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Show Ftght4.T\?Country November 10, 2004 Suicide Prevention Awareness of signs and preventative measures are key By Staff Sgt. Nakita Carlisle 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs "Stress is nothing new to military life and there are many factors that contribute to this. But lately, stress has been taking its toll on our Airmen. Our suicide rate is skyrocketing while accidental deaths are more than 36 percent above what they were four years ago. We lost more than 50 people to suicide in the past year — a dramatic, and tragic, increase from last year. We lost another 99 Airmen to accidents. Combined, that's an order of magnitude greater than our (Air Force) combat losses in both Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. We're causing ourselves more harm than the enemy. We must do a better job of looking after one another -- be better wingmen."- Gen. John Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff. The cause of an individual suicide is invariably more complicated than a recent painful event such as the break-up of a relationship or the loss of a job, according to the Air Force Surgeon General's Office. "Lots of things contribute to suicide," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) John Beery, 75th Medical Group behavioral health commander. "People frequently look for the one thing that caused someone to consider suicide and it's rare to find that to be the case. In most cases people are experiencing a combination of stressors (financial, legal, relationship, etc) and that is coupled with an unwillingness or inability to reach out and get help." : Dr. Beery said that in 2002, 31,655 people killed themselves in the United States, 25.409 of whom were males. "Of this number, 25,409 were male. This works out to a rate of 11 suicides per 100,000 people compared with 15 suicides per 100,000 Air force members, he said. "This year we are having the highest number of suicides in the last eight years." More than 90 percent of suicide victims have a significant psychiatric illness at the time of their death, according to the AFSGO. It also states that these are often undiagnosed, untreated, or both. Mood disorders and substance abuse are the two most common. When both mood disorders and substance abuse are present, the risk for suicide is much greater, particularly for adolescents and young adults." Research from the AFSGO has shown the following risk factors in suicides: - Previous suicide attempt(s) - History of mental disorders, particularly depression - History of alcohol and substance abuse - Family history of suicide - Family history of child maltreatment - Feelings of hopelessness - Impulsive or aggressive tendencies - Barriers to accessing mental health treatment - Loss (relational, social, work, or financial) - Physical illness - Easy access to lethal methods - Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or suicidal thoughts - Cultural and religious beliefs-for instance, the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma - Local epidemics of suicide - Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people But Dr. Beery said risk factors are not ultimately the reason why people commit suicide. "There are a lot of risk factors associated with suicide, but this isn't why people commit suicide," said Dr. Beery. "There are multiple 'why's' that result in suicide, but probably underlying most is the belief that life is unbearably painful, there's noth- the availability of resources. *'I think the Air Force is better than ing I can do to fix it, and it's any other service or the civilian never going to get better. Dr. Beery said that there are at community in this regard. We ======== have a vast least four ===== array of steps to preresources venting suiavailable for cide. helping peo"Everyone ple. needs to Dr. Beery know the listed the folwarning signs lowing of suicide and resources: know how to chaplains. ask about suicide. I think Family one of the Support -Lt. Col (Dr.) John Beery biggest stumCenter, 75th Medical Group bling' blocks Family behavioral health commander to identifying Advocacy, those in seri- ====== • substance ous distress is that our Air Force abuse treatment, medical care for Service members are afraid to all and the Life Skills Support ask 'Are you thinking about suiCenter. cide?1 Granted, it's not a comPersonal responsibility is the mon question in every day confourth step to preventing suicide, versation, but it's a vital quessaid Dr. Beery. "The person in tion. Most people are not going distress has to admit they are in to volunteer the information need of help and to go get that unless they're asked." help. We cannot 'save' someone. Dr. Beery said that the second They have to be willing to reach step is cultivate an understanding out and accept assistance. atmosphere. "General Jumper's "But there's no denying that comments in the new suicide some