Shot of two people holding hands in comfort - concept of suicide risk screening.

What You Need to Know About Suicide Risk Screening and How to Know if You are at Risk

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Shot of two people holding hands in comfort - concept of suicide risk screening.

Suicide is a significant public health problem that leaves a lasting effect on your loved ones. In fact, it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States generally and the 2nd leading cause of death in people aged 10 to 34. Here’s where the importance of suicide risk screening comes in.

Suicide Risk Screening

Suicide risk screening is a process that estimates the probability of someone attempting suicide or dying by committing suicide. It is also one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide, especially in children and adolescents.

How to Determine if You Need Suicide Risk Screening

You need a suicide risk assessment if you have the following:

  • A history of attempted suicide.
  • Family history of suicide attempts.
  • You suffer from depression.
  • You have been through family violence.
  • You have been in prison recently.
  • You experience chronic pain.
  • Your family has a history of depression as well as other mental illnesses.
hands people friends communication
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How to Determine if You or Someone in Your Family is at Risk of Committing Suicide

When someone intends to commit suicide, you may notice a behavior change. Additionally, some of the red flags to watch out for are:

  • They keep talking about wanting to die.
  • They are anxious, agitated, and feel useless.
  • They become socially withdrawn and showing mood swings.
  • Their behavior suddenly becomes recklessness and impulsive behavior.
  • They abuse alcohol or drugs.
  • They give away their prized possessions.
black man explaining problem to female psychologist

When to Seek the Advice of a Medical Professional or Trained Counselor

Every now and then, you may have depression. It’s vital to seek the help of a medical professional or a trained counselor if;

  • You have had symptoms for over two weeks.
  • Your symptoms are interfering with your ability to function at work and your social life.
  • You are contemplating suicide.

Final Thought

Follow our blog for more informative articles on healthcare and healthcare-related topics. Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to enroll in one or more healthcare courses on a variety of topics. Visit Avidity Medical Scentations to purchase scented candles and soaps with a healthcare theme.

Woman putting different medical items in her home's medical emergency kit.

How to Prepare for Medical Emergencies: 10 Things You Should Have in Your Medical Emergency Kit

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Woman putting different medical items in her home's medical emergency kit.

Having a medical emergency kit is one of the things you at no time think you require until you do. They are essential for short-term survival providing core items to protect you from unforeseen events. Regarding any potential issue that may indicate a possible medical emergency seek a doctor’s advice. 

Types of Medical Emergency Kits

  •  First-aid kits
  •  Emergency kits
  •  Bleeding control kits
  •  Biohazard kits
  •  Hygiene kits
  •  Workplace first aid kits
  •  Burn kits

DIY Personal Medical Kit

Customizing your medical kit to meet your needs. Choose the type of kit you need, and the products you need to include in your kit. The kit should also be stored in a waterproof storage container, kept in an accessible place, checked, and resupplied every few months. 

Your emergency kit should have items for your essential needs in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency event. A doctor’s or a clinic’s phone number should also be part of the essentials. Some of the vital components you should have in your medical emergency kits are:

  •  Storage container
  •  Wound dressings and closure (roller gauze, medical tape, triangular bandage, gauze pads)
  •  Specialty equipment (for instance, an epi-pen)
  •  Topical cleansers and treatments
  •  Personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, and masks)
  •  Trauma care equipment (CPR pocket masks, trauma shears)

Before creating your medical kit, consider taking a healthcare course to familiarize yourself with the healthcare field. Avidity Medical Design Academy offers a variety of courses in different areas of healthcare. The next step is to determine the type of kit you need, based on your lifestyle or your family’s lifestyle. List the contents of your kit, how many kits you will need, and add items to each kit periodically.

first aid and surival kits
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Importance and Benefits of Having a Medical Emergency Kit

  •  Having an emergency kit can be invaluable when you need professional medical help, or your life is in danger and you are waiting for an ambulance to arrive. For example, you may not be able to suture a wound, but you can slow down the bleeding for as long as you can until help arrives.
  •  Owning an emergency kit also ensures you are ready for any unforeseen medical events, especially for if you have a pre-existing illness.
  •  Creating your medical emergency kit offers you and your family peace of mind.
  •  Emergency medical kits are essential for fighting off stress as well as reducing the fear of the unknown. 
  • Creating a medical emergency kit also helps lessen the worrying part by helping you anticipate potential medical emergencies ahead of time. 

Circumstances That Necessitate Having a Medical Emergency Kit Around

Owning a medical emergency kit is imperative in preparing as well as protecting your household from unforeseen events. Some of the unexpected events that may necessitate having a medical emergency kit include:

  •  Car accidents.
  •  Allergies.
  •  Asthma attacks.
  •  Minor injuries.
  •  1st and 2nd-degree burns.
  •  Life-threatening medical conditions like diabetes.
  •  Insect stings.

To learn more about the medical field, visit Avidity Medical Design Academy and enroll in one of our many healthcare course offerings. For more informative healthcare articles, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. To purchase scented soaps and candles with a healthcare theme, visit Avidity Medical Scentations.