SHEDDING LIGHT ON MENTAL ILLNESS
In Virginia, we lose two adults every day, one older adult every three days, and one teenager a week to suicide. Early recognition of the warning signs of suicide, and active intervention and referral to those who can help are the keys to suicide prevention.
*** TIPS***
Depression is a biochemical imbalance in the brain that affects how people think and how they behave. Certain signs may indicate depression:
- Low self-esteem-----anger management problems
- Irritability-----Getting into trouble with the law
- Increased physical health problems
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Threatening suicide or homicide
- Significant change in appetite or weight
- Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
WHAT ACTION TO TAKE:
- If you think a person is at risk for depression or suicide, the next step is to actively intervene and
refer the person to proper help.
- Take immediate and sufficient steps to ensure safety, including eliminating access to firearms.
- Engage in individual, family, or group therapy.
- Enlist family and community support.
- Do not hesitate to involve mental health professionals trained to recognize and treat depression and related disorders.
If you, or someone you know, are having thoughts of suicide please call the national suicide hotline:
1-800-273-TALK or contact a friend or loved one who will come immediately to stay with you until you are able to get help. In many cases these helpers will make the necessary calls for you.
If you live with ongoing mental illness, keep a list of emergency numbers by your phone—these would include the suicide hotline number, your therapists name and number and the number for your nearest ER. It is also helpful to keep these numbers on an index card in your wallet.
In Virginia, we lose two adults every day, one older adult every three days, and one teenager a week to suicide. Early recognition of the warning signs of suicide, and active intervention and referral to those who can help are the keys to suicide prevention.
*** TIPS***
Depression is a biochemical imbalance in the brain that affects how people think and how they behave. Certain signs may indicate depression:
- Low self-esteem-----anger management problems
- Irritability-----Getting into trouble with the law
- Increased physical health problems
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Threatening suicide or homicide
- Significant change in appetite or weight
- Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
WHAT ACTION TO TAKE:
- If you think a person is at risk for depression or suicide, the next step is to actively intervene and
refer the person to proper help.
- Take immediate and sufficient steps to ensure safety, including eliminating access to firearms.
- Engage in individual, family, or group therapy.
- Enlist family and community support.
- Do not hesitate to involve mental health professionals trained to recognize and treat depression and related disorders.
If you, or someone you know, are having thoughts of suicide please call the national suicide hotline:
1-800-273-TALK or contact a friend or loved one who will come immediately to stay with you until you are able to get help. In many cases these helpers will make the necessary calls for you.
If you live with ongoing mental illness, keep a list of emergency numbers by your phone—these would include the suicide hotline number, your therapists name and number and the number for your nearest ER. It is also helpful to keep these numbers on an index card in your wallet.
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