Posted on Feb 12, 2014
Is enough being done to stop/prevent suicide with Servicemembers and Veterans?
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Our suicide rates are at historical highs...more Soldiers/Vets have committed suicide in the last few years than all of our fallen brothers and sisters for both OEF and OIF. It's averaging 23 a day.
We have suicide prevention training, but it's only required in my unit once a year. We are taught from Day 0 that we are to have our battle buddy's back while deployed, but what about while in garrison? I don't mean to sound disrespectful or attacking anyone with this next part but...What happened to NCO's actually living by the NCO Creed? What happened to "My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind, the accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers...I know my Soldiers and will always place their needs above my own"? I get that we're in the Army, that we're Soldiers first, and there are going to be times where we have to just embrace the suck and drive on. I don't think that applies though to making sure that Soldiers are doing ok.
This is a huge issue, and I don't believe that there is enough being done. At what point is this going to be a "big enough problem" for something more to be done?
Suicide
Policy
Troops
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 40
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Based on situations I've experienced, a SM/veteran is only going to seek the help they believe they need, regardless of what peers & supervisors tell them. I and many others, just found out yesterday, that my old unit lost an NCO to suicide this past Memorial Day. Tragic to say the least. She apparently moved out of state to get her life back together and despite support from family, friends and fellow SMs, she reached her breaking point. Some are blaming themselves for not providing enough support which does not sound like that is the case and apparently she did seek out help through VA channels. With all that support around how did she reach the point where she felt she had no other choice? I agree with some of the other posts that it is a human condition to have such thoughts, to not be able to conquer them is very sad.
Rest in Peace Sgt.
Rest in Peace Sgt.
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One of the most overlooked areas in this world is suicide prevention. I was put on one med that made me want to jump off of high places. One of the most common warnings on the drugs is that they may enhance the desire to commit suicide. Hmmm. Next, the downward spiral begins in active duty. Why is that? Are there dysfunctional people making bad things happen because of misplaced egos? If you lose a stripe, are you moved to a different unit? Did your appeal get ignored? Have you rotated back and are killing time and now get Art 15 from someone who is jealous of your CIB, and they don't have one? What type of actions were you involved with-in or out of combat? Are there any moral injury issues that you can't get over? Are NCO's fully engaged with their charges so they can help direct them to appropriate resolutions of personal issues? Do the officers offer their support? Are people frustrated with the fact that the government is waging a war they do not agree with, and importing illicit things to cover non-budget operations, and not able to do or say anything about it?
there are a ton of reasons, but they all come back to how in touch are we as NCO's with our charges, and what are we doing to help. And, are we able to get help for them, or if we watch them die or go AWOL feel frustrated and angry because we could not make the system work and we failed them?
Fallon, great question, but be careful of using too much common sense while in the military:
“The Navy is a master plan designed by geniuses for execution by idiots. If you are not an idiot, but find yourself in the Navy, you can only operate well by pretending to be one. All the shortcuts and economies and common-sense changes that your native intelligence suggests to you are mistakes. Learn to quash them. Constantly ask yourself, "How would I do this if I were a fool?" Throttle down your mind to a crawl. Then you will never go wrong.”
― Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny
there are a ton of reasons, but they all come back to how in touch are we as NCO's with our charges, and what are we doing to help. And, are we able to get help for them, or if we watch them die or go AWOL feel frustrated and angry because we could not make the system work and we failed them?
Fallon, great question, but be careful of using too much common sense while in the military:
“The Navy is a master plan designed by geniuses for execution by idiots. If you are not an idiot, but find yourself in the Navy, you can only operate well by pretending to be one. All the shortcuts and economies and common-sense changes that your native intelligence suggests to you are mistakes. Learn to quash them. Constantly ask yourself, "How would I do this if I were a fool?" Throttle down your mind to a crawl. Then you will never go wrong.”
― Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny
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I myself have been in this situation before and I devote all my time with soldier that I can I do everything I can to spend time with the soldier . I try to show them I care as a person and. Humility I love and care for my joes even when tough love is needed I will always be there for my joes.
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No and it will never be enough but that doesn't mean we stop trying and praying that our shipmates quit killing themselves.
