Professionals and researchers across the behavioral health field agree that preventing suicide is a complex problem that must be addressed at multiple levels. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, I’d like to reflect on a couple of resources I wish I had known about earlier and share with you some resources that the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) will release in 2024.
“What if….?” questions come up frequently as we instruct or consult on evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs). You probably recall imagining all of the worst-case scenarios when you were first learning a new treatment. Even seasoned clinicians still find themselves asking “what if…?” questions while delivering treatment. And more than once I’ve found myself faced with that scenario that I’ve been dreading for years and suddenly have to figure out “What do I do now?”
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. While there is usually not one single factor that leads to these tragic losses of life. There are oftentimes so many missed opportunities for intervention. As you take the time to listen to Lisa's story, although a fictional account, realize the implications are very real. Suicide Prevention is something that requires collaboration, we can't handle it alone So ask yourself, Where will I stand in the gaps?
A few years ago, I had the privilege of treating an Afghan interpreter who had served alongside U.S. soldiers for several years during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF); he had witnessed and directly experienced a multitude of traumas. When the U.S. decided to fully withdraw from Afghanistan in August 2021, my patient became incredibly anxious about the safety of interpreters and their families still in that country, as well as his own safety in the U.S.
We often hear about the high rates of mental health disorders among service members; however, these rates typically reflect only those diagnoses received or the disorders treated while in-garrison. The mental health burden experienced while in-theater has been frequently underreported. This represents an important gap in our understanding of the behavioral health care needs of service members while deployed as well as the training needs of deploying providers.