Suicide Prevention Resources for Military Families

Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer Philippe Chasse/Released

No warrior or military family is alone. If you are concerned that a service member or veteran in your family is considering harming or killing him/herself, free resources are immediately available to aid your family in its time of crisis.

To get help for someone immediately, call the Veterans Crisis Line [1] at 800-273-TALK and press 1. You can also use the information below to educate yourself about how to tell if a loved one may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, and what you can do to help him or her find the strength to reach out for help.

Identify the Warning Signs of Suicide

Experiencing a traumatic event is common among service members who deploy to hostile environments in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. Everyone reacts to traumatic experiences differently, and while many service members experience no negative effects, others may feel angry or isolated when they return home. These reactions can be common responses to extraordinary events.

However, for some service members, these feelings may be signs of more serious conditions, including depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Warriors coping with these concerns may feel like there is no escape from their symptoms, leading them to have thoughts of suicide or engage in high risk behavior.^{1 [2]}

The following behaviors and feelings can all be signs for concern. It is important to seek professional guidance right away if your loved one is:^{2 [3]}

• Thinking about hurting or killing him/herself
• Seeking access to pills, weapons or other means of harming/killing him/herself
• Talking or writing excessively about death, dying or suicide
• Unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Withdrawing from friends, family or society
• Significantly increasing alcohol or drug use
• Engaging in risky behavior, such as driving recklessly^{3 [4]}
• Experiencing excessive rage, anger or desire for revenge
• Having feelings of anxiety, agitation or hopelessness
• Repeatedly reliving past stressful experiences
• Experiencing dramatic changes in mood
• Feeling there is no reason for living
• Feeling trapped, like there is no way out

How to Find Help for Your Loved One

It can be difficult to know what to do if you think someone may be considering suicide. But you can use the ACE framework to guide your actions:^{4 [5]5 [6]}

ASK your warrior about suicidal thoughts

• Have the courage to ask if your warrior is having thoughts of suicide, but stay calm.
• Ask the question directly: Are you thinking of killing yourself?
• Know the signs for concern listed above.

CARE for your warrior

• Stay calm and safe — do not use force.
• Understand that your loved one may be in pain. 
• Removing any lethal means, such as weapons or pills. 
• Actively listen for details about what, where and when your warrior may be planning to kill himself or herself. (If your warrior acknowledges his/her plans, it generally suggests that he/she is accepting your help.) 
• Actively listening without passing judgment can help produce relief for the warrior.

ESCORT your warrior to get help

• Escort your warrior immediately to his/her chain of command, Chaplain or behavioral health professional. 
• Call 911 or 800-273-TALK to speak with a trained professional right away.
  Don’t keep your warrior’s suicidal behavior a secret. 
• Never leave your warrior alone — stay until he/she receives appropriate help. 
• Adopting an attitude that you are going to help your loved one will save his or her life.

All military families can speak to a trained professional 24/7 for free by contacting:

• The Veterans Crisis Line (visit Veterans Live Chat [7] or call 800-273-TALK to talk with a crisis counselor)
• The DCoE Outreach Center (visit Real Warriors Live Chat [8] or call 866-966-1020 to talk with a health resource consultant)
• Military OneSource [9] (call 800-342-9647 for one-on-one counseling)

Each armed service also offers resources for soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen, as well as their families:

• Army Family Readiness Group [10]
• Army Suicide Prevention Program [11]
• Marine Corps Community Services [12]
• Navy Fleet and Family Readiness Program [13]
• Air Force Community [14]

What You Can Do to Support Your Warrior

As you help your loved one seek care, there are several actions that can aid in his/her return to peak functioning. Encourage your warrior to:^{6 [18]}

• Cut back on obligations when possible and set reasonable schedules for goals.
• Consider writing in a journal [19] to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
• Avoid isolation—get together with buddies, commanding officers, family, friends or other members of the community regularly.
• Stay physically fit [20] by eating a healthy diet [21] and getting sufficient sleep [22].
• Stay motivated in tough times by keeping personal and career goals in mind.
• Use relaxation techniques [23] to aid in stress management.
• Stay organized by creating a daily schedule of tasks and activities.

The stakes in the fight against military suicide are the same as the stakes in combat: lives are on the line. That’s why our nation’s warriors can benefit greatly from the support of their families when they step up to seek treatment.

Additional Resources

• Get detailed information about preventing suicide [24] from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Learn more about suicide warning signs [25] from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
• Read the RAND report, Post-Deployment Stress: What Families Should Know, What Families Can Do [26]  [PDF 530KB]
• Connect with other military families at the Real Warriors message Boards [27]

Sources

¹ [28]Hudenko, W. “The Relationship Between PTSD and Suicide [29],” National Center for PTSD, Department of Veterans Affairs, last accessed August 2011.
² [30]"Information and Support After a Suicide Attempt: A Department of Veterans Affairs Resource Guide for Family Members of Veterans Who are Coping with Suicidality, [31]” [PDF 195KB] Office of Mental Health Service, VA Central Office, August 2009.
³ [32]“Understanding Post Deployment Stress Symptoms: Helping Your Loved Ones [33]” fact sheet [PDF 170KB]. Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, last accessed August 2011.
⁴ [34]DoD ACE Suicide Prevention Card (TA-120-0909)
⁵ [35]ACE Suicide prevention Program: Trainer’s Manual. U.S. Army Public Health Command. April 17, 2010.
⁶ [36]“Coping and Support [37],” The Mayo Clinic, last accessed August 2011.