Suicide Prevention Talking Points Talking Point 2: Social Media and Time Based Prevention

Video Options ** Suggested Opener: ** https://www.dvidshub.net/video/576777/my-wingman-story-anonymous 3:30 OR https://www.dvidshub.net/video/646526/suicide-awareness-and-prevention 0:58

Using Social Media as a Suicide Prevention Tool Social Media can be a great tool for communication. **Suggested personalization: Give an example how your squadron/group/wing uses Social Media for communication (examples: Wing FaceBook Page, pre-UTA email blasts, Instagram, etc.)   Social Media is also a way that some people reach out for help. It is important that we all take seriously the posts that we see on Social Media.

The Coded Language of Suicide SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS EMERGE OVER TIME DON’T WAIT TO HEAR THE WORD “SUICIDE” “People would be better off without me” “I’m unworthy of respect” “I can never be forgiven” “I’ve never been successful at anything” “I can’t take this any longer” “No one can help me solve my problems” “This is unbearable” “I don’t deserve to live” Watch for coded language (examples: “People would be better off without me”, “I’m unworthy of respect”, “I can never be forgiven”, “I’ve never been successful at anything”, “I can’t take this any longer”, “No one can help me solve my problems”, “This is unbearable”, “I don’t deserve to live”.), expressing feelings of lack of purpose and meaning, self-criticism, decreased posts about loved ones or sudden increase in alcohol consumption. Do not wait to hear the word “Suicide”.

Advantages and Challenges to Using Social Media Reaches large numbers of hard to engage people Online expressions of suicidal ideation allows others to intervene/prevent a suicide attempt Provides an anonymous, accessible and non judgmental forum for sharing and for providing/ receiving support Individuals with suicidal thoughts use social media to seek peer support instead of professional help CHALLENGES: Not everyone at risk will communicate a specific intent to die by suicide Using social media instead of offline help could further marginalize/isolate people Normalizing suicide-related behavior in response to problems Little control over user behavior Accurately assessing someone’s emotional state online is difficult Possibility of contagion As with everything, there are advantages and challenges in using social media for suicide prevention. If you are concerned about a friend or family member, please reach out to them and get them the help they need. You are all a part of this (name your squadron/group/unit). And you all matter to the mission. If there is someone in this room that needs help, please reach out to the resources on the last slide (or insert verbal references to local resources). Robinson, et al. (2015)

Actionable Steps You Can Take TODAY to Save Lives Communicate in a way in which people feel valued and their contributions are meaningful; Set norms that convey intolerance of any form of harassment or interpersonal violence; Establish the expectation that everyone is responsible for preventing negative outcomes/increasing positive ones. Talk about times you struggled and the help—mental, physical, spiritual, social—that helped you get through it. Encourage all Total Force Airmen (civilians, enlisted, officers, family members) to seek help early. Dispel the myth that seeking help—especially seeking help early—will have negative career impact. Need help or have questions about how to do these things…. Reach out to your DPH, Chaplain, or MDG We can all do simple things to save lives. Some examples of actionable steps YOU can take today include: (examples: Treat people with value and remind them their contributions are meaningful, Set positive norms, Talk about your own struggles and how you got help, Encourage people to get help early, Check-in with Newcomers often, Proactively learn about resources, Informally mentor, etc.) Most importantly, if you see something concerning, say something or report it to the social media platform. If you are concerned that someone might attempt suicide, call 911 for immediate response. (Real life ANG example: Wing member recognized concerning posts on social media during the month, reached out to the member and called someone to go to their location to ensure they are safe and that person got them to professionals to address their concerns- effectively saving their life.)

Suicide Safe Homes In addition to using social media, we also want to think about making our physical homes suicide safe. This is information not only for you in the room but also for your families. We do many things to keep our homes and families safe (examples: Car Seats, Smoke Alarms, Bike Helmets, Outlet Covers, etc.) but there are additional steps we can take to make our homes suicide safe as well.

Time-Based Prevention Research data demonstrates impulsive nature of most suicide attempts, with 25% occurring less than 5 minutes after the suicide decision. Although there is no single cause for suicide, it most often occurs when several stressors converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. In fact, research data demonstrates impulsive nature of most suicide attempts, with 25% occurring less than 5 minutes after the suicide decision. Therefore, if you can add Time to how long it takes to access a gun or medications, AND, Distance between the Airmen in crisis and a firearm or medications…we take deliberate steps to save a life. Every minute of delay increases the family, friend, or coworker’s chance of living.

Time-Base Prevention Firearms Because firearms are the most lethal among suicide methods, it is particularly important that you: Remove them until things improve at home (best option), OR Lock them very securely. Your Wing Suicide Prevention Program Manager (XXXX INSERT SPPM NAME HERE XXXXXXX) has free gun locks available for you to use at home. Firearms Because firearms are the most lethal among suicide methods, it is particularly important that you: Remove them until things improve at home (best option), OR Lock them very securely. Your Wing Suicide Prevention Program Manager has free gun locks available for you to use at home.

Time-Based Prevention Medications Don’t keep lethal doses at home. Be particularly aware of keeping prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone under lock and key both because of their lethality and their potential for abuse. Properly dispose of medications using takeaway bags Your Wing Drug Demand Reduction Program Manager (XXXXXXXX INSERT DDRP REP NAME HERE XXXXXXX) has free takeaway bags you can use to discard unwanted or expired medications. Don’t keep lethal doses at home. Be particularly aware of keeping prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone under lock and key both because of their lethality and their potential for abuse. Properly dispose of medications using takeaway bags Your Wing Drug Demand Reduction Program Manager has free takeaway bags you can use to discard unwanted or expired medications.

Prevention Resources Wing DPH: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX #ANGcares365 It’s important to know that everyone encounters stress with relationships, stress, money or health related issues as we go through our daily lives. And it’s ok to not be ok. **Suggested personalization: Briefly share a personal experience of dealing with a stressor and how you overcame that stress But the important thing is getting help and reaching out if you or someone you know is at risk. These are all free resources regardless of duty status. Call for yourself or someone else. Wing Director of Psychological Health Chaplain Local Emergency Room Local Veteran Health Administration (VA) Local Vet Centers https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/ Military and Veterans Crisis Line phone number: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) Option 1 Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): 800-959-TAPS (8277) Military One Source: 1-800-342-9647 ANG Prevention Website: https://www.ang.af.mil/suicideprevention/ AF Resiliency Website: https://www.resilience.af.mil/ Give an Hour: https://giveanhour.org/get-help/ Wingman Online: http://www.wingmanonline.org/Home American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/ Suicide Prevention Resource Center: https://www.sprc.org/ Defense Suicide Prevention Office: http://www.dspo.mil/ ANG Suicide Prevention Office: Lt Morsch (DSN 612-8581, katherine.a.morsch.mil@mail.mil ), MSgt Barnes (DSN 612-8432, clairmont.j.barnes2.mil@mail.mil ) ANG Drug Demand Reduction Office: Lt Col Harvey (DSN 612-8239, gilbert.t.harvey.mil@mail.mil ) Wing DPH: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Wing Chaplain: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Prevention Website: https://www.ang.af.mil/prevention/

Suggested Closing Activity Closing Activity- Social Media Blast: Everyone take out their phones. Send a text or post on someone’s social media with one of the following messages: Thank them for minor or routine tasks that often go unrecognized Point out how they contribute to the mission and are appreciated Set up a time to get coffee or lunch with someone you haven’t seen in a while