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Talk about it often, but not long. Drawn out speeches about it will lose just about any adult. We have all been through that 1-2 hour long briefing about suicide. While there is some good info and statistics out there about it, unless someone is suicidal at that very minute, you are likely to lose them after about the first five to seven minutes. According to a 2011 survey the average adult attention span dropped from 12 minutes to fives minutes in a ten year period.
I have dealt with the ideation, attempts, as well as successful suicide. None of them were my direct Soldiers, but one of them was my 1SG. It is a hard topic to talk about but it needs to be done. Knowing your Soldiers is 90% of the battle. If you truly know them, you will be able to pick up on indicators of things not being like they normally are. So that is where we really need to start.
I have dealt with the ideation, attempts, as well as successful suicide. None of them were my direct Soldiers, but one of them was my 1SG. It is a hard topic to talk about but it needs to be done. Knowing your Soldiers is 90% of the battle. If you truly know them, you will be able to pick up on indicators of things not being like they normally are. So that is where we really need to start.
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Sir, I have discussed this at length with a few people. I have a medical background, in addition to my Army career. Some of the things I see all too often would make most crazy.
The current training is inadequate. The biggest shortfall is lack of leader involvement; leaders not really putting emphasis to it as much as paying it lip service. There are also too many mandatory tasks that leaders must complete (battle rhythm so higher can micro-manage, SHARP, 90% of time with 10% of Soldiers, etc). In addition, there is no training for the family members; moms, dads, wives, husbands, older kids, neighbors, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. We see them at work for 8-10 hours. The rest of their time is spent at home, with others. If they normally call mom and dad every week, and suddenly the calls stop, do the parents know where to go to voice a concern? If they do this are they given a warm response or a cold shoulder?
I was working in the ER when an AD SM came in, escorted by co-workers. SM made statement about killing himself, said he was just joking. SM was evaluated by an ER MD and mental health professional. Both agreed SM posed no threat. SM was released, went home and killed himself. Background that we did not get until later was that his wife was leaving him and taking the child. Had that been know, he would not have been released.
Do the PL/PSG/SL/TL have get-togethers? Do they perform welfare visits to the houses? Do they call spouses or parents that are interested to see if things are going well at home? If you have 6 guys, that is one 30 minute or less phone call a day. One call can be the difference. Do Squads or Teams do things together outside of work?
I won't lie. By most of the standards, I am a high-risk candidate. I don't really hang out with or have contact with most of my co-workers outside of work. Those that I get along with best are junior to me and most of those that are my peers, I can't stand. I do, however, stay active in the community; mainly volunteering at the local Fire Dept and also teaching lifeguard classes for the AFB down the road, so they can have PT hours.
Taking the time to break from training and actually getting to know one's Soldiers would be a better use of the time.
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Fallon, thanks for addressing this on RallyPoint. My organization, Project Sanctuary (http://www.projectsanctuary.us), focuses on mental health wellbeing of our service members, veterans, and their families. We understand the problem and we have an effective, results-based way to deal with it through our outdoor, therapeutic retreat program for the entire family. Please share with others how we're helping.
At Project Sanctuary, we believe the whole family serves, and the best way to “support the troops” is by supporting the family. We provide therapeutic retreats, enabling military families to reconnect...
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Please once you have received enough information or any good points send them my way. While we have been doing well in our BDE across the forces we have not. Not sure if we are lucky or starting to get it. Regardless any points you learn will benefit the force.
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SFC (Join to see)
Roger that CSM. Im looking for outside the box type ideas right now. We do so much check the block training, but I feel that is lost on the majoity who attend. Here in the 12thCAB we carry about three or four different items to help us remember ACE and the like. I want more than that, and its high time we did something more than put a bandaid on it.
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1st cut out the red tape for someone to get help whether it be veteran or AD SM alike, there is too much meandering within the system when people do reach out for assistance.
For the AD side, even though they say the stigmatism is no longer there, that is just PC talk, there is still pressures from seeking help that is reflected towards you and your future based on issues and help seeked out, and on the veteran side, the availability by the AD clinics or psychiatrists needs to be accessible as well, especially if VA assistance is too far or appts are too spread out if even available.
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SFC (Join to see)
I see what you are saying. Im really at a loss of how to even begin to handle this though.
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