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  • Home Knowledge Center Topic: Suicide Awareness and Prevention

    Topic:

    Suicide Awareness and Prevention

    Death by suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US, and the second leading cause of death for people 15-34.1 Cigna Healthcare wants everyone affected to know you are never alone.

    Important Crisis Phone Numbers

    If you or a loved-one is in crisis, please contact one of the numbers below. Counselors are available to assist you 24/7.

    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (call, text or chat) Note: remains available

    Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA.

    Cigna Healthcare Veteran Support Line: 

    Cigna Healthcare customers: You can also call the number on your ID card, or contact your Employee Assistance Program.

    If you have concerns that a loved one, friend, or colleague may be thinking about suicide, check the warning signs and what to do for next steps. The more warning signs a person shows, the greater the risk.

    Warning signs of suicide2

    • Talking about wanting to die
    • Looking for a way to kill oneself
    • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
    • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
    • Talking about being a burden to others
    • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
    • Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
    • Sleeping too little or too much
    • Withdrawing or feeling isolated
    • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
    • Displaying extreme mood swings

    What to do3

    If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide:

    • Do not leave the person alone
    • Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
    • Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255)
    • Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional

    Featured Articles

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    Behavioral Awareness Seminar Series: Mental Health Awareness

    These free seminars cover a broad range of mental health topics that affect children, teens, and adults. The seminars are open to anyone who would like to learn more about mental health and receive expert advice on how to handle day to day challenges. Explore our mental health seminars

    Suicide Awareness Prevention Topics

    Awareness

    Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs 

    Discover the factors and warning signs associated with suicide risk.

    Suicide Risk Factors: Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans

    Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.

    Suicide Prevention Resource Center

    The SPRC is a federally supported resource center where you can find online resources, tool kits, and fact sheets to help take effective action against suicide risk factors.

    Prevention

    How We All Can Prevent Suicide

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers information and resources geared to prevention, as well as stories of hope and recovery.

    Suicide Warning Signs: What Do I Say?

    When you are concerned about someone’s risk for suicide, it can be difficult to know what to say. Get guidance on how to start the conversation and available resources.

    I’m Concerned About Someone Else

    Save.org is a U.S. non-profit seeking to prevent suicide through public awareness and education. Their website offers information on how to help someone who may be in crisis or thinking about suicide.

    Responding to Suicide Warning Signs: A Guide for Managers and HR Professionals

    Understand the warning signs of suicide risk in the workplace and get suggestions on what to do if you are concerned about an employee.

    Resilience

    Attempt Survivors

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers targeted resources to help individuals and their loved ones with coping and recovery after a suicide attempt.

    Loss Survivors

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support and its website offers targeted information to help if you have lost a loved one to suicide.

    Mental Health

    National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

    Nationwide grass-roots organization providing resources and information to help those affected by mental illness.

    Mental Health First Aid

    Mental Health First AidTM is an 8-hour course to help you develop skills for assisting someone who is in crisis or experiencing mental health problems.

    Levels of Mental Health Care

    Get an understanding of the various levels of care available for mental health treatment.

    Mental Health Resources and Seminars

    Find important crisis phone numbers and access our Behavioral Awareness Seminar Series on various mental health topics.

    Stamp Out Stigma

    Stamp Out Stigma is dedicated to reducing the stigma tied to mental health and substance use disorders. Cigna HealthcareSM is a member of the Assn. for Behavioral Health and Wellness, the organization spearheading it.

    Depression

    Physical Symptoms of Depression

    Find out more about the symptoms of depression and how depression affects the body, as well as some ways to manage and treat depression.

    Understanding Depression 

    Increase your basic understanding of symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression.

    Interactive Tool: Are You Depressed?

    Use this interactive tool to help you assess your symptoms and find out if you might have depression, which is treatable.

    Topics By Group

    Youth

    Help Yourself: Youth

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and its website offers targeted information and support for youth.

    “A Friend Asks” App from The Jason Foundation 

    “A Friend Asks” is a free app created by the Jason Foundation to help prevent death by suicide. The app contains warning signs, how to help a friend, how to get help now, and what to do and what not to do.

    “I Won’t Be Silent” pledge

    The Jason Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of youth death by suicide. The goal of their “I Won’t Be Silent” challenge is to trigger a national dialogue about this silent epidemic.

    You Matter

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support, and they also created the You Matter site, a safe online space where youth can discuss share stories and find resources for help.

