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MSgt Guillermo Ybarra III It's always tough on those who care when someone dies and especially so when they take their own life. I have always tried to pay attention to those I served with being watchful for signs of depression or changes that could effect them and interceding when necessary. If I may I will relate a real life experience. I was assigned to a division headquarters, one day walking back from chow with the division surgeon and jag we passed a young female SP4. Exchanged casual greetings and I asked how are you today, her response was not bad for a worthless slut. I immediately turned to my companions to verify what I just heard. They were tuned out and didn't hear her. I took it on myself to locate the chaplain and we went to talk to her. Turns out she was quite distraught and I'd like to think that this intervention helped.

First off, if you have a substance abuse drinking alcohol frequently to get up in the morning to relax in the evening or talking large quantities not one beer or one glass of wine but half a bottle or full bottle or a 12 pack of beer you have a problem! If you take antidepressants and alcohol and if you smoke pot those are all depressants. My sister drank all the time that you took anti-depressants and she said drinking beer is okay it's not wine or whiskey but yet in mass quantities it's the same. One 12 ounce glass of beer is the same as a 6 ounce glass of wine or a 1-ounce shot of whiskey so don't kid yourself. Go to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings and find out how much better you are being with others with the same problem as you period or if you have people with this kind of problem in your family it also helps there's also a Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous family group to deal with those people who have addiction. Remember, the real victims of the survivors. My sister committed suicide on the 4th of July and we were estranged period now every fourth of July I think of her said of trying to celebrate the United States independence. The first the first step is saying you are powerless over substance abuse. If you don't drink smoke or do any kind of drugs or smoke pot then seek self-help go see a therapist and they're also self-help groups as some Churches may have related to a Survivor or surviving members of suicide who you may be able to get strength in.