39th s-prev july 09
TRANSCRIPT
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Suicide Awareness
2009
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SUICIDE PREVENTION:
IT TAKES
³PERSONAL
COURAGE´
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Operation S. A. V. E.S. A. V. E. will help you act with care and
compassion if you encounter a person who is
suicidal.
The acronym ³SAVE´ summarizes the stepsneeded to take an active and valuable role in
suicide prevention.
SSigns of suicidal thinking
AAsk questions
VValidate the person¶s experience
EEncourage treatment and Expedite
getting help
Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention
Operation S.A.V.E.Operation S.A.V.E.
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Suicide Prevention
Operation S.A.V.E.
Importance of identification
Suicidal individuals are not always easy to identify.
There is no single profile to guide recognition.
There are a number of warning signs and symptoms.
(Some of the signs of suicidality are obvious, but othersare not.)
Signs and symptoms do not always mean the person issuicidal but:
(When you recognize signs, it is important to ask theperson how they are doing because they may meanthat they are in trouble.)
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Threatening to hurt or kill self
Looking for ways to kill self
Seeking access to pills, weapons or other means
Talking or writing about death, dying or
suicide
Hopelessness Rage, anger
Seeking revenge
Acting reckless or engaging in risky
activities
Suicide Prevention
SSigns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking
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Feeling trappedFeeling trapped
Increasing drug or alcohol abuseIncreasing drug or alcohol abuse
Withdrawing from friends, family andWithdrawing from friends, family andsocietysociety
Anxiety, agitationAnxiety, agitation
Dramatic changes in moodDramatic changes in mood
No reason for living, no sense of purposeNo reason for living, no sense of purposein lifein life
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the timeDifficulty sleeping or sleeping all the time
Giving away possessionsGiving away possessions
Increase or decrease in spiritualityIncrease or decrease in spirituality
Suicide PreventionSuicide PreventionSSigns of suicidal thinkingigns of suicidal thinking
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To effectively determine if a person is suicidal, oneTo effectively determine if a person is suicidal, one
needs to interact in a manner that communicatesneeds to interact in a manner that communicates
concern and understanding. As well, one needs toconcern and understanding. As well, one needs to
know how to manage personal discomfort (i.e.,know how to manage personal discomfort (i.e.,anxiety, fear, frustration, personal, cultural or anxiety, fear, frustration, personal, cultural or
religious values) in order to directly address thereligious values) in order to directly address the
issue.issue.
Know how to ask the most important question:Know how to ask the most important question:
The most difficult S. A. V. E. step is asking theThe most difficult S. A. V. E. step is asking the
most important question of allmost important question of all ± ±
Suicide PreventionSuicide PreventionAAsk questionssk questions
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Suicide PreventionAsk questions
Things to consider when you talk with the person:
Remain calm
Listen more than you speak Maintain eye contact
Act with confidence
Do not argue
Use open body language
Limit questions to gathering informationcasually
Use supportive and encouraging comments
Be as honest and ³up front´ as possible
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Suicide PreventionValidate the veteran¶s experience
Validation means:
Show the person that you are following
what they are saying
Accept their situation for what it is
You are not passing judgment
Let them know that their situation is
serious and deserving of attention
Acknowledge their feelings
Let him or her know you are there to help
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Suicide Prevention
Encourage treatment and Expedite getting help
For the cooperative person:
Tips for encouraging treatment:
1. Explain that there are trained professionals availableto help them.
2. Explain that treatment works.
3. Explain that getting help for this kind of problem is no
different than seeing a specialist for other medical
problems.
4. Tell them that getting treatment is his or her right.
5. If they tell you that they have had treatment
before and it has not worked, try asking: ³What if
this is the time it does work?´
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Suicide PreventionOperation S. A.V. E.
There are plenty of resources available toThere are plenty of resources available to
someone who is suicidal but we needsomeone who is suicidal but we need youyou
to partner with us in identifying the suicidalto partner with us in identifying the suicidal
person and getting them into treatment.person and getting them into treatment.
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INTERVENTION
ACE Ask your Buddy ± Have the courage to ask the
question, but stay calm
± Ask the question directly, e.g.Are you thinking of killingyourself?
Care for your Buddy ± Remove any means that could
be used for self-injury
± Calmly control the situation; donot use force
Escort your Buddy ± Never leave your buddy alone
± Escort to the chain of command, a Chaplain, abehavioral health professional,or a primary care provider
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How to Refer
Responsibility always rests with unit leadership
Emergency:
Threat to life and lethality is imminent or severe.
Consult with a behavioral healthcare provider or other healthcare provider, if behavioral health isnot available.
Escort immediately to the Emergency Room,Behavioral Health, Aid Station, Combat StressControl Team, or the Chaplain.
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How to Refer (continued)
Non-Emergency
Consult with a Chaplain or behavioralhealth care provider
Counsel Soldier and give a copy of thecommand referral (DoDD 6490.1)
Observe Soldier¶s rights to see SJA and IG
Escort the Soldier to behavioral healthwith command referral memorandum
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Resour ces
During Deployment:
Combat Stress Control Teams 430-1893 Medics
Battalion Aid Station
Chaplain
All returning Soldiers form OIF or OEF can contact the MilitaryOne
Source @ https://www.militaryonesource.com
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Questions?
Thanks for Listening and Getting
Involved!
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