suicide prevention: a new approach julie chodacki, psyd lcdr, usphs scott afb
DESCRIPTION
SUICIDE PREVENTION: A NEW APPROACH Julie Chodacki, PsyD LCDR, USPHS Scott AFB. DoD Suicides. On the rise – an average of 1 suicide every 36 hours* In AF 2/3 of suicides never had contact with MHC Increased publicity – newspapers, videos, websites - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
SUICIDE PREVENTION: A NEW APPROACH
Julie Chodacki, PsyD
LCDR, USPHS
Scott AFB
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
DoD Suicides
On the rise – an average of 1 suicide every 36 hours* In AF 2/3 of suicides never had contact with MHC Increased publicity – newspapers, videos, websites
* 2009 DoD Task Force on Suicide Prevention
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Coming up….
Risk Factors Protective Factors Theoretical Model
Scott AFB Suicide Awareness & Prevention Field Day Do try this at home
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Suicide Risk Factors
Family history of suicide, child maltreatment Previous suicide attempt(s) History of mental disorders (clinical depression) History of alcohol and substance abuse Feelings of hopelessness Impulsive or aggressive tendencies Cultural and religious beliefs Local epidemics of suicide
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Risk Factors
Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people Barriers to accessing mental health treatment Loss (relational, social, work, or financial) Physical illness Easy access to lethal methods Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma
attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts
CDC, 2010
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
New Military Reality
Separation from family, friends Exposure to violence Budget cuts/reduction in force Losses (relational, social, work, or financial) Physical/mental illness Increased exposure to suicide
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Suicide Research
Perceived Burdensomeness+Failed Belongingness
Acquired
Capability
Serious Attempt or Death by Suicide
Dr Thomas Joiner, Florida State University
Suicidal Ideation
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Protective Factors
Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
Family and community support Support from ongoing medical and mental health care
relationships Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent way
of handling disputes Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and
support instincts for self-preservation (US Public Health Service 1999)
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
The “New Approach”
Build a program
that creates/strengthens protective factors
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Awareness
Helping Agencies’ with risk factor game tables No fliers, handouts, etc. -- prizes only!
Bingo card for completion of all games
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Prevention
Units register at least one 4-person team AMC funding obtains obstacle course (orange/blue) One team member is “leader”; others are tied together One team member is secretly handicapped Two teams run course head-to-head
• one orange, other blue Track overall times Orange wins more often – Why?
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Prevention, continued
Orange leaders were secretly told of the handicap Orange and Blue that compete together,
debrief together During debrief:
• Complete evals
• Inform of handicap – what changes?
• Different if handicap was mental, not physical?
• Felt isolated? (Orange? Blue?) Felt resentful?
• Lesson: It’s not the limitation that impacts the mission; it’s not telling. Telling maintains connection, helps mission, helps individual
ComponentLoadingsColor-Word Interference Uncorrected Errors.78Trails Switching Set Loss Errors.74FAS Set-Loss Errors.56Design Fluency Set Loss Designs.67
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
Julie A Chodacki, PsyD, LCDR, USPHS & Connie M Burnett, MSW, Capt, USAFJulie A Chodacki, PsyD, LCDR, USPHS & Connie M Burnett, MSW, Capt, USAF
375MDG375MDG, , Scott Air Force Base, IL Scott Air Force Base, IL
SUICIDE PREVENTION FIELD DAYSUICIDE PREVENTION FIELD DAY
AWARENESSAWARENESS
Inconspicuously, a facilitator provided one of the tied team members with a note sayingPREVENTIONPREVENTION
Immediately following the competition, paired teams competing on the Blue and Orange sides joined with a trained facilitator to be informed of their team member’s “injury”, to process their experiences, and to complete an evaluation. Facilitators were trained to inquire how having knowledge of a team member’s impairment changes their perception of that team member’s participation. They also discussed how the experience would have been different had the team member been depressed instead of having a broken arm.
[1 Selby, Edward, Anestis, Michael, et al (2010). Overcoming the lethal injury: Evaluating suicidal behavior in the military through the lens of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 298-307.
LCDR Chodacki/Capt Burnett, 375MDG, Scott AFB, IL 62225E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
Attendees visiting each game table received a stamp to fill their BINGO Card. Completed cards were entered into a drawing to win a prize.
The Teams were divided into Blue and Orange Sides. Three members of a four person team were tied together with a rope. The fourth team member was assigned to be the team leader.
Only the Orange Team Leaders were informed of the team member’s limitation. They were told they could use this information to provide advice and support.
PROCESSINGPROCESSING
REFERENCESREFERENCES
CORRESPONDENCECORRESPONDENCE
Scott AFB developed an innovative approach to suicide awareness and prevention. On September 23, 2010 educational games were set up and Airmen joined each other to challenge themselves in a professionally-facilitated obstacle course designed to promote protective factors. The event highlighted the importance of social support and belongingness; despite being educational, the 500 participants hailed it as “a lot of fun”.
Various helping agencies set up booths with educational games focused on raising suicide awareness and of available resources. Community partners donated food, music and prizes.
Inconspicuously, a facilitator provided one of the tied team members on both sides with a note limiting the use of their dominate arm.
The fastest team was from the Orange side and the top 4 out of 6 teams were also from the Orange side. As the obstacle course showed, knowing about a Wingman’s limitation actually helped the mission. It was not the limitation that impacted the mission; it was not knowing about it. Being informed ensured that the person with the limitation was part of the team, helped the mission and helped the individual.
OUTCOME
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Keys to Success
Commander support Fun atmosphere Free food
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Do-It-Yourself
Group activity Someone is handicapped;
some leaders know, some don’t Experienced facilitators
AMC’s Showcase Wing…Enabling Combat Power
Questions?