Suicide Prevention Month: The Value of Staying Connected and Telehealth

Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide Prevention is an important topic for the month of September, especially this year with so many challenges surrounding veterans, military families and the general public from COVID-19, as well as working from home, quarantine, financial or unemployment issues, and social isolation.

The build-up of these everyday challenges can wear on our military community, especially if there is already a history of stress, anxiety, or PTSD, and can quickly lead to depression and possibly thoughts of suicide. What’s important to know is that before veterans or military service members find themselves thinking about suicide, the range of stresses they are experiencing can be managed and are treatable. Suicide is preventable.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to suicide prevention:

Connection with people is essential. Most often individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts feel disconnected from others. Social support and connection are key protective factors against suicide. Positive and supportive social relationships and community connections can help buffer the effects of stress in people’s lives. Therefore, staying connected to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors can become a lifeline for those who feel isolated. Social media and technology can also make it much easier to connect during the pandemic with people one might have lost touch with.

Self-Care and wellness is important. Staying healthy and actively managing stress, especially during a pandemic, is necessary to help counter negative thoughts that could lead to anxiety and depression. If you are staying at home with family and trying to manage virtual learning with children, then taking some time for yourself is a must. We know it’s hard, but finding opportunities to unwind is going to be important during this time. Some ideas include getting regular exercise, which is the best anti-depressant; eating well-balanced diet to give you energy; get enough sleep to help clear your mind; limit over exposure to news and social media; and play with your family. Make staying at home fun for you and family and focus on the memories you can make rather than the isolation you might feel. For more information on free wellness activities online for the veteran and military family community, please check out CVN Presents and our events page.

Professional help is critical. During quarantine, we know that reaching out to a professional for help may be difficult, however if you or someone you know is experiencing an intense level of depression, seek professional help with providers who are offering virtual therapy or telehealth services. With the emergence of this public health crisis and the need to socially isolate, most providers have moved to telehealth. Research suggests that telemedicine can be as effective as face-to-face care. For some, connecting in this format is even preferable.

For more information on Suicide Prevention, please check out the resource pages from the National Institute of Mental Health and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

The Cohen Clinic at Easterseals also continues to operate fulltime with telehealth services. If you need our help, please call our office to schedule an appointment at 240-847-7500.

We are here for you!

Welcoming New Staff

Meet Sylvana Aho!

Sylvana is our Data Analyst Manager. Through her expertise in data analysis and research, Sylvana has a strong passion to support and protect public health and our most vulnerable populations facing health inequities. Sylvana’s professional experience includes working as an apprentice for the Laboratory for Protein Dynamics and Signaling at the National Cancer Institute; as a Chief Medical Scribe where she gained leadership skills and clinical and hospital administrative experience while overseeing two emergency locations in Prince George's County of Maryland. She also worked as a Health Policy and Communications Fellow at the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research and as a Data Intern for the Peace Corps within their epidemiology unit.

Meet Kelly Foster!

Kelly serves as our Case Manager and part-time Clinician. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Army veteran. Her professional experience includes providing emergency mental health services to individuals of all ages on a mobile crisis team in Baltimore County. As a clinical social work trainee, she provided care to adults with complex mental health needs in the greater Austin community and worked in the inpatient, outpatient, and Emergency Department with military service members, veterans, and their families at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. Kelly has experience supporting individuals with PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use and is trained in trauma specific modalities.

Meet Ana Khan!

Ana is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Her specialty includes treating adults, adolescents and children with PTSD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders and psychotic disorders. Ana's experience also includes working at behavioral health departments within urgent cares, cancer support centers, pre-trial diversion/county jails, partial hospitalization programs, community-based treatments, and domestic violence shelters in Maryland and Texas.