Tag Archives: Suicide prevention

National Depression Screening Day – Thursday, October 6, 2016

Together, We Can Save a Life

By Screening for Mental Health | Oct. 03, 2016

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.

Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW) – October 2 – 8, 2016

Mental Illness Awareness Week! - Donate Today

Dear NAMI Supporter,

The first week in October — this week — is Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW). NAMI joins with participants across the country to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care and I want you to join us.

NAMI is pushing for more funding for scientific research that can lead to earlier and better intervention, treatment, services and support for mental health conditions. We’re leading the way nationwide as an advocate for more funding for the social and scientific advances individuals and families affected by mental illness need now — and Mental Illness Awareness Week gives us a chance to draw attention to this urgent cause.

You can make a difference and help build better lives for people affected
 by mental health conditions with a gift of $25, $50, or more. - DONATE TODAY

Your gift in honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week will support NAMI’s year-round efforts to improve lives and bring hope to people and families affected by mental health conditions.

This week, we have a chance to seize the national spotlight to demonstrate the prevalence of mental health illness in this country, let people know how they can get help, and demand more leadership and action from decision-makers.

Please donate today during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Your support will help NAMI shine a much-needed light on mental illness all year long.

(photo)
Gratefully,
(signature)
Mary Giliberti, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. We need every NAMI supporter to do their part to make Mental Illness Awareness Week a success.

DONATE TODAY

 

Loebsack pens suicide prevention bill for veterans – September 22, 2016

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

 

Navy ramps up anti-suicide battle with outreach and new review – NavyTimes.com – September 19, 2016

Every week this year, on average, a sailor has taken their own life.

Mid-way through suicide prevention month, the Navy is staring down one of the worst tolls for self-inflicted deaths in years — and officials are attacking the problem from multiple angles, through training and resources while trying to foster a culture that doesn’t stigmatize mental health.

As of Sept. 6, 42 of the 436,793 sailors in the active-duty and reserve had taken their own lives in 2016. These statistics do not count veterans, with a recent study finding that roughly 20 veterans commit suicide every day.

The Navy’s numbers are on track to be as bad or worse than in the past few years, including a ten-year high of 69 in 2014.

The service is launching a wide-ranging study of sailor suicides and urging everyone across the service to monitor their colleagues and use resources like the Military Crisis Line — 1-800-273-8255 — when they’re in trouble.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

 

The missing context behind the widely cited statistic that there are 22 veteran suicides a day – Washington Post article – February 2015

“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

 

 

Suicides among military bomb techs at crisis level – Militarytimes.com – September 18, 2016

Danelle Hackett wanted her Marine husband to focus on the lives he saved disarming IEDs as a military bomb technician during two tours in Iraq.

Maj. Jeff Hackett could only focus on his 16 colleagues who died during the dangerous bomb disposal missions he led from early 2005 through late 2007.

“My husband looked at those guys as his own family, his own sons. Repeatedly losing techs just wore on him and wore him. He blamed himself for every death,” Danelle Hackett said.

In June 2010, after a day of drinking at an American Legion Post in Wyoming near the family’s home, Jeff Hackett downed a couple more swigs of alcohol, said “cheers” and shot and killed himself.

Preventing Suicide Among Persons With Bipolar Disorder – Webinar and info – September 18, 2016

Webinar Recording
Presented by Dr. Richard McKeon
This webinar, presented by Dr. Richard McKeon, discusses preventing suicide among persons with bipolar disorder and highlights SAMHSA’s resources for suicide prevention and how they can be accessed.
After you’ve watched the webinar, please take our follow-up survey

About International Bipolar Foundation
International Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission is to improve understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder through research; to promote care and support resources for individuals and caregivers; and to erase stigma through education.
International Bipolar Foundation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or received from the International Bipolar Foundation.

Visit us online for more information: www.ibpf.org
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National Wellness Week – NAMI – September 12, 2016

National Wellness Week is Here!

By Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Sep. 12, 2016

 

How do you define wellness? Probably something along the lines of eating well and exercising. But wellness also applies to your social, environmental, spiritual, financial and intellectual wellbeing.

Wellness has the ability to increase both the quality and length of life. This is especially true for individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders (SUD) because they have a statistically shorter life span than the general population.

In order to prioritize preventative health care, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) aims to incorporate whole health outcomes for people living with mental health conditions and SUDs.

One of the ways we try to achieve this goal is through our National Wellness Week. As part of SAMHSA’s National Recovery Month, National Wellness Week is celebrated annually during the third week of September. This year it will take place September 11-17.

National Wellness Week was launched to inspire individuals and communities to incorporate the eight dimensions of wellness into their lives. SAMHSA supports embracing these dimensions—emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual—to achieve longevity and improved quality of life.

Here are some ways you can incorporate wellness in your life each day:

  • Express your feelings, know your strengths, and ask for help when you need it.
  • Be creative and open to new ideas, insights, and wisdom.
  • Make good nutrition choices, be active, and prioritize preventive health care.
  • Look for satisfaction in things you are passionate about in work or volunteerism.
  • Embrace healthy relationships with friends, family, and community members.

Visit the SAMHSA Wellness Initiative website for more tips on how to incorporate wellness into your life and the lives of your loved ones.

World Suicide Prevention Day – 10 September, 2016

World Suicide Prevention Day Header

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

World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2016 – email

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 10th. Honor the lives lost to suicide.

Contact your Senators now.