FORT BRAGG, N.C. - September is Suicide Awareness Month, but for the Army, educating its Soldiers about suicide prevention continues to be a year- round process.
During the month Fort Bragg has plans to host several events aimed at educating and informing post personnel. The Army is also making a major pushes to help remove the stigma that goes along with getting help.
"We are having to educate our communities to understand that when Soldiers are reaching out for help, Soldier or Soldiers are showing signs of stress and strain and may require us to reach out to give them the help that they're not willing to admit they need or they don't recognize they need," said Col. Chad McRee, director of Fort Bragg's emergency management and commander of 16th Military Police Brigade who doubles as suicide prevention program manager.
"We as leaders, if we become more intimate with our people and get to know them on a personal level in a professional way, then we can help. That's real important," said McRee.
The Army continues to emphasize the mantra of ask your buddy, care for your buddy and ultimately escort your buddy, while reiterating to its Soldiers that getting help is not something to be viewed negatively. September will highlight several forums upon which Soldiers can draw upon to get information about the latest training on recognition and suicide prevention.
Fort Bragg units will conduct suicide "fire drills" to test leader and unit reactions and responses to suicidal or at-risk Soldiers. The goal is to give military personnel experience through role playing when dealing with men and women who need help.
The month is aimed at giving Soldiers as much information on suicide prevention as possible, but Fort Bragg also wants to hear from its Soldiers and their ideas on suicide prevention. There are going to be open forums as well as facebook postings daily.
The Fort Bragg Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers Program is sponsoring an essay contest for single Soldiers. Essay submissions should be themed "Suicide: I Can Make a Difference" and discuss actions Soldiers and units can take to prevent suicide.
The prize for the winning essay is a free BOSS sponsored trip to Busch Gardens, Va. or Myrtle Beach, S.C. Log on to the Suicide Prevention Program Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Bragg-Suicide-Prevention-Program/130556153699074 for more information.
Soldiers who need to talk or have concerns can call:
Fort Bragg help line: 396-4357
National suicide hotline: (800) 784-2433
Military One Source: (800) 342-9647
Womack: 907-6559/7568
Behavioral Health: 907-8679
Army Community Service: 396-8682
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