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.
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?
While I’ve written numerous blogs about military couples, one of my other professional interests is suicide prevention. Since September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I thought suicide prevention would be a good topic for my blog post this month. So, when I recently ran across Khalifan and colleagues’ (2022) article “Utilizing the couple relationship to prevent suicide: A preliminary examination of treatment for relationships and safety together” I was intrigued!
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to focusing awareness on training and resources specific to suicide prevention with the hope of decreasing stigma and increasing help-seeking behavior. When deciding what to write about, I wanted to focus on two areas that have really been pivotal in my clinical career path: eating disorders (EDs) and suicide prevention. Early in my graduate studies, my clinical focus was on the assessment and treatment of EDs.
When I became a parent just over five years ago, I felt so untethered. Here I was a practicing mental health professional for 20 years and I was scrambling for information on “infant sleep” and “what to do if you’re struggling with breastfeeding.” Fast forward to the early school-age period, and I now anxiously seek out information on power struggles and managing tantrums. Apparently, knowing a lot about child development doesn’t actually prepare you when it’s your own child.