people refuse to save themprevention training presentation selves," added Dr. Beery. "I suggest a real change in the know of cases where people mindset among senior leaderwere hospitalized because they ship," he said. "The suicide prewere suicidal, then denied any vention message initially was problems while in the hospital "Know what to look for," but it and were released; and then was still not OK to seek help. turned around and killed themPeople were selves immediately upon release. afraid of bad Some people cannot be saved. career outBut this is not true in the vast comes and majority of cases. leadership "Most people who are considactively disering suicide don't want to die. couraged peoThey want their pain to stop. If ple from getthey can find a way to feel better ting help. then they want to live. Over and over again I see people who are "The Air Force is gradu- seriously considering suicide, engage in treatment, get better ally moving and then are glad they are alive." away from that If you think someone you mindset and is know is considering suicide, or if recognizing that a psyyou just need someone to talk to, chologically healthy force is a contact the Life Skills Center at mission multiplier. So, both 777-7909, Family Support individuals in crisis and those Center at 777-3411 or the base who know about their distress chaplain at 777-2106. After duty need to know it's okay to get help hours contact the Hill and to let someone know that Consolidated Command Post at someone is in distress. Dr. Beery said the third step is 777-3007. "Most people who are considering suicide don't want to die. They want their pain to stop." Combined Federal Campaign ends in soon By Airman Stefanie Torres 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Federal employees nationwide have one week left to donate to their favorite charities through the Combined Federal Campaign. The CFC is a six-week annual campaign for federal employees to make tax-deductible contributions to national, international and local charities. The most important goal of the campaign is for squadron CFC representatives to make contact with every member in their organizations, said 2nd Lt. Steven Gilmore, 388th FW Budget Office budget analyst and wing CFC project manager. "It gives every single person a chance to learn what this campaign is about and it also Administrative expenses in 2003 were gives each person a chance to make a difference," said Lieutenant Gilmore. "Many peo- only 8 percent, which means that 92 cents of every dollar went directly to help people, ple would like to give to organization but said Lieutenant Gilmore. just don't know how, and this is their opportunity." The 388th Fighter Wing is shooting for a Combined Federal Campaign squadron representatives -CFC Project Officer , 2nd Lt. Steven Gilmore 586-1094 -Wing Staff, 2nd Lt. Steven Gilmore 586-1094 -OG Staff/OSS, 2nd Lt. Anton Valencic 111-2146 -4th Fighter Squadron, 2nd Lt. David Curry 777-2993 -34th and 421st Fighter Squadron 1st Lt. Jonathan Roe 777-3247 -729th Air Control Squadron Staff Sgt. Mark Morin 777-0648 -Maintenance Group Staff, 1st Lt. Jesse Fritz 585-4636 -Maintenance Operation Squadron, 2nd Lt. Ryan Avery 585-6657 -Component Maintenance Squadron, 1st Lt. Lori George 777-6912 -Equipment maintenance Squadron, 1st Lt. Caleb Honsinger 777-5379 -Aircraft Miantenance Squadron, Capt. Joshua Cinq-Mars 777-7009 -Range Squadron, Staff Sgt. April Chesley 777-9768 Needs of Others contribution total of $52,500 for 2004, according to Lieutenant Gilmore. Each contribution, whether large or small, makes a significant difference, said Lieutenant Gilmore. But people who pledge at least $250 are recognized with an Eagle Award, which is a framed eagle certificate. It's broken into four categories: SI,000: Super Eagle Giver; $750: Gold Eagle Giver; $500: Silver Eagle Giver; and $250: Bronze Eagle Giver. CFC donations can be made to help the terminally ill, children, the homeless, families in need, funds for education and other various charities around the nation. The campaign is strictly voluntary, and wing members can choose from more than 1,700 charities The CFC cycle began Oct. 6 and ends Nov. 17. For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, contact your squadron CFC representative, or Lieutenant Gilmore at 586-1094. Q's & A's, "National U^M Institute of mental health" What should you do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide? If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should take their distress seriously, listen nonjudgmentally, and help them get to a professional for evaluation and treatment. People consider suicide when they are hopeless and unable to see alternative solutions to problems. Suicidal behavior is most often related to a mental disorder (depression) or to alcohol or other substance abuse. Suicidal behavior is also more likely to occur when people experience stressful events (major losses, incarceration). If