In a nation where more people die by suicide than by homicide, the need for suicide prevention is urgent. This week, September 6th-12th, you can do something to help prevent another death.
More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide suffer from one or more psychiatric disorders at the time of death. For military personnel, these disorders are often closely linked to the unique hardships they face. Fallen comrades, parentless children, grieving communities-these are some images that may never leave the memories of those in combat. However, with appropriate care, the emotional turmoil that sometimes follows can be alleviated and suicide can be prevented.
In honor of Suicide Prevention Week, Military Pathways(tm) has launched an expanded online screening tool that allows service members and their families the opportunity to assess their mental wellbeing, anonymously, and to identify symptoms before a problem becomes serious. Although most depressed people are not suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed. Failure to recognize depression and other mental health issues such as PTSD can have devastating consequences, underscoring the importance of detecting these disorders early.
Approximately 70% of people who die by suicide tell someone about it in advance, and most are not receiving treatment at that time. Thus, friends, family members, and battle buddies are often the best resources to prevent suicide, but many people don't know how to recognize the warning signs or how to help someone who may be at risk. This is where online screenings can help.
Military Pathways' online screening, funded by the Department of Defense, is available 24/7 and includes free, anonymous self-assessments for depression, alcohol problems, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition to detecting an individual's potential risk and their need for further evaluation, the new online tool offers advanced options that provide users with specific resources in their communities as well as enhanced learning materials and resources. To access Military Pathways' anonymous self-assessments, visit www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org <http://www.militarymentalhealth.org/> or call 877-877-3647.
Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 800-273-TALK (8255); active duty members and veterans should press "1" after being connected.
This September, honor the military members and families that you know by encouraging them to seek help if needed. These men and women have served their nation valiantly. Now it is time for us to serve them.
About Military Pathways(tm)
Military Pathways gives service personnel and their families the opportunity to learn more about mental health and alcohol use through anonymous self-assessments offered online, via the phone, and through special events held at installations. The program is designed to help individuals identify their own symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. The self-assessments address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use, and bipolar disorder. After completing a self-assessment, individuals receive referral information including services provided through the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Military Pathways is a program of the non-profit Screening for Mental Health® and is fully funded by Force Health Protection and Readiness, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs. To take a free, anonymous self-assessment, visit www.MilitaryMentalHealth.org <http://www.militarymentalhealth.org/> or call 1-877-877-3647.