Command Sgt. Maj. David O. Turnbull, command sergeant major, Joint Force Headquarter- National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington speaks about his past personal experiences with suicide during Suicide Prevention Stand Do...
Lt. Col. Julie Rowan, deputy command chaplain, Joint Force Headquarter- National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington speaks about awareness and prevention of suicide during Suicide Prevention Stand Down training, held in ...
Staff members from the Joint Force Headquarter- National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington discuss suicide risk factors and warning signs during Suicide Prevention Stand Down training, held in the Lincoln Auditorium at ...
WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2012) - - Saving lives was the focus of training at the Joint Force Headquarter- National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington staff Suicide Prevention Stand Down held in the Lincoln Auditorium at the National Defense University on Fort Lesley J. McNair.
The goal of the training is to increase awareness of suicide risk factors and warning signs, resources available, and to encourage intervention with at-risk members.
Throughout the day, members of multiple military programs and organizations gave information to help identify warning signs and tell stories of their personal experiences giving the attendees a real life perspective on the severity of suicide in and around the military.
"The suicide rate among military personnel is reaching a new high," said Lt. Col. Julie Rowan, deputy command chaplain, JFHQ-NCR/MDW. "We need to change the old lens on our eyes with suicide prevention training to a new fresh perspective."
"We need to be able to openly talk to our servicemembers about their problems," said Command Sgt. Maj. David O. Turnbull, command sergeant major, JFHQ-NCR/MDW. "What we might thing is something small, could be something enormous for the person facing that issue."
The success of a health promotion, risk reduction and suicide prevention program depends on the concentrated focus of leadership on activities that encompass the physical, behavioral, spiritual, social and cultural dimensions in their respective communities.
"Life is like a river," said Rowan. "If you see someone drowning, we are the lifeguards who need to pull them out."
"If a servicemember comes with a problem, we must make sure that it does not get pushed to the back," said Turnbull. "We need to take them to get the help that is needed."
To prevent future tragedies the Army is working hard on several fronts to help Soldiers and their Families deal with the challenges they face.
The Army's suicide prevention strategy includes enhancing leaders' awareness and responses concerning their Soldiers' high-risk behavior; decreasing the stigma about getting help; increasing screening for brain injury and post-traumatic stress; and improving access to care.
"The big thing is to reduce the stigma to get help," said Rowan. "If you need the help, you need to get it without judgment."
"There is one thing I want to mention," said Turnbull. "And that is trust. Trust in your leadership to support you and to be behind you when you need it."
The JFHQ-NCR/MDW Suicide prevention stand down training stressed to leaders they need to know their subordinates to detect early warning signs and direct them to the proper channels to possibly save their life.
"We are a family and we have to work together," said Rowan. "It is not just one of us that can beat this, it's all of us."
"We are a band of brothers and sisters," said Turnbull. "We must never forget that."
Related Links:
Army Suicide Prevention Program
Social Sharing