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September 7, 2011
Hill
Country
MHDD
Centers Recognizes
National Suicide Prevention Week
In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, Hill Country MHDD
Centers wants you to be aware of information and warning signs
regarding suicide.
One suicide occurs on the average every 15.2 minutes. It is the 11th
leading cause of death in the United States. While women attempt
suicide three times more often than men, more than three men complete a
suicide for every woman who completes a suicide. Suicide rates
have also traditionally increased during times of economic crises.
Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal individuals desperately want to
live; they are just unable to see an alternative to their problems.
Experts know that suicidal crises tend to be brief. When suicidal
behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved. There are services
available in for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviors and
their underlying causes.
Is there someone you love at risk of suicide? Get the facts and take
appropriate action.
Most suicidal individuals give warnings signs of their suicidal
intentions. Be aware of the following suicide warning signs:
Talking or writing about wanting to hurt or kill one
self.
Seeking the means to kill one self (firearms,
available pills, etc.)
Withdrawing from family, friends and society
No sense of purpose in life
Feeling hopeless or helpless
Feeling uncontrolled anger or rage, seeking revenge
Feeling trapped – like there is no way out of a
situation
Feeling trapped like there’s no way out
Increased abuse of drugs or alcohol
Unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
Acting reckless or engaging in risk activities,
seemingly without thinking
Experiencing a change in eating habits
Performing poorly at work or school
Giving away prized possessions
Feeling excessive guilt or shame
If you know of someone who is suicidal or is suffering from a mental
health crisis, contact the local Mental Health Crisis Hotline operated
by Hill Country MHDD Centers at 1-877-466-0660. The hotline, which is
staffed by trained professionals and is certified by the American
Association of Suicidology, will assess the situation and deploy
assistance as needed.
“Hill Country can provide outpatient or inpatient services for
individuals suffering from a mental health crisis”, stated Linda
Werlein, CEO of Hill Country MHDD Centers. “Outpatient services
are delivered through the 10 mental health clinics throughout Hill
Country’s service area and inpatient services are provided at the Hill
Country Crisis Stabilization Unit in Kerrville. At the Hill
Country Crisis Stabilization Unit we offer inpatient mental health
services to help stabilize the symptoms of a mental health crisis and
assist individuals with their recovery.” The Crisis Stabilization
Unit serves over 500 individuals annually and has been recognized by
the Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Rural Health
Policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a Rural
Behavioral Health Promising Practice.
Hill Country MHDD Centers through operation of 10 mental health
clinics, 8 developmental disability centers, and 8 early childhood
intervention centers, provide community based mental health and
developmental disability services throughout 19 counties of the greater
Texas Hill Country by promoting independence, community integration and
recovery. Counties served by Hill Country include Bandera,
Blanco, Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney,
Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde, and Val
Verde.
For more information on Hill Country MHDD Centers, please visit
www.hillcountry.org.
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