How is the Army doing on suicide prevention training? Are we more prepared?

2014-09-15T15:05:51-04:00

Given that the Army has designated September as Suicide Prevention Month, I'm wondering how my fellow Soldiers think we are doing on training our force? I remember the old suicide prevention training back in the day. We were basically told to watch for people that seemed depressed or were giving away their possessions. We seem to have come a long way toward training our Soldiers and helping those who are having a hard time dealing with life, but has it really helped? Do you think we as Soldiers (or any service members) are better prepared today to deal with this subject than we were 10 years ago? What is the most important aspect of the program that you think is having or has had an impact?
http://www.army.mil/article/132974/Army_Suicide_Awareness_Month

Army Suicide Awareness Month

The U.S. Army amplifies its promotion of the importance of resilience building and suicide awareness within the Army profession during the entire month of September. This year's theme is Enhancing Resiliency -- Strengthening Our Professionals.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 7:37 PM

2014-09-24T19:37:09-04:00

I would submit that the sensitization of everyone trained to be on the lookout for people in danger of - and the danger signs of - suicide is a very good thing. If it saves just one life, it's worth the time and energy required.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 8:27 PM

2014-09-24T20:27:35-04:00

Not as long as the suicide prevention is presented as another boring PowerPoint to endure. "Next slide. Suicide statistics. PTSD. More numbers. Next slide."
I feel strongly on this subject and the way it has been treated is utter bullshit.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 24 at 2014 8:34 PM

2014-09-24T20:34:06-04:00

I would say there is progress as the ACE suicide prevention program is now listed in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and American Foundation Best Practice Registry for Suicide Prevention. The Army has made great strides in getting the word out and developed the resources to help address the problem. However in a very large study about a third of soldiers who attempted suicide where associated with mental disorders developed before the individual joined the Army. What I find disturbing is that by correlation these suicides seamed to be dismissed as a preexisting condition. Even if so what about the other 2/3rd's where these best practices are failing? This is not just a deployed soldier issue either as the rate for non-deployed tripled. While there is progress there is still much more work needing to be done.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/03/suicide-army-rate-soldiers-institute-health/5983545/

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 24 at 2014 9:07 PM

2014-09-24T21:07:31-04:00

I'm sorry to say that I don't think we will ever have a good handle on the Problem but that doesn't mean we shouldn't shoot for the Goal of Eliminating this problem and who could complain about improving the Mental Health Services to our Veterans.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 9:17 PM

2014-09-24T21:17:05-04:00

1SG Chris Brown The big thing is that many veterans who may be seriously considering that are hesitant to admit it. So, until mental health interventions can be done in lieu of being civilly committed, then this problem may persist.

Other mitigating factors (homeless, finances, other personal issues) may be insurmountable. It may be that veteran intervention might cover some of these bases. I would imagine that some of this work may have to be done within the military community of veterans.

Last year, while homeless, I was a case of Stolen Valor and accosted mentioned he better not be doing wrong. Not only was he dressed in BDUs but he would have been out of uniform.

The biggest problem is that he was soliciting money on behalf of the fact that 22 veterans die each day due to suicide. Considering where I was at, I was no mood for that and the manager of McDonalds told me that she would call the Sheriff if ever did that again.

So there are a few hurdles that we veterans can mitigate against and perhaps get some of the veterans that are reluctant for help and this really is a big problem in certain quarters.

Response by SPC Angel Guma made Feb 18 at 2015 10:46 AM

2015-02-18T10:46:21-05:00

The exact opposite.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Mar 9 at 2016 3:22 PM

2016-03-09T15:22:48-05:00

Hell no.