The holidays can be a very lonely time for those with no where to go and no one to turn to. The hospital emergency department sees an increase at this time of year in individuals who have engaged in potentially lethal behavior.

"For those who have no support system, no friends, family, loved ones or even co-workers, the holidays can prove very deadly," said Mark DeSilva, MD, medical director, Emergency Department, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. "Everywhere, there are signs of gatherings, gift exchanges, happiness and love. If you are not experiencing what the rest of the world is enjoying, it is very bitter."

DeSilva has worked in the Emergency Department (ED) at Gottlieb for more than a dozen years. "The holidays bring out desperate behavior in unstable individuals and they frequently end up in the ED as a medical emergency."

Gottlieb Memorial Hospital's full service ED serves as a Level II Trauma Center, meaning specialists are on-call 24/7 to handle critical cases. All Gottlieb physicians are board certified in Emergency Medicine. All staff nurses are Certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and the majority are Certified in Advanced Pediatric Life Support.

Gottlieb's physicians and nurses are responsible for training and educating the local emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics for Bensenville, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Melrose Park, River Grove and Leyden Township.

Often there are signs when a person may be feeling overwhelmed. And opportunities to intervene.

Here are DeSilva's five tips to identify individuals who may be vulnerable during the holidays:

1 - Isolated behavior - "Most people are busy going to social gatherings, shopping, attending events and connecting with friends," said DeSilva. "Look for those who shun social interaction or who consistently do not attend events that they say they will."

2 - Angry mood - "The person expresses sarcasm, unhappiness or criticism of others' joy in the season and is consistently pessimistic," said DeSilva.

3 - Alcohol or drug excess - "Beer or cocktails, readily available throughout the holidays, or illegal drugs, are overindulged to numb the pain the individual is feeling and offer an escape from reality," said DeSilva.

4 - Missing frequently from work/social activities - "Facing others who are happy and bright is often too difficult for those feeling the holiday blues," said DeSilva. "They may be consistently absent or very late to work or no-shows at anticipated social engagements."

5 - Excessive sleeping - "Depression often takes the guise of extreme fatigue or tiredness. The body shuts down to form an escape from the everyday world," said DeSilva.

If you see signs of extreme behavior in a friend, family member or acquaintance, act immediately. "Talk to the individual and tell them the behavior that you are seeing and offer to help," said DeSilva. "There are social services, community groups, churches and other programs that can intervene."

The downturn in the economy has also contributed to depression and engagement in risky behavior. "Loss of a job or the unavailability of extra money for presents for loved ones can lead to low self-esteem and contribute to the person's making poor choices," said DeSilva.

"By recognizing when a person is in trouble, and speaking out, you may not only save them a trip to the ED, but also save a life," he said.

Source:
Loyola University Health System