Suicide is a taboo topic throughout mainstream society, specifically in the military. This topic may be difficult and uncomfortable to discuss or simply too painful to address. It can even be scary to think about asking someone you care about if they are having suicidal thoughts. The Brink from Boston University in their mental health article highlights that suicide is now the leading cause of death among active duty military personnel. This blog post attempts to bring awareness to understanding and preventing suicide in the military.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
There aren’t concrete rules to predict whether someone will attempt suicide. Some warming signs may include the following.
- Increase in isolation and/or diminished connection with others
- Feeling helpless and/or hopeless
- Impulsive tendencies
- Past attempts of suicide
- Someone close died by suicide
- Giving away possessions
- High need to be perfect
- Harsh internal dialogue
Mental Health Prevention
Many of the above noted warning signs may be created by other mental health diagnoses and/or life stressors. Therefore, therapy that can help to alleviate mental health challenges, increase perspective-taking skills, resolve negative thought processes, and increase distress tolerance skills can all be beneficial to help resolve suicidal thoughts and/or urges.
Common therapy modalities used to treat suicidal thoughts may include.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – is used to address negative thought patterns, black and white thinking, and increase behaviors that bring meaning to one’s life.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – can help to create space between suicidal thoughts, increase distress tolerance skills, as well as foster a sense of self and help to direct actions towards one’s values.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy – sometimes suicidal thoughts follow traumatic or overwhelming experiences. EMDR therapy can help to resolve this trauma stored within the body.
- Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy – helps to naturally track and integrate incomplete body responses that become stored within the nervous system and then create distress.
Family and Communities Can Be a Resource
Reaching out and offering support can be a big factor when someone struggles with suicidal thoughts. Now the person may want privacy and, at the same time, letting them know you are near and ready to support may be a powerful sign of connection. There are also numerous resources for people to utilize if they or someone they know has suicidal thoughts. One such resource is mental health first aid. Also contacting the 988 number for suicide and crisis support can be useful as well.
Healing from the Effects of Suicide
At Revitalize Mental Health PLLC, we offer individual therapy sessions to support both those who experience suicidal thoughts as well as for the people struggling with the loss of someone who died by suicide. Asking for help may be a challenge. However, our sessions will be confidential except for a few circumstances. And this safer place can be the place where healing starts.
Mental Health Therapist Near Racine, WI
The therapy methods noted above can have positive effects for those impacted by suicidal thoughts or those impacted by someone else’s complete suicide. Revitalize Mental Health PLLC offers in-person therapy sessions near Southern Milwaukee and telehealth individual therapy sessions throughout the State of Wisconsin and Colorado. If you are ready to move forward and make positive strides in life, call us at 720.295.6703 or submit an online form by following this link. We look forward to hearing from you.
By: Daniel Gospodarek, LCSW
