Depression.<\/p>\n
Suicide.<\/p>\n
Websites and news outlets almost on a daily basis announce another death of one of our brothers\u00a0or sisters in public service.\u00a0 Some are accidental or in the line of duty, but what about the others we hear about taking their own life outside of work?\u00a0 What was going through their mind before he or she completed the task?\u00a0 How long had they been feeling that suicide was the permanent solution to a temporary problem?\u00a0 Did\u00a0anyone notice, and\u00a0if so, did\u00a0they say\u00a0anything?<\/p>\n
It’s been estimated that 15-25% of first responders suffer from PTSD and that the rate of suicide among first responders is 2\u20133 times that of the general population [more than 1 in 20 EMT deaths are due to suicide (2)].\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Some would say it’s inherent to the people that choose the profession of public service.\u00a0 Others would say it’s the stress, the long hours with little pay, the conditions we work under, or dealing with the public, in general.<\/p>\n
It might be any of those issues, but I’d offer up this.\u00a0 According to the Center for Disease Control, it is estimated that 1 in 10 Americans suffer from some type of depression.\u00a0 Additionally,\u00a080% of the people who have symptoms of clinical depression are not receiving any specific treatment.\u00a0 Realistically, the possibility you know or work with someone who suffers from depression is very high.<\/p>\n
How many times have you noticed that a colleague, coworker, friend or family member appeared to be what you would label “depressed”?\u00a0 How did you come to that conclusion?\u00a0 Maybe he or she just weren’t themselves, were more withdrawn than normal, or simply just seemed to have more bad days than good?\u00a0 Many times, someone we know is depressed, but we miss it, or worse, don’t bring it up in conversation. But why? There are lots of reasons, not limited to: it’s an awkward topic, the fear of upsetting that person further, simply keeping to oneself because “it’s not my business”, or you’re unsure if it really is depression and God forbid you bring up this sensitive subject and be wrong, right?<\/p>\n
How can you tell? I’d refer you to a simple\u00a0mnemonic (InSADCAGES) developed by my colleague and friend, Dwight Polk:<\/p>\n
Interest\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– lack of interest in things s\/he usually takes comfort People suffer from depression for a number of reasons.\u00a0 Some, it’s simply a matter of screwed up physiology, and abnormal levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Heredity plays a big part – researchers have identified several genes common in people with bipolar disorder and depression. Long-term use of medications for high blood pressure, birth control and even some types of sleeping pills have been linked to the development of depression, as have diets with deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin B12.\u00a0 People who suffer from heart disease (depression occurs in up to half the people who have had a heart attack), stroke, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and\/or an under-active thyroid gland are at a higher risk, statistically.\u00a0 Even something as simple as personality can predispose someone to depression, especially those who are overly-dependent, self-critical, pessimistic or have low self-esteem.<\/p>\n I am one of the many who suffer with depression.\u00a0 Maybe you are too.\u00a0 I’ve been to therapy, took medications to no avail, read books to try and change my outlook.\u00a0 I have learned to deal with it and I usually have more good days than bad.\u00a0 But, the bad days still come, sometimes worse than normal and sometimes over multiple days.\u00a0 I get through because I’ve learned how to cope.\u00a0 It might be a sit down in the park, a drive in the car, a chat with a friend or family member, or a good rerun of a favorite movie.\u00a0 Sometimes, the best thing that fixes it is just enjoying a beer and pizza.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is estimated that every 40 seconds, someone in the world successfully commits suicide.\u00a0 Every 41 seconds, someone is left behind to try and make sense of it.\u00a0 Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and most recent data shows that from 2016 to 2017, the death rate increased 3.7%. (1).\u00a0<\/p>\n Truthfully, not everyone who is depressed is suicidal and not everyone that is suicidal is depressed.\u00a0 When we hear about another suicide of a brother\/sister, or anyone for that matter, we have no idea how terrible he or she must feel to get to that point.\u00a0 Yet, we always say: “How could they do such a thing?”\u00a0 “It was such a selfish act.”\u00a0 “I would never do something like that.”\u00a0 and on and on.\u00a0\u00a0All the days I have felt depressed, I never had a conscious plan to take my life.\u00a0 August 30, 2013 changed all that.\u00a0 I was driving back from New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain.\u00a0 I hadn’t been feeling well, mentally, the entire day, but I never had thoughts of killing myself.\u00a0 As I got halfway across the causeway, suddenly I felt my mind falling into the deepest, darkest, saddest, most horrible hole.\u00a0 At that moment I remember thinking, to get out of that hole the solution was to drive my car off the bridge and into the water.\u00a0 So, I started to do just that.\u00a0 When my front tire hit the guardrail, the jolt immediately snapped me out of it and I jerked the wheel back the opposite direction.\u00a0 I drove onto one of the crossovers and just sat there.\u00a0 The thought was completely gone, but now my consciousness turned to “what did I just almost do?”\u00a0There was no plan, no preparation.\u00a0 Just a few minutes of major distress that could have had a disastrous outcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n I suspect there are many who have committed suicide had a similar experience.\u00a0 However, there are many others that have thoughts for so much longer.\u00a0 These are the people we hear or know that develop the plan, write the letters, the emails the tweets or post something on Facebook.\u00a0 They say things that alert us, give away prize possessions, make funeral arrangements out of the blue, spend all their money, etc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I know the darkness, the pain, and the anguish that depression causes.\u00a0 Maybe indirectly it lead to my near-incident.\u00a0 Maybe it was something else.\u00a0 Similarly, when this happens to others, maybe there just isn’t the chance to think and the result is heartbreaking.\u00a0 Those are the one’s we probably can’t help, but I know there are so many more we can.\u00a0 If you feel suicide is the only way out of your problem(s), consider this:\u00a0 call me.\u00a0 I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve been there and luckily I’m still here.\u00a0 419-704-9701.\u00a0 Leave me a voice mail, if need be.\u00a0 I’ll call you back.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you don’t want to talk to me, talk to someone.\u00a0 You are not worthless, a piece of shit, or anything else your mind tricks you into thinking.\u00a0 Don’t have anyone or don’t want to let anyone close to you know how you’re feeling?\u00a0 It’s OK.\u00a0 It really is.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I would suggest these resources:<\/p>\n National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255<\/p>\n Disaster Distress Helpline\u00a0 1-800-985-5990<\/p>\n Fire\/EMS Helpline 1-888-731-3473\u00a0 or 1-206-459-3020<\/p>\n Veterans Crisis Line\u00a0 1-800-273-8255; press 1<\/p>\n Police Helpline\u00a0 1-800-267-5463<\/p>\n Traumatic Brain Injured Vets 1-866-966-1020<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.safecallnow.org<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.frsn.org<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nvgc.org\/programs\/share-the-load-program\/<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.copline.org<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ptds.va.gov\/public\/treatment\/therapy-med\/disaster_mental_health_treatment.asp<\/p>\n
Sleep\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– either too much or too little
Appetite\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– some eat to forget, others forget to eat
Depressed mood<\/em><\/strong>
Concentration<\/em><\/strong> – can’t seem to focus, sometimes even on simple tasks
Activity\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– the person who abruptly seems to transform into a gym rat, or the couch potato
Guilt<\/em><\/strong>
Energy\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– lack thereof
Suicide\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>– thoughts, words and\/or attempts<\/p>\nHelp & Resources<\/a><\/blockquote>