someone is in imminent danger of harming himself or herself, do not leave the person alone. You may need to take emergency steps to get help, such as calling 911. When someone is in a suicidal crisis, it is important to limit access to v'•'••'> firearms or other lethal means of committing suicide. Why do men commit suicide more often than women do? . More than four times as many men as women die by suicide;' but women attempt suicide more often during their lives than do men, and women report higher rates of depression. Men and women use different suicide methods. Women in all countries are more likely to ingest poisons than men. In countries where the poisons are highly lethal and/or where treatment resources scarce, rescue is rare and hence female suicides outnumber males. Who Is at highest risk for suicide in the U.S.? There is a common perception that suicide rates are highest among the young. However, it is the elderly, • particularly older white males that have the highest rates. And among white males 65 and older, risk goes up with age. White men 85 and older have a suicide rate that is six times that of the overall national rate. Some older persons are less likely to survive attempts' because they are less likely to recuperate. Over 70 percent of older suicide victims have been to their primary care physician within the month of their death, many did not tell their doctors they were depressed nor did the doctor detect it. This has led to research efforts to determine how to best improve physicians' abilities to detect and treat depression in older adults. What biological factors Increase risk for suicide? Researchers believe that both depression and suicidal behavior can be linked to decreased serotonin in the brain. Low levels of a serotonin metabolite, 5HIAA, have been detected in cerebral spinal fluid in persons who have attempted suicide, as well as by , .„. postmortem studies examining certain brain regions of . suicide victims. One of the goals of understanding the biology of suicidal behavior is to improve treatments. Scientists have learned that serotonin receptors in the brain increase their activity in persons with major depression and suicidality, which explains why medications that desensitize or down-regulate these receptors (such as the serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or • SSRIs) have been found effective in treating depres- . sion. Currently, studies are underway to examine to what extent medications like SSRIs can reduce suicidal behavior. ..•••. Does depression increase the risk for suicide? Although the majority of people who have depres- ' sion do not die by suicide, having major depression does increase suicide risk compared to people without depression. The risk of death by suicide may, in part, . • be related to the severity of the depression. New data on depression that has followed people over long periods of time suggests that about 2 percent of those people ever treated for depression in an outpatient setting will die by suicide. Among those ever treated for depression in an inpatient hospital setting, the rate of u. , death by suicide is twice as high (4 percent). Those ,,e.; .treated for depression as inpatients following suicide •/ ideation or suicide attempts are about three times as ?,, likely to die by suicide (6 percent) as those who were ~ only treated as outpatients. There are also dramatic gender differences in lifetime risk of suicide in depression. Whereas about 7 percent of men with a lifetime history of depression will die by suicide, only 1 per- ... cent of women with a lifetime history of depression ... will die by suicide. Another way about thinking of suicide risk and depression is to examine the lives of people who have . died by suicide and see what proportion of them were ; depressed. From that perspective, it is estimated that about 60 percent of people who commit suicide have had a mood disorder (e.g., major depression, bipolar ^ disorder, dysthymia). Younger persons who kill them-$selves often have a substance abuse disorder in addi-J|i tion to being depressed. - :• ' ; .V? V Does alcohol and other drug abuse Increase the risk for suicide? ^A"^'^!':^ A number of recent national surveys have helped\ shed light on the relationship between alcohol and .V *" other drug use and suicidal behavior. A review of miru--\ mum-age drinking laws and suicides among youths age 18 to 20 found that lower minimum-age drinking laws . was associated with higher youth suicide rates. In a ' ' large study following adults who drink alcohol, suicide ideation was reported among persons with depression. In another survey, persons who reported that they had made a suicide attempt during their lifetime were more likely to have had a depressive disorder, and many also had an alcohol and/or substance abuse disorder. In a ' study of all nontraffic injury deaths associated with alcohol: intoxication, over 20 percent were suicides. |