A great resource many may not be aware of is Health.mil, the official website of the Military Health System and the Defense Health Agency. There they are running a story sharing with us that “for some, everyday life can bring forth demanding situations which may carry a great emotional and psychological burden. And when dealing with such, a person may consider thoughts of suicide or self-harm as the only solution. The ability to detect when someone is dealing with difficulties in their personal lives can be a challenge, according to an expert on the subject of psychological health. ‘While some warning signs can be difficult to notice at times, it can be helpful to listen carefully and consider what a person may be communicating indirectly,’ said Dr. Mark Bates, associate director of psychological health promotion at the Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC), which is a part of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE).
“‘Listening well is very important if you have concerns about someone’s emotional state.’ Bates stated if a person begins talking about death, or wishing to die, contact emergency help or a medical professional immediately. “Be careful to be supportive and non-judgmental,” he said. ‘The psychological and emotional pain one endures when contemplating suicide can be immense. If someone you know has attempted suicide before, or has access to an effective means to commit suicide (possession of a firearm, pills, etc.), get in touch with someone and express your concerns.'”
For the rest of this story, numerous links to resources as well as additional helpful articles like this, please visit HEALTH.MIL.