HELP!!!

Suicide Hotline phone number: 1-800-273-8255 

Dial 911 for life threatening situations. (In America) 

Note to family, friends, or care-takers of the affected one: 

Call the police or sheriff if your loved one demonstrates threatening behavior, is out of control, or is suicidal or homicidal. The police or sheriff will typically take charge of the situation and give your loved one a secure ride the nearest ER. A point to remember is anyone has the right to refuse medical care. This includes emergency squad/ambulance rides to the hospital. If you think your loved one would refuse an emergency squad/ambulance ride, and you think he or she needs help immediately; call the police or Sheriff. The goal is to keep everybody safe.  

The 211 phone system is in place to give the individual information about community programs regarding medical and dental care, housing, employment, utility assistance, emergency food, and legal help. State and Federal entitlement programs are included as well. Be aware not all cities have the system in place yet. 

My best advice for people who lived through and is living through grueling, treacherous, and disturbing times, and who may have witnessed atrocities, is to breathe, take one step at a time, stay in the present time, ask for help, and prioritize. Remember, you have the rest of your life to get better. Pace yourself. 

The renowned philosopher, Abraham Maslow, teaches us to prioritize starting with basic needs. Only after our basic needs are met, then we can address and develop our personal growth needs.    

Physiological needs are basic needs. If these needs are not met the subsequent needs really do not matter. Physiological needs are: oxygen, water, food, procreation, pain avoidance, sleep, temperature regulation, and so on. 

Safety and security are considered basic needs.If any basic need is out of balance; then one should not expect equilibrium, balance or harmony. 

Love and belonging. We are capable of love and we belong where we choose to be physically and emotionally. Maslow said this is a personal growth need. 

Self esteem and self love are personal growth needs according to Maslow. 

Self actualization according to Maslow is the best you can be in all areas of personal development.

Basic needs, mostly physiologic in nature, will need to be met before traveling upward in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Take your time. You have the rest of your life to get better. Be easy on yourself. Keep in mind you always have choices. If a method of wellness is not working out; try another strategy. Move forward.  

Here are some agencies which may be helpful in your journey back to wellness: 

• National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) www.nami.org

This is a site of information and resources. The folks who work for NAMI help educate and connect people with community resources. They also have people dedicated to the veteran. This is some information from their website.

“The NAMI Veterans Council advocates for an improved continuum of care for veterans and active military and dependents with severe and persistent mental illness.  The council is composed of persons with mental illnesses, relatives of persons with mental illnesses, or friends with mental illnesses who have an involvement and/or interest in issues impacting and veterans and active personnel who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness. Some of the roles that council members play include serving as a liaison to Veterans Integrated Service Networks, providing outreach to veteran’s service organizations, and working closely with NAMI state and affiliate offices on issues affecting veterans.  The council holds regular monthly conference calls where featured speakers present new information on treatment, delivery and service initiatives for veterans and active personnel with severe and persistent mental illness.”

I highly recommend using NAMI to assist in your own wellness. They have proven to be extremely helpful to clients I have taken care of over the years. 

·     National Center for PTSD U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

Phone: 802-296-5132, E-mail: ptsd@darthmouth.edu  Website: http://www.ncptsd.org  

This site has good information on the different forms of anxiety.

·     National Institute of Mental Health Toll Free information services:

1-800-421-4211

Website: www.nimh.nih.gov. 

NIMH is a well established service. This institute helps educate people on anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. This site primarily deals with educating health care workers and the public.

·     American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:

Website: http://www.aacap.org
Developmental, behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders affecting children and adolescents are topics of this site. 

·     Preventing Teen Suicide/American Academy of Pediatrics

Website: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/childhealthmonth/prevteensuicide.htm
A good overview of the topic and strategies for prevention 

·     Anxiety Disorders Association of America:  

Website: http://www.adaa.org
Complete information on anxiety, as well as a special section on teen anxiety.

·     Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association:

Website: http://www.ndmda.org

Patient and consumer information on depression and mental health conditions, support group listings, publications, and links to related sites.

If you have a computer at home or if you use your local library for your computer needs; you can ‘Google’ key words like, OCD, major depression, PTSD, ADHD, ADD, Bipolar disorder, suicide, schizophrenia and so on. Please look at the addresses before you open the page. Make sure the writers of the website are credible. Most mental health websites provide comprehensive information. The Veteran’s Administration website provides specific information for the Veteran.

Let me know if you can not find something; I will help you find what you are looking for.

Julie@JulieRN.com

Tags: 211, help, needs, Suicide, teen suicde, Vets