veterans

Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicide Prevention

Some individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have medical, emotional, and/or thinking problems which cause difficulty even many years after the injury. These lasting effects can make a person feel hopeless and consider ending their own life.

Those with a history of TBI and their family members shared these suggestions for people considering suicide

Distract yourself by:

Reaching out

(to a friend or family member)

Writing in a journal

Listening to music

Playing with a pet

Going for a walk

Working on a hobby

Playing cards

Reading

Get involved in activities:

Go outdoors

Exercise

Spend time helping people

Talk with others

Get professional help:

TBI support group

Individual psychotherapy

Medication evaluation

Those with a history of TBI stated that before considering suicide

They felt:

Sad

Hopeless

Lonely

Frustrated

Stressed

Angry

Useless

They thought about:

Being a burden

Having failed

Losing their sense of purpose

They had difficulty:

Thinking clearly

They were misusing:

Alcohol/drugs

THERE IS HELP FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE:

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS STRUGGLING WITH THOUGHTS OF DEATH, PLEASE CALL THE VETERAN SUICICE PREVENTION HOTLINE NUMBER AT 1-800-273-TALK (8255) AND PRESSS ONE TO REACH THE VA HOTLINE

http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/index.asp

http://www.sprc.org/

http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/home