    Parents, Families, and Educators

    Youth Suicide

    The Jason Foundation raises awareness about youth death by suicide and offers resources to help.

    Anxiety and Depression in Children

    Children and teens can also struggle with anxiety and depression. Learn about the warning signs and how to assist.

    Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS)

    SPTS is a non-profit dedicated to reducing the number of youth deaths by suicide and attempted suicides. On its website, view their “Not My Kid” video, as well as resources for parents, teens, and educators.

    Suicide Risk Factors: Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans

    Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.

    Youth Mental Health First Aid

    Youth Mental Health First AidTM is an 8-hour course geared to those adults who wish to learn how to help an adolescent (ages 12-18) who is in crisis or experiencing mental health or addiction issues.

    Elderly

    Suicide Risk Factors: Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans

    Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.

     Depression In Older Adults

    Find out more about depression as we age, including information about causes, warning signs, and how to get help.

     Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line

    The Friendship Line is a 24/7 crisis line dedicated to the needs of individuals age 60 and older and adults living with disabilities. The program also makes emotional support outreach calls to lonely seniors.

     Center for Healthy Aging

    Part of the Center for Healthy Aging’s “Older Americans Behavioral Health” series, this webinar offers an overview of the resources available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

    LGBTQ+

    The Trevor Project 

    This national organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.

     LGBTQ+: Help Yourself

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support and its website offers targeted information and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

    LGBT National Help Center

    The LGBT National Help Center is a non-profit organization that offers peer support and a searchable listing of resources across the U.S. They operate 3 national hotlines.

    Trans Lifeline

    Trans Lifeline is a national non-profit group who offers emotional support and services to trans people in crisis, including a peer-support crisis hotline, .

    LGBTQ+ Health

    The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities have unique health risk factors. Cigna Healthcare is here to provide resources and support to its LGBTQ+ customers.

    Military Veterans

    Suicide Risk Factors: Teens, Elderly, and Military Veterans

    Learn why there is higher risk of death by suicide for teenagers, seniors, and military veterans, as well as what to look for and steps you can take to help.

     PTSD in Military Veterans

    Understand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, the causes, symptoms, and available support.

     Eagle’s Healing Nest

    This non-profit is dedicated to “healing the invisible wounds of war” for veterans, service members, and their families with a focus on suicide prevention, substance use, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.

     National Veterans Foundation

    National Veterans Foundation is a non-profit provides outreach services for veterans and their families. Their free, 24/7 Lifeline for Vets has trained veterans available to help at .

     Veterans Crisis Line

    The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential crisis support via phone, online chat, and text options. It is supported through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline with specially trained crisis responders.

    In the Workplace

    Employers

    Responding to Suicide Warning Signs: A Guide for Managers and HR Professionals

    Understand the warning signs of suicide risk in the workplace and get suggestions on what to do if you are concerned about an employee.

     Depression in the Workplace

    Learn about the symptoms of depression in the workplace and what to do if you are concerned about an employee who may be depressed.

     Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

    September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) site offers resources and information to support awareness initiatives in the workplace.

    Stamp Out Stigma 

    Stamp Out Stigma is dedicated to reducing stigma tied to mental health and substance use disorders. Cigna Healthcare is a member of the Assn. for Behavioral Health and Wellness, the organization spearheading it.

     Mental Health First AidTM at Work

    Mental Health First AidTM at Work is a training program to help develop skills for assisting someone who is in crisis or experiencing mental health problems. The program can be offered in the workplace.

     Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

    The SPRC is a federally supported resource center where you can find online resources, tool kits, and fact sheets that may be helpful to support prevention awareness in the workplace.

    Coworkers

    Suicide Warning Signs: What Do I Say?

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    How to Deal with Depression at Work

    Learn about symptoms and strategies for yourself or as a concerned co-worker for dealing with depression in the workplace.

    1American Association of Suicidology, https://suicidology.org/facts-and-statistics/, Accessed August 22, 2019.

    2American Association of Suicidology, https://suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs/, Accessed August 22, 2019.

    3National Alliance on Mental Illness, https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/suicide, Accessed August 22, 2019.

    The content provided on this web site is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for medical care provided by a physician. Any third party content is the responsibility of such third party. Cigna Healthcare does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any third party content and is not responsible for such content. Your access to and use of this content is at your sole risk. 

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