Shining a Light on Soldiers’ Mental Health: OEM Supports the Army’s Suicide Prevention Initiatives Through Awareness, Communication, and Knowledge-Sharing

By Denise Kovalevich, Office of Enterprise ManagementSeptember 24, 2024

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and promoting resources for those in need. However, for the Office of Enterprise Management (OEM), and the U.S. Army as a whole, focusing on suicide prevention isn’t relegated to just one month. It is a year-round initiative that is not only pivotal to ensuring Soldiers’ mental health but is critical to optimizing Army readiness and guaranteeing mission critical success.

OEM supports the Army in this endeavor by promoting initiatives like their innovative Suicide Prevention Program and by providing the most up-to-date resources to prevent suicide among soldiers, civilians, and family members. Because to truly help create awareness and understanding for this often “silent disease,” it takes a community of collaboration, communication, and knowledge-sharing across the entire Army organization.

"September is Suicide Prevention Month, but it's something we practice every day and year-round." - General Randy A. George, Chief of Staff of the Army The Army’s Suicide Prevention Program

The Army's Suicide Prevention Program (SP2) falls under the Army Resilience program in the Army Resilience - Directorate of Prevention, Resilience, and Readiness in the Office of The Deputy Chief of Staff (ODCS). It employs a multifaceted approach, centered on developing and enhancing Army Suicide Prevention Program policies, training, data collection and analysis, and strategic communications designed to prevent suicide and support those affected by suicide, and is considered one of the most advanced and effective initiatives of its kind.

 

The Pillars and Processes of SP2
  • Enhance life skills.
  • Increase visibility of readiness with assessment tools including the Commanders Risk Reduction Toolkit (CRRT) to identify persons at risk. CRRT is a web-based tool that includes authoritative data sources displaying up to 40 risk factors to present command officials with a consolidated history of each Soldier’s personal information and potential high-risk behavior.
  • Ensure access to effective behavioral health care and treatment.
  • Improve communication, counseling and Soldier to Soldier connection. It is mandated by the Army that all Soldiers receive annual Suicide Prevention training to raise awareness about the impacts of suicide, how to spot suicidal indicators, and the available resources for Soldiers. This training is called Ask, Care, Escort-Suicide Intervention (ACE-SI).
  • Encourage help-seeking behavior to reduce the stigma and negative perceptions of limited career opportunities.
  • Reduce access to lethal means (including medications, weapons).This was reinforced last year when the Army unveiled the Lethal Means Safety Toolkit (LMS), a multi-faceted guidebook that features tactics, techniques, and evidence-based activities that encourage safe storage of weapons and medication. It also contains guidance and resources geared towards commanders and leaders on how to integrate Lethal Means Safety in their roles to reduce harmful behaviors and prevent suicide more effectively.
  • Provide immediate response and postvention support including Military Crisis LineLinks to the Military Crisis Line or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
AR 600-92: The Army’s First Standalone Suicide Prevention Policy

In 2023, the Army’s first standalone Suicide Prevention policy AR 600-92 took effect on 8 September. The new regulation formalized the public health approach introduced in 2021, establishing a comprehensive framework for reducing harmful behaviors across the Army. It outlined the authorities, roles, responsibilities, and goals aimed at strengthening protective factors while minimizing stressors that could contribute to harmful behaviors.

Based on seven evidence-based prevention strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the regulation, and accompanying guidebooks, emphasize that preventing harmful behaviors requires a comprehensive, integrated approach by leaders at all levels. These strategies include: enhancing financial readiness, improving access to and delivery of suicide prevention care, fostering protective environments and healthy climates, promoting connectedness, teaching coping and problem-solving skills, identifying and supporting individuals at risk, and reducing harm to prevent future risks. These strategies are designed to operate across multiple levels—individual, interpersonal, unit, installation, and societal—but must be aligned and synchronized to effectively address this complex and serious issue.

Additional Programs for Service Members, Civilian Employees, and Their Families

In addition to the Army’s extensive SP2 program, the military community also offers the following resources for those in need:

  • The Real Warriors Campaign aims to break down the stigma associated with mental health care and encourages service members to reach out for help. Find articles with support resources, video profiles with service member and veteran stories, and materials to download or order at www.health.mil/RealWarriors.
  • The Psychological Health Resource Center is available 24/7 for service members, veterans, and family members with questions about psychological health topics. Trained mental health consultants can help callers access mental health care and community support resources in their local area. Visit www.health.mil/PHRC or call 866-966-1020 for assistance.
  • The inTransition Program is a free, confidential program that provides specialized coaching and assistance for service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and retirees who need access to mental health care when relocating to another assignment, returning from deployment, transitioning between active duty and reserve component, preparing to leave military service, or any other time they need a new mental health provider, or need a provider for the first time. Visit www.health.mil/inTransition or call 800-424-7877.
  • The Military Crisis Line is a text-messaging service, and online chat provide free VA support for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and all veterans, even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. Call: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. Text: 838255 or chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.
  •  TRICARE offers mental health care to all its enrollees. Find out how by visiting https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Mental/GettingMHCare. This website also contains links to mental health providers through the TRICARE network.
  • Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) often provide mental health services, including integrated behavioral health clinics. Contact your primary care manager to see if this resource is available at your local MTF. If it is, you can schedule an appointment same day. Find out more by visiting https://www.tricare.mil/Military-Hospitals-and-Clinics.
  • Military One Source can provide access to confidential Military Family Life Counselors in your community. Visit www.militaryonesource.mil or call: 1-800-342-9647.

 Military OneSource also provides resources so you can manage stress and access benefits and tools that will help you stay strong in body and mind. This page provides access to self-care mobile applications developed within the Department of Defense (DoD), VA and other partners. All mobile applications are free and will work with iOS and/or Android devices. Visit: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/recommended-wellness-apps/

Mental illness and suicide in the Army is a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive approach, encompassing awareness, prevention, treatment, and support. By recognizing possible triggers, especially those for suicide, and addressing barriers to care, promoting resilience, and fostering a culture of mental health support, the Army is meeting the mental health needs of our essential personnel. And, with the support of OEM to ensure that these messages are being heard, resources are being shared, and help is being made available when needed, we are all ensuring that the overall well-being of our Soldiers is optimized thus enhancing operational readiness.