BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho-based nonprofit is focused on helping active military and veterans overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. Recently, One More Day hosted a panel discussion featuring a leading expert on suicide.
Approximately 20 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"We're just seeing almost epidemic levels of suicide, I know here in Idaho we're getting hit hard," said David Conley, co-founder of the One More Day Veterans Suicide Prevention Program.
Conley recently organized a panel featuring Dr. Thomas Joiner, a psychologist, author and leading expert on suicide.
"I'll summarize it in a nutshell and is mostly a three-factor model," Joiner said. "The idea is that if you have these three characteristics you'll be at very high risk for death by suicide or nearly dying by suicide, and those characteristics are you feel alienated from other people, hopelessly, simultaneously you feel like you're a burden on them."
Other factors, according to Joiner's theory, include having practical knowledge of death and high pain tolerance. Basically, a no-fear mentality.
"If it's true that belonging, feeling like you're cared about and connected, is crucial then any small intervention that increases that sense of connection or care or belonging should have some mileage to it in regards to prevention," Joiner said. "A small dose of it could make a difference between life and death because I do think a lot of suicidal people are hovering on that line."
It's not just for veterans or active duty either. Joiner says the idea of caring and belonging is transcendent.
"My attitude is one of optimism," Joiner said. "I think we can get on top of this and in that spirit, it's interesting to know [that for] the first time in 15 to 20 years the suicide rates went down by about 830 deaths in 2019.
"You have to be careful what to make of it, but people make a lot about an increase, and yet with a one-year decrease people say to be skeptical," he added. "I reject that and I think it's good to be optimistic. There's a possibility, 2020, despite the pandemic, may see a continuation of that trend. Wouldn't that be something?"
Medical professionals, military members and their families, lawmakers and several organizations trying to help veterans.
You can learn more about One More Day here. The non-profit has suicide prevention training courses for the entire community.
If you or someone you know needs help, the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours a day at (208) 398-4357 or (800) 273-8255.
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