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Suicide Awareness

Suicide Awareness. Overview. The AF and Suicide Prevention Suicide Trend AF Study Findings Knowledge and Beliefs Warning Signs Common Characteristics Adolescents vs. Adults Strategies for Prevention Responses Physical Conditioning. Study, Trend: USAF History. AF Study Findings.

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Suicide Awareness

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  1. Suicide Awareness

  2. Overview • The AF and Suicide Prevention • Suicide Trend • AF Study Findings • Knowledge and Beliefs • Warning Signs • Common Characteristics • Adolescents vs. Adults • Strategies for Prevention • Responses • Physical Conditioning

  3. Study, Trend: USAF History

  4. AF Study Findings • 50% spoke of their intentions before committing suicide • 53% were clearly depressed • 76% had relationship problems • 43% had severe work problems

  5. Knowledge and Beliefs • Occurs across all spectrums of society • Often a cry for help • May occur without prior warning • Depression is a frequent precursor • Females make more attempts • All suicidal people aren’t depressed, mentally ill, or insane

  6. Myths • Directly asking about suicide plants the idea • Ignoring a minor suicide attempt is preferable to addressing it • Suicide in a family increases the chance of other family members attempting suicide • Few professionals commit suicide

  7. 10 Warning Signs • Specific talk about suicide • Trouble eating or sleeping • Withdrawal from friends or social activities • Loss of interest in hobbies, work, sex, and school • Giving away prized possessions

  8. 10 Warning Signs • Previous suicide attempts • Suffered a recent or severe loss • Preoccupied with death or dying • Loss of interest in personal appearance • Increased use of alcohol or drugs

  9. Common Characteristics of Suicide Victims • Intense emotional pain • Frustrated needs for security • Suicide is seen as only solution • Hopeless and helpless • Stop pain by ending awareness • Black and white thinking: death the only answer

  10. Common Characteristics of Suicide Victims • Feeling of ambivalence; want to die, but want to live • Give clues about imminent suicide • Want to run away from pain • Lifelong pattern of poor coping skills

  11. Adolescent vs. Adult • Adolescent more impulsive • Involve more anger, risk taking, and drugs • Adolescents make more attempts • Family history of divorce or suicide • Low self-esteem is common • Heavily influenced by relationships

  12. Strategies for Prevention • For yourself • Acknowledge your own clues and warning signs • Seek assistance for depression • Talk with a trained confidant • Understand that life has cycles--good and bad

  13. Strategies for Prevention • For others • Immediate • Remain calm • Don’t leave the person alone • Call for ER or Mental Health • Long term • Promote unit wide sensitivity • Identify “at risk” personnel • Know your resources (chaplain, counselor, etc.) • Be available and supportive

  14. Response to Suicide • Supervisor/Commander • Inform unit members of circumstances • Don’t talk about details • Emphasize dealing with stress • Request debriefing from Life Skills Clinic • Conduct personal interviews with “at risk” individuals • Try to minimize the blame game

  15. LINK

  16. Physical Fitness

  17. Additional Resources • For additional resources on suicide awareness and prevention, go to: • www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/sascasstats/ • https://www.afms.mil/phsd/PHSO/ToolKits/

  18. Suicide Awareness

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