ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to building awareness of available resources for those who may need support and for those who want to help someone they know.
At U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Lt. Col. Gregory Mcvey, the CECOM chaplain, is one of those resources for all Soldiers, Department of Defense Civilians, and their family members.
“Those contemplating suicide are not always religious, let alone Christian or part of the other major denominations,” Mcvey said. “The cross on my uniform signifies my Christian faith, but my title of chaplain includes the role as counselor, confidant and advocate. Regardless of one’s beliefs, chaplains stand ready and willing to help anyone in their desperate time of need.”
Aligned with the Army-wide suicide prevention month theme for 2025, “We are stronger together. Connect to protect,” Mcvey emphasized the importance of the confidentiality chaplains and religious affairs specialists offer.
“Chaplains and religious affairs specialists are able to serve as a confidential resource for Soldiers, DoD Civilians, and their family members of all religious denominations and faiths,” he said. “Rule 503 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice stipulates that there is 100% confidentiality in communications made to chaplains and those that assist them either as a formal act of religion or as a matter of conscience.”
EDITOR’S NOTE – In the U.S., the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. The Veterans Crisis Line is available by calling 988 and pressing 1, or texting 838255.
Installation-wide, Sean Green, the APG Community Ready and Resilient Integrator, is available as a central hub of resources available to the Soldiers, DoD Civilians and their families on APG.
“Some resources that are available for our workforce are through the APG Employee Assistance program,” he said. “The EAP has services such as screening, assessments, short-term counseling and referrals for problems that may affect job performance or well-being. Consultation, mediation, guidance, and prevention education and planning are also offered for employees, managers and supervisors.”
Another resource that offers a multitude of services to address challenges that can lead to mental distress is APG Army Community Service.
“ACS is your center for prevention & education/information services, which offers a wide range of services free of charge to Soldiers, Retirees, DoD Civilians and their families,” Green said. “Those services center around financial readiness, family advocacy, resilience and provides referrals to other installation resources as well as local resources.”
Additional installation-wide resources available for suicide prevention can be found at the office of the APG Suicide Prevention Program Manager.
The APG SPPM is a trained professional who provides non-clinical support to Soldiers, DoD Civilians and their family members, and serves as a point of contact for suicide prevention training while maintaining a roster of certified trainers.
“We would like to see people support suicide prevention throughout the month,” Vivian Jackson, the APG SPPM, said. “We would also like to see support year-round for suicide prevention, as we have a goal of mental wellness for all.”
The APG SPPM does not provide counseling.
To read the 2025 U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Spiritual Fitness Guide, visit https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2025/08/01/0437a07e/u-s-army-spiritual-fitness-guide-2025.pdf.
To contact the CECOM chaplain, email gregory.s.mcvey4.mil@army.mil or call 443-861-4353.
To contact the APG CR2I, email sean.a.green3.civ@army.mil or call 443-861-7908.
To contact the APG SPPM, email vivian.a.jackson.civ@army.mil or call 410-278-0671/378.
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