What are you doing to help suicidal military/ex-military troops?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 13:17:57 -0500

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 8 at 2015 1:19 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 13:19:35 -0500

Trying to understand what drives a person to do such a thing.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 1:37 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 13:37:53 -0500

Well, I watch my Soldiers and look for indicators, and talk with them. The Army makes us sit in endless iterations of power point presentations, and thinks that that makes us all suicide proof. If first line and higher leaders would take the time to know their Soldiers and lead appropriately, this shouldn't be such a big issue. I do go by and look at their barracks, and I ask them what they are doing on their free time. I will have three of my single Soldiers join my family at Thanksgiving. We are in Hawaii, which makes it difficult to visit family. While there are organizations that can help when a Soldier has suicidal ideations, the best way is to catch them before they get to that point.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 11:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 11:27:08 -0500

I always make myself available to anyone who seems like they need help. I have talked a couple of people, old friends that weren't veterans, out of suicide in the past. As for what I have done lately, I am pursuing some training as a counselor, both a substance abuse counselor and a finance counselor, to help people understand there is more to life as long as they can get passed their present problems.