Suicide Prevention & Wellness Resources

By: Jason Jowers, M.S. MFT & Kalin Goble, M.S.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and our team wanted to share resources to promote suicide prevention and wellness for military families.

• Operation Reach Out App is an app created by Military Community Awareness Inc. (MCA) for smartphones. In addition to assisting those who are at-risk for suicide directly, it is also designed to assist those who are concerned about others who may be at risk. Provided below are the links for both Android and iPhone users to download the app.

For Android Users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=suicide.prevention.app&hl=en

For iPhone Users:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/operation-reach-out/id478899653

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org). The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. They also provide specific resources on their website for various populations including veterans, youth, disaster survivors, and LGBTQ+. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to contact the Lifeline and receive help now or to find ways that you can join the network and promote suicide prevention resources.
• The Military Crisis Line (https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/military-crisis-line), much like the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a direct way to reach out for help. This service is primarily for military service members, veterans, and their families. The Military Crisis Line also includes text-messaging services and online chat that is free, confidential, and available 24/7. To reach out and speak with a qualified responder from the VA, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text the number 838255.
• The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (https://www.dspo.mil) provides a holistic approach to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention using a range of medical and non-medical resources. Grounded in a collaborative approach, DSPO works with Military Services and other Governmental Agencies, Non-Governmental Agencies, non-profit organizations, and the greater community to reduce the risk of suicide within military-connected populations.
• Psychology Today offers a search service that assists with finding therapists in your local network that accept TRICARE, a healthcare provider for active and retired military service members and their families.
• Struggle Well Podcast Series features Josh Goldberg, Executive Director for the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth,  and provides a variety of content related to military service. In this episode, (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kristin-walker/struggle-well/), Josh Goldberg and guest Anna Kavanaugh focus on personal struggles with suicide and posttraumatic growth.

We at OneOp urge everyone who needs help to seek assistance and we hope these resources will be beneficial in finding the support needed. And please make sure to pass on the resources shared above to anyone who may benefit from them.

This post was written by members of the OneOp Team.

Blog Image: Photo from US Dept. of Defense [suicide prevention poster by US Dept. of Defense, August 27, 2010, CC0]