HJNO Sep/Oct 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  SEP / OCT 2021 51 Jan Kasofsky, PhD Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health & Human Services Access Health Louisiana of Suicidology recommends that the most important things you can do are: • Talk to them privately and stay with them. • Listen to them and do not debate the value of life, give advice or minimize their stated problems. • Tell them you care. • Ask them if they are thinking about suicide, and help them remove lethal means. • Encourage them to seek treatment, or you should contact their doctor or therapist. • For local mental health resources, call 311. • The free application, My3 ( my3app.org) is available for those with suicidal thoughts and can be used to build an individu- alized safety plan. If you are with someone you believe is actively considering suicide, take them to the nearest mental health crisis center or emergency room, or call 911 if there is imminent danger. Other resources include the following that you or they should ac- cess immediately: • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255; text TALK to 74141 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis TextLine for free, 24/7; suicidepreventionlifeline. org. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of approximately 170 local- and state- funded crisis centers. • Veterans and Service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, as well as by chatting online at www. veteranscrisisline.net or texting 838255. • Access to mobile crisis response teams can be gained by calling the Metropolitan Human Services Dis- trict’s 24-hour help hotline at (504) 826-2675 for residents of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. Residents of Jefferson Parish should call (504) 832-5123. Both of these numbers are for non-life-threatening behavioral health crises. Under a new national law due to go into effect in July 2022, individuals in a behav- ioral health crisis or who are suicidal will call 988 for suicide prevention and mental health crisis services; it will serve as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and make it easier for Americans in crisis to access the help and decrease the stigma of asking for help. Calls to 988 will be direct- ed to 1-800-273-TALK, which will remain operational during and after the 988 tran- sition. These times are extremely difficult for so many. Yes, we are all “our brother’s keepers,” so please keep an eye open and an open heart. We each have a role in the lives of others, be they family, friend or acquaintance. Bring hope and offer your assistance if you see someone struggling. You may be the difference between life and death for someone in need. n know the long-term impact on the mental health of our population. It is also worth noting that suicide rates vary by race/eth- nicity, age and other population charac- teristics. In fact, younger adults, racial and ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers reported having disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use and el- evated suicidal ideation. Suicide is preventable, and each of us has a role in the health and safety of those around us. One evidence-based approach that has been embraced across the nation for non-mental health professionals is called Mental Health First Aid. It focuses on identifying the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses and substance use disorders, how to de-escalate crisis sit- uations safely, and when to initiate timely referral to treatment for longer-term care. It has been implemented in police and fire departments, school systems and houses of worship. Participants are taught to look for the following warning signs of suicide intent: • Talking about dying, hopelessness or feeling like a burden. • Talking about wanting a way out. • Withdrawal or isolation. • Rapid, dramatic or significant mood changes. • Sleeping a lot or not enough. • Behaving in risky or extreme ways. If you think someone is seriously con- templating killing themselves, you must assume that you are the only person who will reach out. The American Federation “If you think someone is seriously contemplating killing themselves, you must assume that you are the ONLY person who will reach out.”