Photo By Rodney Jackson | Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center behavioral health experts offer information and...... read more read more
By Col. Amit Gupta, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Behavioral Health Chief and Capt. Chelsea Yeung, CRDAMC, Behavioral Health Nurse
Editor’s note: This article is part of a Behavioral Health Initiative monthly series to help beneficiaries with everyday struggles like stress management, nutrition and physical health, emotional intelligence, and healthy habits. This month’s focus is on Suicide Prevention and Awareness.
FORT HOOD, Texas – Suicide continues to be a serious public health concern that touches families, workplaces, and communities across the nation. Understanding depression, recognizing warning signs, and knowing where to turn for help are critical steps in preventing tragedy.
Depression, according to mental health experts, is more than temporary sadness—it is a medical illness that affects how people feel, think, and function in daily life. Common symptoms include persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, and, in severe cases, thoughts of death or suicide. If several of these symptoms last longer than two weeks, professionals recommend seeking treatment.
Depression is not a weakness or something you can just ‘snap out of.
Effective treatments are available, and help is within reach.
For more information and resources for support visit the CRDAMC website at https://darnall.tricare.mil/Health-Services/Mental-Behavioral-Health-Substance-Use-Disorder.
Warning Signs to Watch For Specialists say there are often red flags that may indicate someone is at risk of suicide. These include talking about wanting to die, expressing feelings of hopelessness, increasing use of drugs or alcohol, withdrawing from others, giving away possessions, or displaying extreme mood swings. If multiple signs are present, it is important to take them seriously and act quickly.
Steps You Can Take The National Institute of Mental Health recommends a five-step action plan for helping someone in crisis:
A Shared Responsibility Prevention is not solely the job of professionals. Friends, families, and community members all play a role. Simply listening, showing compassion, and connecting someone to resources can make the difference between despair and hope.
Mental health leaders emphasize that suicide is preventable, and you don’t need to be a mental health expert to save a life.
Where to Find Help • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 in the U.S. and Canada for 24/7 support from trained crisis counselors. • Veterans Crisis Line – Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support. • The Trevor Project – 1-866-488-7386, crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. • NAMI HelpLine – 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), National Alliance on Mental Illness resources and support. • SAMHSA Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357), 24/7 information for mental health and substance use. • Military OneSource – 1-800-342-9647, confidential short-term counseling for service members and families. • Chaplain Family Life Training Center – 254-288-1913, Main Post Chapel Building 328.
References: • American Psychiatric Association (2023). Warning Signs of Suicide. psychiatry.org • National Institute of Mental Health (2018). Depression. nimh.nih.gov • National Institute of Mental Health (2023). 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain. nimh.nih.gov • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (n.d.). 988lifeline.org
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| Date Taken: | 09.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2025 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 548775 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Finding Hope: Raising Awareness on Suicide Prevention, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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