-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- I am a…
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Military OneSource Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Assistance Programs
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Book/Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters
- Popular Products
- 5 Ways to Help a Friend Who’s Experiencing Domestic Abuse
- Creating Calm in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1: Kids Book
- Non-medical Counseling Flyer
- A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits Booklet
- Non-medical Counseling Fact Sheet
- MFLC Program Brochure: Child & Youth
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
- Browse By Program/Office
- Casualty & Mortuary Affairs
- Child & Youth Advocacy
- Child & Youth Programs
- Commissary, Military Exchange & Lodging
- Family Advocacy Program
- Military Community Support Programs
- Military & Family Life Counseling
- Military Family Readiness Programs
- Military Funeral Honors
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
- Office of Special Needs
- Personnel Accountability & Evacuations Operations
- Spouse Education & Career Opportunities
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
ARTICLEWhen a Service Member May Be at Risk for Suicide
4 minute read • Sept. 2, 2021Suicide prevention is a serious issue for service members and their loved ones. Stress that never seems to let up can affect anyone, and some service members may be at greater risk for suicide than others.
National Guard members and reservists are of special concern because they often live in areas with limited access to health care services. Knowing when a person is at risk and recognizing the warning signs can help you take action to possibly prevent a suicide and make sure the person gets help.
Understanding suicide risk factors
Risk factors for suicide are conditions, behaviors or characteristics that may increase the chance that a person may try to take their own life. They are:
Life circumstances
- Being a young, enlisted male service member
- Difficulty readjusting following deployment
- Lack of advancement or having a sense of a loss of honor due to a disciplinary action
- Access to a lethal means of self-harm, such as firearms or medications
- Loss from deaths and/or suicides among family or community
- Loss of, or problems within, a close relationship
- Financial and/or legal challenges
- A recent return from deployment, especially when experiencing deployment-related physical and/or mental health problems
- Transition from military to civilian life
Psychological issues
- History of abuse, family violence, neglect or trauma
- Medical or mental health challenges such as depression
- Prior suicide attempt
- Family history of suicide
- Impulsiveness, aggressiveness
- Alcohol and substance misuse
- Severe or prolonged stress or combat-related psychological injuries
- Overwhelming grief from a loss (death of a loved one, divorce, disabling injury, etc.)
Cultural issues
- Limited access to health care
- Religious beliefs that support suicide as a solution; negative attitudes toward getting help
- Limited social and familial support
Understanding and acting on warning signs
As a family member, close friend or fellow community member, you may recognize the signs and changes in your service member’s behavior, and that puts you in a position to offer help.
Many suicidal people have mixed feelings about ending their lives and knowingly or unknowingly give off signals warning of their intentions. Call 911, contact the Veterans and Military Crisis Line at 988 and Press 1, chat online or text 838255, or seek immediate help from an emergency room or mental health care provider if the service member:
- Talks or writes about suicide, death or ways to die
- Threatens to hurt or kill oneself
- Tries to get pills, guns or other means of ending their own life
Contact a mental health professional or contact the Veterans and Military Crisis Line at 988 and Press 1, chat online or text 838255 if you see any of these warning signs:
- Sudden or dramatic changes in mood or behavior, including reckless or risky behaviors or changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Feeling hopeless or trapped, saying there’s no reason to live or no way out
- Preparing a will, giving away possessions, making arrangements for pets
- Unusual spending
- Withdrawal from others
- Intense rage or desire for revenge; anxiety or agitation
- Increased alcohol or drug use
Keeping the service member safe
If you believe a service member’s suicide risk is high, do the following:
- Stay with the service member until help arrives. Never leave a person alone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- Remove any weapons, drugs or other means of self-injury from the area, if possible.
- If you’re on the phone with a service member who you believe is in immediate danger, try to keep them on the line while you or someone else calls 911 or contacts the Veterans and Military Crisis Line at 988 and Press 1, chat online or text 838255. Ask if there’s someone nearby who could offer support, and keep talking until help arrives.
- If the service member is unwilling to accept help, contact command or law enforcement.
Learn more about suicide prevention.
Learn about military bases worldwide. Get installation overviews, check-in procedures, housing, neighborhood information, contacts for programs and services, photos and more.
Release 5.24.19aSAFETY ALERT: If you need to exit this website in a hurry, click the “Exit Site” button and you will be quickly redirected to Weather.com.
Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet usage might be monitored, visit the 24/7 Family Advocacy Program Victim Advocate Locator or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800−799−7233.
Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.