Be Safe: Prevent Self-Harm

What’s Important to Know?

People can experience an emotional or mental health crisis in response to a wide range of situations. A crisis may be triggered by troubles such as problems in personal relationships or loss of a job. A crisis can lead people to consider hurting or even killing themselves (suicide). In general, Veterans are at a higher risk of suicide than civilians.

These warning signs may indicate that someone is in crisis and/or possibly suicidal:

• Hopelessness, feeling like there’s no way out

• Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, or mood swings

• Feeling like there is no reason to live

• Rage or anger

• Engaging in risky activities without thinking about possible harm

• Increasing or excessive tobacco, alcohol, or drug abuse

• Withdrawing from family and friends

• Expressing feelings of being trapped with no way out

• Expressing overwhelming guilt or shame

These signs require immediate attention:

• Thinking about killing yourself

• Looking for ways to kill yourself

• Talking about death, dying, or suicide

• Self-destructive behavior such as drug abuse, reckless weapon use, etc.

If you or someone else is in a serious crisis and feeling suicidal:

• Seek immediate help from your health care team or the nearest hospital emergency room

• Call 911

• Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273- 8255, Press 1

• Contact the Veterans Chat Service at www.veteranscrisisline.net

• During times of crisis or hopelessness, consider removing firearms from the home or using a gun lock or gun safe to make them less accessible 

Want to Know More?

If you want to learn more about how to prevent self-harm, talk with your VA health care team. For more information, go to

the VHA Suicide prevention Web site: www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention

Resources

• VHA National Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention: www.prevention.va.gov. Go to the Healthy Living tab and choose “Be Safe” and “Manage Stress”

• Veterans Health Library: www.veteranshealthlibrary.org, search “Prevent suicide”