Tag Archive for: elevated

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month  – Support for Persons at Elevated Risk for Suicide > United States Coast Guard > My Coast Guard News


If you are close to someone who has experienced a recent suicidal crisis and who may not be fully recovered. How do you think about their risk and what kind of support can you provide?  It is likely that you or someone else played a key role in encouraging their pursuit of urgent mental health care and/or a formal suicide risk assessment. Regardless of what the risk was assessed to be at the time, it is important to know suicide risk is dynamic and subject to change based on a variety of factors. 

Factors Influencing Continuing Suicide Risk Following an Acute Crisis

  • Untreated depression or anxiety
  • Ongoing stressor that is unresolved and/or subject to intensify
  • Persistent problems with sleep or ability to function
  • Unrelenting hopelessness and/or pessimism
  • Misuse of alcohol and/or substances
  • Intermittent or persistent thoughts of death or suicide
  • Access to lethal means to harm oneself

Supporting Those with Elevated Risk of Suicide

You may have had an initial conversation with your family member, friend, or coworker about their crisis and your connection may have supplied an important dose of hope and encouragement.  It is vital that you convey your continuing availability and support, that they are not traversing this difficult time alone.  Your listening and empathic understanding during this time is indispensable.  Your time spent with them will afford you the opportunity to encourage initiating or sustaining their participation in treatment (medication and psychotherapy have strong evidence bases for reducing suicide risk), watching for signs of acute increased risk for suicide (establishes a basis for urgent evaluation/care), reminding them of reasons to live, and assisting with lethal means safety. 

Lethal Means Safety

Restricting access to the available means to harm oneself has been shown to reduce suicides.  Studies have shown that people have a preference for a given means and that many do not seek out other methods if a preferred means is not available.  The time between thinking of suicide and acting on it can span minutes, but also subside as quickly.  Restricting access to lethal means…

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Hunterdon County Department of Public Safety warns of ‘elevated’ cyber security status


The Hunterdon County Department of Public Safety has received several warnings from state and federal agencies regarding potential cyber threats from various actors, Hunterdon County Commissioner Board member Susan J. Soloway reported at a recent board meeting.

Soloway, the board’s Department of Public Safety liaison, said, “The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, known as ‘NJ Kick’ in the public safety world, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have advised the county’s Public Safety Department that the cyber threat level in New Jersey is now raised to elevated, due to potential retaliatory attacks stemming from sanctions against Russia. This threat level indicates significant risk due to increased hacking, virus, or other malicious activity that compromises systems or diminishes service.”

In 2015 the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness formed NJ Kick to protect the state from cyber threats and attacks. The NJ Kick office shares critical information, analyzes cyber threats and encourages the public to report any incidents to reduce the state’s overall cyber risk.

“NJ Kick states that at the elevated level, there are known vulnerabilities that are being exploited with a moderate level of damage or disruption, or the potential for significant damage or disruption is high. I am advised that the county’s IT operation is prepared. The system has multi-layers of defense in place for detecting threats that blocks senders from known threats,” Soloway continued.

The county’s IT department reports that defense includes blocking internet traffic from countries known for malicious email traffic, sophisticated firewalls for intrusion defense, high level virus protections for personal computers and Servers, and an intrusion detection system which was provided by homeland security.

Soloway said, “The public is urged to refer to the latest ‘NJKick’ Advisory and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s ‘Shields Up’ website for the latest risk mitigation practices.” Click here to visit the ‘Shields Up’ website.

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Should cyber warfare be elevated to highest command structure? – Stars and Stripes


Stars and Stripes

Should cyber warfare be elevated to highest command structure?
Stars and Stripes
Many experts say the move would make sense, cementing cyber warfare as a focal point of the Defense Department's 21st-century national security responsibilities. Supporters say the new unified command would become an integral part of global operations,

cyber warfare – read more