Suicide: How Much Do You Care?

Filed under Behavioral Health, Resources by on September 30, 2010 at 5:29 pm {2 comments}

By Tim Poch, WTC STRATCOM

Approximately 450 Soldiers died between fiscal years 2006 and 2009, not at the hands of Al-Qaida or the Taliban, not as a result of a training exercise or traffic accidents, not from cancer or any other medical condition.

What has invaded our Army? Who is this unseen enemy? Who is taking the lives of our finest young men and women? The answer to those questions can be found in one word, a word that the Army states accounts for roughly 43 percent of non-combat Soldier deaths, suicide.

The above figures are from the 2010 Army Health Promotion Risk Reduction Suicide Prevention report. Even more alarming than these numbers is the fact that the rate doubled beginning with 82 suicides in 2006 and ending with 160 in 2009.

From January to June 2010, the Army had 145 active duty suicides which is more than occurred during the same time period last year, according to Tony Arcuri, Well-being Plans and Operations Division Chief, Headquarters Army Materiel Command, G-1, unfortunate proof that the suicide rate is not decreasing.

In a recent Atlanta Journal article, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff, Army said, “these are not just statistics; they are our Soldiers and civilians.”

According to a recent article in an Army publication, reducing the incidence of suicide within the Army requires a holistic approach to improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of our Soldiers, Families and civilians. Focusing on the resiliency and positive life coping skills of our Army family will not only lower suicide rates, but will enhance the quality of life for our entire Army community.

One of the ways the Army is addressing this holistic approach is through The U.S. Army Public Health Commands behavioral health team which developed a program called “Ask, Care and Escort” or ACE. This new program provides Soldiers with the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to intervene with those at risk. Some aspects of the four-hour training program include awareness, warning signs, risk factors and intervention skills development.

The point of the program is simply this – get involved, ask the tough questions, observe behavior and get your battle buddy help by escorting them to a professional.  Ask, Care, Escort.  It’s something we all need to do.

At the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) we take suicide prevention seriously. To help strengthen the Army’s suicide prevention initiatives, WTC developed a more comprehensive risk assessment, strengthened Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) cadre training to include suicide prevention and safety, added more AW2 Advocates, and developed a 6-part transition process for wounded Soldiers. Together, along with the other Army programs aimed at combating suicide, the WTC is taking the right steps–steps that will help save lives.

This month is Suicide Prevention Month and as I take another look at the ACE program I faced a realization. Have you noticed the middle letter of the acronym? The middle word and the center of the program’s tag line is CARE.

Caring is the heartbeat of suicide prevention. Get involved. Caring for your battle buddy, family member or spouse should be our number one priority and it’s one that I take seriously and I hope you do too.

If  you or someone you know needs help, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for immediate assistance.

Also please take a moment to read more about U.S. Army Suicide Prevention.

Suicide Reaches Beyond One Person’s Death

Filed under Advocate Story, Behavioral Health by on September 28, 2009 at 11:00 pm {3 comments}

By Sue Maloney, AW2 Advocate in Seattle

Speak Up, Reach Out

Speak Up, Reach Out

As a child, a close Family member used suicide as the way to escape intense and unending pain. For him, it was an avenue to spare additional pain to his Family because he saw no other options. Even though there had been failed attempts in the past, on-going medical treatment did not resolve the recurring or underlying pain that permeated his life. The suicide of my Family member greatly impacted my life as a child, woman, Soldier, Veteran, friend, and as an AW2 Advocate.

In my experience, most people don’t really want to talk about any combination of mental health, suicide, and/or death. They are taboo subjects built on pain and shame and are often ignored. When people discuss these subjects they are generally whispered behind closed doors with elements of pity, blame, and shame.

There are changes in society, but they are slow in coming. Today, the Army, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, have all increased efforts to reach out to Soldiers and Veterans and offer them a different path from suicide. Instead of unending pain and hopelessness, there are resources in place to help individuals find a different way to live. I encourage you to identify local programs and national resources before you or someone close to you needs them.

As a friend, Family member, or Advocate, it’s important to watch, look, and listen for the warning signs of severe depression and suicide, which might include: threats of hurting oneself, increased drinking or drug use, a sense of hopelessness, increased agitation, feelings of being trapped, withdrawal, or risky behavior that could lead to death-accidental or purposeful.

It’s important to offer hope by getting help for the person who might be feeling lost, lonely, or desperate. Here are some tips that I’ve learned over the years: listen without judgment or advice; share your concern for their welfare; and ask them if they have suicidal thoughts or a suicide plan. If they are having suicidal thoughts, do not leave them alone, immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK and push #1 for assistance with Veterans. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has trained counselors available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For additional tips and resources that are helpful to counselors, families, friends or persons at-risk, please visit their Web site at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

I encourage anyone who is hurting enough to contemplate death as an end to the pain to reach out to someone, personal or professional, and don’t give up too soon. If you are a friend or Family member, listen to your loved one, and help them to get to a professional who can help them work through their pain. You may need additional support as well. Getting help is hard work, but so is ignoring the symptoms and hoping they’ll go away on their own.

