FORT STEWART Each and every person is duty-bound and morally obligated to prevent suicide. But all of the creeds in the Army will not prevent suicide if all members of the Army Family do not educate themselves to accept suicide prevention as part of the warrior ethos.
Suicide Prevention month began with the "You Are Not Alone" theme and kicked off with a variety of suicide prevention month activities that have since followed, said Alfrieda Adams, Suicide Prevention Program Manager. Activities will consist of a variety of integrated and synchronized agency activities that will target risk areas associated with suicidal behavior. The focus of activities will promote awareness, prevention, intervention, resiliency and spiritual well-being.
Some of the risk factors to be aware of and that can assist in determining who may be at risk, include depression, alcohol abuse, hopelessness, becoming withdrawn, relationship issues or loss of a relationship, dangerous or risky behavior such as excessive speeding or fighting, said Navy Capt. Philip McRae, Chief Department of Behavioral Medicine, Winn Army Community Hospital.
If you are still unsure, there is help to determine the various risks associated with suicide.
The Installation has a Risk Reduction Team that is available to conduct risk inventories within units, in efforts to identify risk areas and develop action-plans to reduce risk factors, said Alfrieda Adams, Suicide Prevention Program Manager.
For many, there is the misconception that Behavioral Health will fix everything with a pill.
"A pill is only a tool; a pill is not going to fix (the problem)," said Capt. McRae "Our behavioral health department would not have doubled in size with staff members and all the different interventions, if the pill was the cure." When you put the medication in combination with all of the other interventions and therapies, depending on symptoms presented, that is where we get the best effect.
The Army has been changing with the times and has invested millions of dollars in modern technology to meet the needs of behavioral health treatment.
For Soldiers who suffer from post -traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, Winn Army Community Hospital is just one of two military treatment facilities that offer the Raydon Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer for cognitive deficit assessment and treatment at the Winn Warrior Restoration Center.
"With Raydon, we have the capability to actually go back and recreate the actual streets and people on the streets that a Soldier experienced while in combat," said Capt. Jessica Parker, chief of the Winn Warrior Restoration Center. "In some cases we have an entire team that was in Iraq together and come in with the Soldier who is seeking help, which provides an even more realistic re-creation of the situation."
For years there was a stigma in the military that if those who need behavioral health help are weak. That stigma was, and is, wrong, said Capt. McRae. He said that asking for help is a sign of strength; being weak is not supporting those who need help.
When troops deploy as many times as they have since 2003, even the best adjusted, most resilient person may have some difficulties, said Capt. McRae. It is up to each one of us to take care of each other and help each other in times of trouble.
If you suspect someone is at risk of suicide, there are some simple but critical steps that may save someone's life.
Adams urges everyone to follow the Army's "ACE" card which provides critical suicide intervention information. ASK your buddy. Have the courage to ask the question, but stay calm. Ask the question directly, are you thinking of killing yourself' CARE for your buddy. Remove any means that could be used for self-injury. Calmly control the situation; do not use force. Actively listen to produce relief. Finally, ESCORT your buddy and NEVER leave your buddy alone. Escort to the chain of command, a chaplain, a behavioral health professional, or a primary care provider.
Social Sharing