European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 the whole thing the 17-year-old said of the incident that took place four years ago. Depression seems to be a culpable Factor in Many suicides suicide is a Complex problem. It seems to be a final solution for a problem in someone s life said or. Col r. Harlan Bridenbaugh psychiatry consultant to . Army Europe s 7th medical come. Things that drive people toward suicide include alcohol abuse stress loss of a relationship work or socioeconomic problems. People sometimes get Des Perate Bridenbaugh said. Or scared about moving and having to make new. Friends " -.,A. It s also Worth noting that while the Lack of Money May contribute to suicide Kurt Cobain Lead Singer of the grunge Rock group nirvana who committed suicide three weeks ago died apparently a Rich Man. The effects of the military draw Down on military suicides Are harder to gauge because no studies have been done. Still the numbers Don t reflect a major cause and effect. .,.,V. A the exact reasons for the self inflicted deaths of 38 military people and family members in Europe Over the past two years will probably never be fully known. But the suicide rates for the three services in Europe Are lower than civilian rates stateside Al though other suicide related comparisons Are Simi Lar.  ,. Suicide rates for the civilian population Are 12.4 per 100,000, said or. Lloyd Potter team Leader for suicide prevention at the National Center for injury prevention and control in Atlanta. Women Are More Likely to try suicide but men Are More Likely to actually commit it. Men Are also More Likely than women to use violent methods Al though that seems to be changing somewhat Potter j. .  ,.in 1990, the most current year for available Fig ures said Potter there were More than 30,000 suicides in the United states. According to strength and suicide figures furnished by the army air Force and Navy in Europe suicide rates for the services average about one percentage Point below the stateside civilian average. Lake their stateside civilian counterparts the larg est group of suicides among the military in Europe is Young White males. Twenty two of the 38 military suicides in Europe were committed by White males a percentage that is almost identical to civilian state Side averages. The lower percentage of hispanics Blacks other ethnic groups and women who committed suicides Mirror the stateside figures. The military is reflective of the civilian Popula Tion it comes from. I m not surprised the figures Are so close. But i Don t think there is anything unique in Europe specific to suicides Bridenbaugh said. Bridenbaugh says military doctors have a responsibility to protect patients from themselves and that co workers supervisors and commanders share in that responsibility. The army air Force and Navy offer suicide prevention and awareness training to commanders and supervisors that helps them recognize suicidal behaviour. The courses stress recognizing signs of Clini Cal depression that can Lead to suicide. One of the first things military mental health professionals look for when someone who has tried Sui cide is referred to them is whether the patient is suf Fering from a psychological disorder or reacting to an event in his life. The clinical interview looks for past problems family history what s happened in their life or other causal factors. We look to see if the person is suffering a mood disorder Orif their attempt at self harm is a re action to a recent life experience Bridenbaugh said. Some military patients May be placed As Iri patients at a military Hospital or they May be treated As outpatients with counselling. Bridenbaugh said a Sui cide attempt May not be a career Ender in itself but May indicate other prob Jems that could. He cited alcohol abuse illegal drug use and family violence As areas that contribute to Sui cide and could affect a Mili tary person s career. He suggests getting professional help if those prob lems or suicidal thoughts Are affecting a person s life. Talk to someone before the issues become Large Bridenbaugh said. It s Worth remembering that when someone talks to a military doctor or Counselor and tells him he s considering suicide any doctor patient or Counselor client confidentiality evaporates and the professional is required to Alert a commander or supervisor of the potential of self harm. That notification then kicks in the military s official prevention attempts. Our responsibility is to keep the patient alive Bridenbaugh said. Depression and considering Deatha though it might sound obvious the person who is talking about suicide is thinking about it. Psychiatrists and psychologists seem to agree that most if not All peo ple have thought about ending their lives. But although Many might give it momentary consideration it Seldom goes further than that. The 38 military people in Europe who committed suicide in 1992 and 1993 gave it further consideration and decided to act. The air Force Navy and army have similar programs designed to make supervisors and commanders More aware of the symptoms of those soldiers sail ors and airmen suffering severe de pression that often is the first step on the path to suicide. Things to watch for include 1. Negative change in duty performance or behaviour. 2. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.  3. Recent breakup of a relationship 4. Disruptions in eating or sleeping patterns. 5. Familial history of suicide or Sui cide attempts. 6. Giving away valued possessions. 7. Excessive interest in death and survivor Benefit plans. 8. Recent change in interest in drugs or alcohol. 9. A sudden change or elimination of plans for the future. 10. Talking about suicide. All three services have people trained to help those who find themselves temporarily overcome by life s events. Those experiencing difficulties should seek out chaplains mental health professionals supervisors medical people or professional Counselor. Steve scholar it it 1 1 i hta. 1 will 1 in " "  poisoning poisoning hit by train hanging hanging hanging gunshot gunshot drug overdose slashed wrist method hit by train hit by train hit by train hanging gunshot gunshot gunshot gunshot gunshot gunshot overdose jumped from a building " " " method gunshot hanging overdose hanging hanging asphyxiation method asphyxiation gunshot slashed wrist hanging hanging hanging hanging method hanging method hanging gunshot. I  Irv self destruct in Al f a swim a a Wai a w Al a 1 in. -.-. -.-, army suicides in Europe sex age ethnic marital status m 30 White married unaccompanied m 25 White married unaccompanied m 21 White single m 22 White married accompanied m 30 Black married accompanied f 23 White single m 27 White married accompanied m 26 White single m 20 White single Tyr 29 other married accompanied 992  " sex age ethnic marital status m 21 White single m 20 other single m 19 hispanic single m 35 White married accompanied m 32 hispanic married accompanied m 42 hispanic married accompanied m 28 White married accompanied m 54 White married unaccompanied f 32 Black married accompanied m 21 White married unaccompanied m 26 White single m 22. White single air Force suicides in Europe by  ,1993, a sex age ethnic marital status m 42 White family member m 19 White single i f 25 White married m 24 White married m 31 White married m 19 White dependent son 1992 v sex age ethnic marital status m 22 Black single m 35 White married f 22 White family member m 31 White married m 20 White single f 20 White single or. 20 White single Navy suicides in europe1993 sex age ethnic marital status m not available married 1992 sex age ethnic marital status m not available married m not available married source Usa eur. Safe. Nav eur Public of Larj offices Page 4 sunday april 24, 1994