Suicide Prevention Through Better Mental Health Care

Better mental health care and ease of access :

We need to find ways to make life less difficult for people who struggle with mental illness. No one should have to choose between needed medicine and food or shelter.
We all deserve to have our basic needs met with respect and acceptance. Mental illness is not the persons fault any more than cancer or heart disease is. This is hard for most of us to understand.
What we see of mental illness is just the tip of the iceberg.

Many more people suffer silently. We cant see mental illness, it comes to our attention when it is not treated effectively. Sometimes that makes us uncomfortable, and forces us to look at the results of our personal priorities.
Mental health care and suicide prevention should be obvious public health goals. Medicines are getting better and better at keeping depression controlled, but the enjoyment and satisfaction of everyday life is more than just getting by emotionally. Suicide means ending your life on purpose. Suicide prevention means making living look better than dying.

Lots of people with depression, and other mental health problems, find new lives with the right mental health care. Others dont have the same opportunities.
Suicide looks like the best or only choice for them. We cant stop all of the hardships of their lives, but suicide prevention has to include making better mental health care more available.

How to help yourself and your loved ones get better mental health care:

Learn the warning signs of depression.

1. If the depression is mild and not upsetting sleep, appetite, concentration or irritability, look for a licensed counselor, social worker or psychologist.


2. If there are any of the following,
   
   • frequent crying or anger outbursts, or crying for no reason, or loss of temper at little things
   
   
   • unusual irritability, snappiness, impatience, criticism of others
   
   
   • poor concentration, follow through, or are more easily distracted
   
   
   • avoiding family and friends, saying no to most invitations or suggestions
   
   
   • trouble falling asleep, (longer than 20-30), staying asleep (should be getting usual sleep or 6-8 hours a night), or sleeping too much ( more than 2 hours longer than usual), or waking up and not getting back to sleep
   
   
   • panic attacks, with physical signs like fast heart beat, shortness of breath, shaking, sweating, dizziness, nausea, chest tightness or chest pain, numbness or tingling in hands or feet
   
   
   • thoughts of death or suicide
   
   
   • new or increased use of alcohol or recreational or prescription drugs
   
   All of the above persons can do counseling, but a person will probably also need someone who can prescribe medication.

Choosing the right Mental Health Professional assures better mental health care for everyone.
Learning more about depression helps you to get better mental health care for yourself and your loved ones. You will pick up on it sooner, and do something about it before it gets disabling.
Thoughts of suicide dont usually come on suddenly, so noticing depression early and getting help can stop a lot of suffering. Spread the word, help stop the epidemic of suicide.
Of course, suicidal thoughts or attempts always deserve immediate attention.
If you are currently suicidal, please call 911, your local suicide hotline or one of the national suicide hotlines at 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK

Karen Grisham is a mental health nurse practitioner and owner of Comfort Your Heart, an online source for mental health and grief support and encouragement. For more great mental health information, visit http://www.comfortyourheart.com Get your free guide to finding just the right mental health professional for your needs at http://www.comfortyourheart.com/how-to-choose.html

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