Suicide Prevention 

It Takes Strength to Ask for Help

Life is full of challenges and sometimes Servicemembers or their families can find the challenges overwhelming. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following symptoms, PLEASE CALL THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE at 800-273-8255 (TALK).

OR scroll to the bottom of this page to chat online with a trained VA counselor.

It takes a strong Servicemember to ask for help, AND ASKING FOR HELP IS OKAY.

See the one-minute PSA video, highlighting the three key points, "NOW," here.

A person showing these signs may be suicidal:

Orange Signs:

• Irritable and inappropriate disruptive behavior
• Extreme emotional reactions to recent losses.
• Threatens suicide
• Appears to be tired, tardy, demonstrates less energy and doesn't have a reason why
• Abuses drugs, alcohol
• Deliberately injures him/herself

What to do if they're showing Orange Signs:

• Often just listening can help
• Listen in a non-judgmental manner - often that may be enough to help the individual work through the problem and come up with a solution
• Explore what the individual has done previously to solve similar situations and how it worked out
• Allow the individual the opportunity to determine what they might do to solve the problem themselves in an appropriate manner
• Avoid becoming over involved with the individual and their problems
• Offer Wellness Resource contact information

 
Red Signs:

• Gives away possessions
• Expresses feelings of suicidal thoughts or actions
• Anger, aggression and disruptive behavior
• Not able to recognize time, location and people

What to do if they're showing Red Signs:

• Stay calm and speak in a calm voice
• For severe symptoms, immediately call 911
• For severe symptoms, stay with the person at the hospital or find a relative or close friend who will stay with them
• Do not leave the individual alone at the hospital to describe their symptoms on their own
• Follow up with the person after they have been seen at the hospital to find out what they have been advised to do and if they need more care
•  

If you feel a fellow Servicemember is struggling with thoughts of suicide:

• Provide ACE:

(A)sk your buddy

• Have the courage to ask the questions, but stay calm
• Ask the question directly, "Are you thinking of killing yourself?" for example

(C)are for your buddy

• Remove any means that could be used for self injury
• Calmly control the situation - do not use force
• Actively listen to produce relief

(E)scort your buddy

• Never leave your buddy alone
• Escort to the chain of command, a chaplain, a behavioral health professional or primary care provider

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans (and family members or friends) can access Veterans Chat through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Veterans Chat enables veterans, their families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If the chats are determined to be a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the chatter to the VA Suicide prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken.

More Info: Flyer and website