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by Heather Robinson
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern Prevention Coordinator
The World Health Organization averages that every 30 seconds a suicide is committed, shattering the lives of families and friends.
This organization sponsors World Suicide Prevention Day as an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in commitment and action to ensure that suicides are prevented. This year the observance is Sept. 10.
Research supports that mental disorders such as depression and substance abuse are associated with more than 90 percent of all cases of suicide and is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis situations.
If you knew that you had the power to intervene on someone having to experience this pain – this loss – would you?
Awareness and education about treatment of depression and substance abuse problems can reduce suicide rates. Interventions involving crisis management, self-esteem enhancement and the development of coping skills and healthy decision making have shown to reduce the risk of suicide among youth.
Know the risk factors
• Previous suicide attempts
• Close family member who has committed suicide
• Past psychiatric hospitalization
• Recent losses
• Poor social skills
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Violence in the home or social environment
• Work problems/medical problems
• Poor school performance
Know the resources that can help
The U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern has multiple agencies available to assist and will be offering suicide prevention training to all Department of Army civilians to kick off Suicide Prevention Week. Join the garrison in a “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” campaign to increase awareness of risk factors and prevention of suicide.
The Suicide Prevention Briefing is at 3 p.m. Sept. 5 at the chapel on Daenner Kaserne. One hour of Substance Abuse Training will be credited for every civilian and Soldier attending.
Reservations are required and can be done by e-mailing heather.a.robinson1@us.army.mil.
For more information on community resources, visit http://www.per.hqusareur.army.mil/communityresources.
