|
 “Spotting suicidal thoughts or behaviors could help avoid a
tragedy,” said William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “Each
of us will process this pandemic in our own way, but people may be
more likely to experience difficult feelings during a crisis. You
can be sure that if and when you need us, an emergency physician
will be there for you.”
Call 911 or visit the closest emergency department in the event of a
medical emergency or if there is an immediate health or safety
threat. Contact a mental health professional if you, or someone you
know, exhibits one or more of these warning signs:
-
Hopelessness
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Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
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Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities
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Increased alcohol or drug use
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Withdrawal from friends, family, or society
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Anxiety, agitation, trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time
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Dramatic mood changes
Consider contacting a health professional if stress impedes your
daily activities for several days in a row. Talk to the person to
understand what they are thinking and feeling. Research shows that
discussing suicide may reduce suicidal thoughts. Help a person
at-risk by connecting them with trusted friends or family, or a
mental health professional.
If emergency care is required for a suicide attempt, a physician-led
care team will keep the patient safe until they are ready to go
home. Prior to discharge, resources for longer-term care will be
outlined as appropriate and a list of nearby experts and places to
go for help will be provided as available.
The care team will work with the patient to create a written safety
plan that includes their unique warning signs, coping strategies,
and resources for help.
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It is critical that patients try to maintain a safe environment for
themselves at home. More than half (52 percent) of suicides involve
a gun, according to research available through AFFIRM, an
emergency-physician-led organization dedicated to firearm injury
prevention research. Misuse of medication also poses significant
risks. Ask a doctor about how to safely dispose of unused, expired
or unwanted medicines. Consider taking steps to identify the best
strategies for safe storage of medication, firearms or other
potential home hazards. One helpful tool that encourages safe
storage based on personal choices is Lock2Live, an education website
developed by emergency physicians.
“Suicide is complicated, and emergency physicians are vital partners
in the collaborative effort necessary to prevent these incidents
from occurring. If you ever feel like you may hurt yourself or
others or you have thoughts about taking your own life, please seek
help right away,” said Dr. Jaquis.
If you or somebody you know experiences suicidal thoughts or
behaviors, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. The
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is
available to anyone and all calls are confidential. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers additional resources for
help here.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the
national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through
continuing education, research, public education and advocacy, ACEP
advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician
members, and the more than 150 million Americans they treat on an
annual basis. For more information, visit
www.acep.org and
www.emergency
physicians.org.
[Steve Arnoff] |
