Depression and suicide affect military and civilians alike

  • Published
  • By Karen Guendel
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Depression and suicide can affect any member of the Hanscom community. For this reason, civilians and servicemembers alike should know the signs of depression and what to do if they believe that they or someone they know may be depressed or suicidal.

Military members, civilians and family members are all susceptible to problems like depression and anxiety, said Staff Sgt. Sara Hayes, Suicide Prevention program manager at Hanscom's Mental Health Clinic. "As of July 9, we have had 30 active-duty Air Force suicides, 10 Air National Guard suicides, three Air Force Reserve suicides and 11 civilian suicides in our Air Force community this calendar year."

According to Ina Bachman, Licensed Independent Clinical social worker and Hanscom's Federal Occupational Health Employee Assistance specialist, depression can be caused by many factors. "For some people it's biological, part of their brain chemistry," she said. "For other people it's a situation where they feel helpless or hopeless." Often, that situation is a loss, such as a death, divorce, financial loss, the loss of a job or of a dream, she said.

According to Ms. Bachman, these signs may include social withdrawal and isolation, an increase in anger or irritability, changes in sleeping habits or appetite, decreased concentration or job performance, loss of energy and motivation and anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure.

Depressed individuals may also engage in unhealthy behaviors that provide temporary relief from feelings of depression. Examples include using alcohol or drugs, overeating, spending money, or turning to the internet or video games for an escape, Ms. Bachman said. "Some of these behaviors may be fine in moderation, but if it becomes an extreme or they can't stop, then it becomes a problem."

People suffering from depression may also have varying degrees of thoughts of suicide, Ms. Bachman said. "You can have general escape thoughts, thoughts where you're more specific about ending your life, thoughts with a plan, or thoughts with a plan and intent to follow through with the plan," she said.

There are many barriers including a sense of shame that prevent depressed individuals from seeking help, Ms. Bachman said. "It's very important for people to know that it's normal to go through times in your life that are difficult and it isn't something wrong with you, it's a challenge in your life," Ms. Bachman said. "Getting a coach or support or a mentor, or someone to help you though a challenge is an excellent thing to do."

Likewise, other individuals "should never be afraid to ask somebody if they're worried about them being suicidal," Ms. Bachman said. "There's a myth that if you ask them, they will commit suicide, but that's actually false. In fact, people may not be able to speak it themselves, but if somebody asks, they can begin to share how they're feeling. And always err on the side of caution. Even if the person may become angry with you, it's better to make sure they're safe."

An individual who is concerned that a family member or coworker may be depressed should broach the topic in a nonjudgmental way, Ms. Bachman said. "You don't even have to start with questions about depression. You can just talk about what you observed. You can say, 'I'm not a professional, I can't tell you what's going on, but I am worried. What do you think about going to talk to somebody?' And then here are the resources."

A wide variety of resources are available. "If you need to get somebody immediate help, take them to the local emergency room. There are always professionals there to deal with potential suicides," Ms. Bachman said. "Or you can call the police and they'll help you work out a plan to get them someplace if they're not cooperating."

Civilians and their family members can obtain referral and counseling services under the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP also offers an around-the-clock call center staffed by counselors who can help determine how to get an individual the help he or she needs. The number for the call center is 1-800-222-0364. The EAP also offers a website with additional resources: www.foh4you.com. No password is needed to access this site.

Active-duty personnel may seek help at Hanscom's Mental Health Clinic where individual counseling is available. The Mental Health Clinic also offers other services such as alcohol and drug abuse counseling and marriage counseling, Sergeant Hayes said. The Mental Health Clinic is not located in the Medical Squadron, but in building 1217, across the parking lot from the Airman and Family Readiness Center. For questions or appointments, walk in or call 781-377-4791.

The Mental Health Clinic also provides suicide prevention briefings. At a minimum, the Air Force requires active-duty and civilian personnel to view an online briefing once every 20 months. However, the Mental Health Clinic also offers live suicide prevention briefings by request to organizations on base. Sergeant Hayes said, "We recommend face-to-face training because it gives people a chance to put faces with the personnel that work in Mental Health and take away from the stigma that unfortunately still exists. It also offers the opportunity for questions they may have."

In addition, the Mental Health Clinic offers quarterly front line supervisor training, which satisfies the suicide prevention briefing requirement and offers education on the role of the supervisor in promoting the health of Airmen. The next front line supervisor training will be offered on Aug. 11. For more information, contact Sergeant Hayes at 781-377-8070.

"One of the hardest things to do is ask for help but it is crucial to do so in order to build a strong and resilient family within our military community," said Sergeant Hayes.