Suicide reaches beyond one person’s death; it leaves a legacy that touches so many lives for generations.

MHS Resources on Suicide Prevention

Filed under Behavioral Health, DoD by on September 21, 2009 at 2:56 pm {no comments}
Speak Up, Reach Out

Speak Up, Reach Out

Military Health Systems (MHS) has launched a comprehensive suicide prevention resource page
as part of National Suicide Prevention Month with a number of resources on suicide prevention across the military services and Department of Defense.

Below is a partial list of some of the resources that MHS lists on their Web site:

These are just some of the great resources that MHS has listed on their Web site, so be sure to visit their “Speak Up, Reach Out” suicide prevention page and help them promote it by placing the above image on your Web site using the code provided.

In addition to the resources listed on the page, MHS also released a new MHS Dot Mil Docs podcast this week featuring Walt Morales, who is the program manager for the Army Suicide Prevention Program. During the podcast, Walt discusses how the program’s policies are designed to minimize suicide behavior, thereby preserving mission effectiveness through individual readiness for soldiers, their families, and Department of the Army civilians.

Click here to listen Walt Morales in his podcast with MHS or click here to download it as an MP3 from iTunes.

Army Surgeon General Blogs on Suicide Myths

Filed under Advocate Story, Soldier and Family Story, Soldier Story by on September 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm {2 comments}

As part of National Suicide Prevention Month, LTG Eric B. Schoomaker has been blogging to dispel suicide myths with facts about how individuals can help prevent the suicide of a Soldier, Veteran, Family member or a friend. Each day LTG Schoomaker explores a different myth with a new blog entry and below are a few of the myths that he as covered on his blog:

Myth: Non-fatal attempts are only attention-getting behaviors.

Fact: For some people suicidal behaviors are serious invitations to others to help them live. Rather than punishing or reprimanding someone who has expressed suicidal thoughts offer help and alternative answers. Get them to talk to a Chaplain or counselor. Suicidal behaviors must be taken seriously. If not addressed a thought of suicide can become an act of suicide.

Myth: Only a professional can help a suicidal person.

Fact: While long term care should be handled by a professional, immediate recognition of a suicidal person or someone in need of help is up to you. By paying attention to what the person is saying, taking it seriously, offering support, and getting help you can prevent a potential tragedy. Many are lost to suicide because immediate support wasn’t offered.

Myth: Just because they talk about suicide does not mean they will actually go through with it.

Fact: Almost everyone who commits suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like “You’ll be sorry when I’m dead,” or “I can’t see any way out”-no matter how casually or jokingly said-may indicate serious suicidal feelings.

To read the rest of LTG Schoomaker’s myths and facts about suicide, please click here to visit The Surgeon General’s Blog.

Additionally, be sure to check out these great resources on suicide prevention in the Army and across the Department of Defense:

www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp
www.behavioralhealth.army.mil
www.militaryonesource.com
www.realwarriors.net

DCoE Outreach Center 1-866-966-1020
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Suicide Prevention Month

Filed under Behavioral Health by on September 4, 2009 at 3:14 pm {no comments}

–By COL Jim Rice, AW2 Director–

The Army is working hard to bring mental wellness to the forefront of Soldier and Family care and remove the stigma from mental health concerns. Suicide is a potentially preventable tragedy that profoundly impacts the Army Family. During the month of August, TRICARE launched two new behavioral health care services. The first is the TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP), which allows TRICARE beneficiaries to speak with a licensed counselor 24/7 from the privacy of their own home or any other location of choice that has a computer, internet, and webcam. Eligible beneficiaries are active duty servicemembers, those eligible for transition assistance management program (TAMP) for six months following demobilization, members with TRICARE Reserve Select, as well as spouses and other eligible Family members 18 years of age or older. The second is access to behavioral health services including psychotherapy and medications under TRICARE’s telemental health care benefit. The Vice Chief of the Secretary of the Army also established a suicide prevention task force, of which AW2 is a part. More information will be provided to you in September about this task force.

Please remember our suicide prevention training and the A.C.E. technique in your daily interaction with colleagues, Soldiers, and Families. Visit these Web sites and be prepared to ask the hard questions, your efforts can save lives:

http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/dhpw/Readiness/suicide.aspx

http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hR/suicide/default.asp

Editors Note: The VA Suicide Prevention Campaign has also launched an on-line chat service that enables Veterans, their Families and Friends to go online and anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. For more information about this service, please visit http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention.

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