adolescent children.

Early detection and treatment of mental health conditions can prevent someone from reaching a point of crisis, such as suicide. While suicide may seem like something you may never have to talk to someone about, consider these statistics:

• Each year 42,773 Americans die by suicide.
• 70% of individuals tell someone or give warning signs before taking their own life.
• Suicide rates increased by 24% from 1999 to 2014.

This National Depression Screening Day—held on Thursday, October 6—we are encouraging everyone to take advantage of the free resources available to get insight into your own mental health.

Visit HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org or StopaSuicide.org for more information.

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack introduced a bill Wednesday in the House of Representatives aimed at ensuring veterans have access to inpatient mental health care at Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Loebsack, D-Iowa City, alongside Republican Congressman Steve Stivers of Ohio, proposed the Never Again Act in response to Sgt. Brandon Ketchum’s suicide in July, according to a news release from Loebsack’s office. Ketchum, a Bettendorf veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in a Facebook post hours before his death that the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System denied him inpatient treatment while he was in crisis and requesting a bed.

“Simply put, under the Never Again Act, if a veteran asks for mental health care from the VA, they will get it,” the release says.

ARTICLE CONTINUES HERE

“Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide — losing their personal battle to invisible wounds of war.”

–Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), news release, Jan. 13, 2015

“When you have 8,000 veterans a year committing suicide, then you have a serious problem.”

–Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), news article, Feb. 2, 2015 

“Every day, approximately 22 American veterans commit suicide, totaling over 8,000 veteran suicides each year — I repeat, 8,000 veteran suicides each year.”

–Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Senate hearing, Feb. 3, 2015

Both chambers unanimously passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, sending the bill to the president for his signature. The bill aims to improve mental-health and suicide-prevention services at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named after a former Marine sniper who committed suicide in March 2011 after struggling to receive mental-health care at the Houston Veterans Affairs medical center.

The statistic that there are 22 veteran suicides each day — or, more than 8,000 when multiplied by the number of days in a year — is a widely cited figure in reference to veteran suicides. It’s been used by Democratic and Republican lawmakers in both chambers, the VA, veteran groups and media outlets (including, in full disclosure, the author of this fact check).

FULL ARTICLE HERE

WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY, September 10th, is an opportunity for all sectors of the community – the public, charitable organizations, communities, researchers, clinicians, practitioners, politicians and policy makers, volunteers, those bereaved by suicide, other interested groups and individuals – to join with the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) to focus public attention on the unacceptable burden and costs of suicidal behaviours with diverse activities to promote understanding about suicide and highlight effective prevention activities.

 Those activities may call attention to the global burden of suicidal behaviour, and discuss local, regional and national strategies for suicide prevention, highlighting cultural initiatives and emphasizing how specific prevention initiatives are shaped to address local cultural conditions.

Initiatives which actively educate and involve people are likely to be most effective in helping people learn new information about suicide and suicide prevention. Examples of activities which can support World Suicide Prevention Day include:

•Launching new initiatives, policies and strategies on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.

•Learning about connecting, communicating, caring and suicide prevention and mental health from materials found in IASP’s Web resource directory http://goo.gl/ok8R6m

•Using the WSPD Press Preparation Package that offers media guides in the planning of an event or activity. https://goo.gl/aUqQfq

•Downloading the World Suicide Prevention Day Toolkit that contains links to World Suicide Prevention Day resources and related Web pages https://goo.gl/dDqlrR

•Holding conferences, open days, educational seminars or public lectures and panels

•Writing articles for national, regional and community newspapers, blogs and magazines

•Holding press conferences

•Placing information on your website and using the IASP World Suicide Prevention Day Web banner, promoting suicide prevention in one’s native tongue. https://goo.gl/OJquho

•Securing interviews and speaking spots on radio and television

•Organizing memorial services, events, candlelight ceremonies or walks to remember those who have died by suicide

•Asking national politicians with responsibility for health, public health, mental health or suicide prevention to make relevant announcements, release policies or make supportive statements or press releases on WSPD

•Holding depression awareness events in public places and offering screening for depression

•Organizing cultural or spiritual events, fairs or exhibitions

•Organizing walks to political or public places to highlight suicide prevention

•Holding book launches, or launches for new booklets, guides or pamphlets

•Distributing leaflets, posters and other written information

•Organizing concerts, BBQs, breakfasts, luncheons, contests, fairs in public places

•Writing editorials for scientific, medical, education, nursing, law and other relevant journals

•Disseminating research findings

•Producing press releases for new research papers

•Holding training courses in suicide and depression awareness

•Joining us on the official World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Event Page https://goo.gl/1x8lVK

•Supporting suicide prevention 365 days a year by becoming a Facebook Fan of the IASP https://goo.gl/S7zalS

•Following the IASP on Twitter (www.twitter.com/IASPinfo), tweeting #WSPD or #suicide or #suicideprevention

•Creating a video about suicide prevention. See the IASP WSPD Playlist at: https://goo.gl/I6Jrmg

•Lighting a candle a candle, near a window at 8 PM in support of: World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention and awareness, survivors of suicide and for the memory of loved lost ones. Find “Light a Candle Near a Window at 8 PM” postcards in various languages at: https://goo.gl/9Ic1en

•Participating in the World Suicide Prevention Day – Cycle Around the Globe https://goo.gl/csdyvG

 WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

www.iasp.info/wspd

117 people die every single day by suicide in America. You can help stop this epidemic.

Contact your Senators. Demand a vote on the Mental Health Reform Act (S. 2680).

S. 2680 will:

• Invest in mental health services and supports that are evidence-based, so people know they are getting care that works.
• Prioritize early identification and intervention, so people can get the right mental health care at the right time.
• Emphasize outcome measures, so we know if people are getting better or not.
• Maintains the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, so people can help day or night.

World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10^th. Honor the lives lost to suicide.

Contact your Senators now.