viernes, 2 de septiembre de 2016

Honing our efforts to reduce suicide – a public health scourge | Health.mil

Honing our efforts to reduce suicide – a public health scourge | Health.mil

Health.mil



Honing our efforts to reduce suicide – a public health scourge

Navy Capt. Mike Colston, director, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

Navy Capt. Mike Colston, director of Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury



SUicide Prevention Awareness Month is a national observance during the month of September, but suicide prevention is a priority for the Department of Defense (DoD) every day of the year. Suicide is a pressing public health issue. Suicide rates have increased alarmingly in the U.S. over the past two decades. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) will lead in preventing suicide through three lines of action: fostering research, translating clinical knowledge to the field and informing policy.
Research
The evidence base for suicide prevention remains thin. Research efforts such as the “Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in service members Longitudinal Project” (STARRS-LP) and protocols under the cognizance of the Military Suicide Research Consortium are producing slow but hard-won gains in the science of suicidology.
Knowledge Translation
Interventions such as brief suicide-focused cognitive behavioral therapy have been shown to reduce suicidal thinking and suicide attempts in treated groups. There is some evidence that these interventions, based on registry data in Northern Europe, may even have reduced suicides—a very high bar to prove as suicide is a low base-rate event. The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury will lead in promulgating practices such as this throughout the Military Health System.
Policy
We can inform policy changes. As recommended by the DoD-VA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide, we can consider ways to restrict access to lethal means that service members and veterans could use to take their own lives. This includes safer prescribing and dispensing of medications to prevent intentional overdoses and restriction of access to firearms and ammunition.  In addition, other efforts of means restriction – such as construction of suicide barriers on bridges, reducing access to pesticides, and the detoxification of natural gas supplies – showed immediate and lasting reductions in suicide in populations where these practices were implemented. 
We must act now to reduce suicides in our population by honing our efforts toward promising, implementable and measurable action.


DoD promotes suicide prevention through work with media, other groups

Article
9/1/2016
Official Seal of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office
The Defense Department is working with media, nongovernmental organizations and the federal sector to focus on suicide prevention
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Crisis line specialist helps fellow veterans

Article
10/1/2015
Lists number for Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and press 1) and the official VA seal
A former Air Force staff sergeant, and combat veteran, talks about his job as a health science specialist with the Veterans Crisis Line
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Air Force senior leaders host suicide prevention summit

Article
9/30/2015
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James listens to a question from Lt. Col. Lisa Bader, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa behavioral health consultant, during the Suicide Prevention Summit at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 24, 2015. James spoke and listened to questions from the attendees after her speech. (Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Stanfield)
Subject matter experts of mental and behavioral health, community support and Airmen gathered to discuss resiliency and suicide prevention at Joint Base Andrews
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

20% of Suicide Deaths Annually in the U.S. are Military Veterans

Infographic
9/29/2015
20% of Suicide Deaths Annually in the U.S. are Military Veterans
Poster in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Suicide prevention starts with awareness of warning signs

Article
9/29/2015
The complex issue of suicide and suicide prevention involves not only mental health professionals, but the community at large. The best advice to friends, families and loved ones who are concerned about someone at risk: be aware, be vigilant and never be timid about talking to that person about his or her feelings.
Helping the Hopeless: Family, friends, & community can help a person at risk of suicide by simply being aware
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | Mental Health Care | Substance Abuse | Mental Wellness

Joe Nose Stress: Hospital employee takes "paws" to identify people in need

Article
9/24/2015
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tracy Krauss, a nurse at Belvoir Community Hospital, preps Cmdr. Joe for another day at the hospital. (Courtesy photo by Reese Brown)
Ambling down the hall of his new duty station, Cmdr. Joe draws a lot of attention from patients and staff despite his best efforts to go unnoticed
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Joe Nose Stress

Video
9/23/2015
Joe Nose Stress
"Currently, Cmdr. Joe is the only stress-sniffing dog in the Department of Defense, but studies conducted by the University of Denver in Colorado have found that regardless of the type of skill they possess, the presence of therapy dogs reduce overall narcotic and painkiller usage among veterans."
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

'The Power of 1’: A single person can save a life

Article
9/23/2015
At-risk individuals could have anywhere from five to 20 different warning signs. They could be going through relationship, legal, financial, emotional or other problems and could withdraw from socializing with their fellow service members. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)
DoD, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is promoting the “The Power of 1” campaign during September in observance of Suicide Prevention Month
Related Topics: DoD/VA Sharing Initiatives | Suicide Prevention

Not all Wounds are Visible

Infographic
9/21/2015
Not all Wounds are Visible
Poster in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention 2015

Video
9/17/2015
Suicide Prevention 2015
The Department of Defense takes suicide very seriously. Each Service is actively working to reduce the number of suicides. Watch this video to find out how you can help.
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention | Mental Wellness

Recognize Common Symptoms of Those at Risk

Infographic
9/15/2015
Infographic showing symptoms of those at risk of suicide.
In support of Suicide Prevention Month, this graphic lists some symptoms of those who may be contemplating suicide.
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention | Recognizing Symptoms of Those At Risk

It Takes All of Us to Prevent Suicide

Infographic
9/14/2015
It Takes All of Us to Prevent Suicide
Poster in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Related Topics: Suicide Prevention

Virtual Hope Box puts suicide prevention tools at users' fingertips

Article
9/11/2015
The Virtual Hope Box is a simple smartphone app that keeps positive messages and reminders always within reach.
The Virtual Hope Box provides powerful coping strategies to those considering suicide. The popularity of the smartphone app shows the great potential of this tool.
Related Topics: Technology | Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention: How 1 Person Can Make a Difference

Article
9/9/2015
Power-of-1 graphic
Thoughts of suicide are not necessarily something people explicitly announce to the world
Related Topics: Mental Wellness | Suicide Prevention

Military medicine tackles suicide with prevention tools for patients, families and providers

Article
9/8/2015
U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay
The military has a whole suite of tools available to help prevent suicide.
Related Topics: Mental Health Care | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | Substance Abuse | Sleep | Mental Wellness | Suicide Prevention









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