Medical Monday - Suicide Prevention Month

September has been designated as suicide prevention month. A recent report indicates that 8 million Americans consider suicide every year. We often have patients with very strong suicidal ideation. Please pray for our patients dealing with some extremely difficult life circumstances and pray for us for His wisdom in reaching out to them.

Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or by calling the National Suicide Prevention hotline 1-800-273-TALK if you or someone you know exhibits any of the following signs:

Suicide Warning Signs from the National Suicide Prevention US Dept of Health and Human Services:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities-seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped-like there’s no way out
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family and society
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Experiencing dramatic mood changes
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.

Please remember prevention is key…

All suicide threats and attempts must be taken seriously. Know the risk factors previous attempts, depression, talking about suicide, planning a suicide ( see above). Be willing to listen, don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions, seek professional help and in a crisis take the person to an emergency room, call 911 or mobile crisis 726-0125. Remove any firearms, pills or other objects that could be used in a suicide attempt. 

Stay in touch, follow up, pray, show that you care…

Written by Laurie Tone, Siloam's Behavioral Health Consultant