Know suicide signs

Awareness, knowledge save lives

Mike A. Glasch           Leader Staff

Unit leaders need to be the first line of defense in preventing suicides. That’s the message from the head of Fort Jackson’s behavioral health department. “The leaders at Fort Jackson –– company commanders, first sergeants, drill sergeants and chaplains –– are on the frontlines of suicide prevention. They interact with the Soldiers on a day-to-day basis,” said Maj. Rodney Villanueva, medical director, Department of Behavioral Health, Moncrief Army Community Hospital. “They have to create a climate that takes suicide threats, or thoughts of suicide, very seriously and treats it with respect rather than ridicule.” According to the Army Suicide Event Report, last year 115 Soldiers took their own lives. That is up from 102 Soldiers committing suicide in 2006, and the highest number since record-keeping began in 1980. As part of Suicide Prevention Week, which begins Monday, in a podcast for Soldiers Forum, Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston also stressed the role of leaders in suicide prevention. “Leaders have the responsibility of taking care of their Soldiers on and off the battlefield. This care includes recognizing the uncharacteristic suicidal behaviors which can be triggered by many factors. One suicide is one too many,” Preston said. “Recognize the signs of suicide and depression and take care of each other.” Some of the warning signs that a Soldier may be contemplating suicide include: –– Talk of suicide or killing someone else. –– Giving away property or disregard for what happens to one’s property. –– Withdrawal from friends and activities. –– Problems with girlfriend (boyfriend) or spouse. –– Change in eating habits. –– Change in sleeping patterns. –– Change in ability to concentrate and focus. Villanueva is quick to point out that while the majority of those who are thinking about taking their own lives do exhibit at least some of the warning signs, that is not always the case. “The signs and symptoms can be very obvious, but on the other extreme, there are people who won’t show any signs,” he said. “It can be very difficult trying to pick out or identify someone who won’t show any signs that they are having difficulties.” In addition to recognizing the symptoms, there is another major hurdle that often needs to be cleared before a Soldier seeks mental health treatment. “I think that, in general, there is still a stigma attached to mental health. This is an unfortunate prejudice,” Villanueva said. “There is a stigma about people who seek mental health, there is a stigma about mental health providers, and in the military there is a stigma that if you go to mental health, it is a career-ender.” Villanueva said he thinks the Army has taken the steps necessary to help decrease the stigma, but that there is still work to be done. “I think it goes to education, to creating a culture and climate where seeking mental health is just as common and necessary as someone seeking medical care for a physical injury,” he said. “It’s up to commanders to be educated on what mental health is and what it is not. That’s how we break down the stigma –– demystifying it –– and not seeing it as a career-ender. It’s a long battle to destigmatize mental health care, but maybe we are on our way.” For more information on suicide prevention, call the MACH behavioral health staff at 751-5241.