Mental Health Prevention

Prevention of Major depression, dysthymic depression and minor depression:

-Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and to boost your self-esteem.
-Healthy diet and exercise.
-Avoid the use of drugs and alcohol.
-Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.
-Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
-Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depressive symptoms seek out support from family, friends, spiritual leader or mental health professional.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a serious problem that takes an immense toll on families, friends, communities and on our military personnel and veterans.

Facts

-Suicide is the 10th leading cause for death in America.
-The suicide rate is 4 times higher among men than women.
-In 2013, the highest suicide rate was among people 45 to 64 years old. The second highest rate occurred in those 85 years and older.
-White males accounted for 70% of all suicides in 2013
-Firearms are the most common method of death by suicide, accounting for a little more than half of all suicide deaths.

Warning Signs

If you are concerned, immediate action is very important. Suicide can be prevented and most people who feel suicidal demonstrate warning signs. Recognizing some of these warning signs is the first step in helping yourself or someone you care about.

Talking about killing themselves, having no reason to live, experiencing unbearable pain, feeling trapped or being a burden to others.
Begins to look for a way to kill themselves.
Increases alcohol or drug consumption.
Isolating themselves from family, friends or activities.
Behaving recklessly.
Displaying moods of depression, rage, humiliation, anxiety and irritability.
Sleeping too little or too much.

_{-National Suicide Prevention Lifeline}

If you feel you are in a crisis, whether or not you are thinking about killing yourself, please talk to a trusted family member or friend about what you are experiencing or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)