Music:

“Walk On”

By U2

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW1. GOAL1. GOAL

2. STATISTICS2. STATISTICS3. FACTS AND MYTHS3. FACTS AND MYTHS4. PRECIPITATING EVENTS4. PRECIPITATING EVENTS5. WARNING SIGNS5. WARNING SIGNS6. 7 STEPS OF PREVENTION 6. 7 STEPS OF PREVENTION 7. SUMMARY7. SUMMARY8. CONCLUSION 8. CONCLUSION

SUICIDE PREVENTIONSUICIDE PREVENTIONGOAL GOAL

DETECTION AND DETECTION AND TREATMENT TREATMENT OF SOLDIERSOF SOLDIERS

WHOSE EMOTIONAL WHOSE EMOTIONAL CONDITIONCONDITION

PLACESPLACESTHEM AT RISK THEM AT RISK

FOR SELF-INJURYFOR SELF-INJURY

COMMANDER’S RESPONSIBILITYCOMMANDER’S RESPONSIBILITY

AR 600-63AR 600-63PARA 1-21PARA 1-21.. COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS WILL INITIATE PROACTIVE MEASURES TOWILL INITIATE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE WITHIN THEIR UNITPREVENT LOSS OF LIFE WITHIN THEIR UNIT DUE TO SUICIDE AND TO REDUCE THE DUE TO SUICIDE AND TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON SURVIVORS IF A SUICIDE TAKESIMPACT ON SURVIVORS IF A SUICIDE TAKES PLACE..PLACE..

PARA 2-8.PARA 2-8. SUICIDE PREVENTION IS THE SUICIDE PREVENTION IS THE CONCERN OF EVERY LEADER, COMMANDER, CONCERN OF EVERY LEADER, COMMANDER, SUPERVISOR, SOLDIER, AND ARMY CIVILIANSUPERVISOR, SOLDIER, AND ARMY CIVILIAN

SOLDIER TRAINING AT ALL SOLDIER TRAINING AT ALL

INSTALLATIONSINSTALLATIONS INTERVENTION TEAMS INTERVENTION TEAMS

CONSISTING OF DRUG & CONSISTING OF DRUG & ALCOHOL, FAMILY ADVOCACY, ALCOHOL, FAMILY ADVOCACY, PROVOST MARSHALL, SAFETY, PROVOST MARSHALL, SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH, CHAPLAINSMENTAL HEALTH, CHAPLAINS

WHAT ARE WE DOING?WHAT ARE WE DOING?

STATISTICSSTATISTICS

• 32,000 SUICIDES32,000 SUICIDES PER YEAR IN THE U.S.PER YEAR IN THE U.S. • SUICIDES BY METHOD: GUNSHOTSUICIDES BY METHOD: GUNSHOT 75%75% HANGINGHANGING 17%17% OTHER OTHER 8%8%

• ““TYPICAL” ARMY SUICIDE IN 2005 WAS A TYPICAL” ARMY SUICIDE IN 2005 WAS A WHITE MALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 ANDWHITE MALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 20 AND 25 YRS OF AGE (MAJORITY E-1 THRU E-7)25 YRS OF AGE (MAJORITY E-1 THRU E-7)

ARMY SUICIDESARMY SUICIDES

It’s in the numbers… Army suicides in the past ten years have averaged between 60 and 100 deaths per year.

FACT OR FICTION?FACT OR FICTION?

1. Once suicidal – Always suicidal

2. A person who attempts it once won’t try again.

3. Suicidal persons are mentally ill.

4. The holiday season has the highest suicide rate.

5. Circumstances affect emotional equilibrium.

FictionFiction

FictionFiction

FictionFiction

FactFact

FactFact

CONTRIBUTING FACTORSCONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Weak Emotional Support System Weak Emotional Support System Domestic DifficultiesDomestic Difficulties Job/ School PressureJob/ School Pressure

Drug Or Alcohol AbuseDrug Or Alcohol Abuse Economic DistressEconomic Distress

DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

DepressionDepression is a mood disorder that featuresis a mood disorder that featuresWithdrawal, Loss of Pleasure, Feelings of Withdrawal, Loss of Pleasure, Feelings of Sadness, and Physical Discomfort. Sadness, and Physical Discomfort.

SymptomsSymptoms: : Neglect of AppearanceNeglect of Appearance Loss of appetite/weight gainLoss of appetite/weight gain Poor concentration/memoryPoor concentration/memory Emotional FlatnessEmotional Flatness Psychosomatic Illness Psychosomatic Illness Mood SwingsMood Swings WithdrawalWithdrawal

TRIGGERINGTRIGGERING EVENTSEVENTS

Breakup Breakup Job TerminationJob Termination Loss from DeathLoss from Death ImprisonmentImprisonment

PRIMARYPRIMARY WARNINGWARNING SIGNSSIGNS

HOPELESSNESSHOPELESSNESS HELPLESSNESSHELPLESSNESS WORTHLESSNESSWORTHLESSNESS NEGLECT OF PERSONNEGLECT OF PERSON WITHDRAWNWITHDRAWN MOOD SWINGSMOOD SWINGS EMOTIONAL PAINEMOTIONAL PAIN FRUSTRATIONFRUSTRATION PHYSICAL COMPLAINTSPHYSICAL COMPLAINTS CONSTRICTION OF OPTIONSCONSTRICTION OF OPTIONS

VERBAL WARNINGSVERBAL WARNINGS

I’m Going To Kill Myself!I’m Going To Kill Myself! I’d Be Better Off Dead!I’d Be Better Off Dead!

I Just Can’t Go On Any Longer!I Just Can’t Go On Any Longer! You Won’t Be Seeing Me Any Longer!You Won’t Be Seeing Me Any Longer!

I’m Checking Out Of Here!I’m Checking Out Of Here!

I Just Want To Get Rid Of The Pain!I Just Want To Get Rid Of The Pain!

7 STEPS FOR PREVENTION7 STEPS FOR PREVENTION

1. ASK IF ANYTHING IS WRONG1. ASK IF ANYTHING IS WRONG

2. TAKE THREATS SERIOUSLY2. TAKE THREATS SERIOUSLY3. CONFRONT THE PROBLEM3. CONFRONT THE PROBLEM AND BE DIRECTAND BE DIRECT

4. OFFER SUPPORT4. OFFER SUPPORT

5. DON’T LEAVE THEM ALONE5. DON’T LEAVE THEM ALONE

6. REMOVE LETHAL WEAPONS6. REMOVE LETHAL WEAPONS

7. GET PROFESSIONAL HELP7. GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

When assessing the risk, look When assessing the risk, look

for the relationship betweenfor the relationship between Danger Danger

and and RescueRescue

A high level of danger and a A high level of danger and a small opportunity for rescue small opportunity for rescue

makes a threat amakes a threat a High Risk Event High Risk Event

SUMMARYSUMMARY1. GOAL1. GOAL2. STATISTICS2. STATISTICS3. FACTS AND MYTHS3. FACTS AND MYTHS4. CONTRIBUTING 4. CONTRIBUTING FACTORSFACTORS5. DEPRESSION5. DEPRESSION6. TRIGGERING EVENTS6. TRIGGERING EVENTS7. WARNING SIGNS7. WARNING SIGNS8. 7 STEPS 8. 7 STEPS

YOU YOU CANCAN PREVENTPREVENT SUICIDESSUICIDES

Brought to you by Fort Stewart and the Camp Atterbury Directorate of Emergency Services – LTC Glen E. Potts, Director

…if you suspect that someone is seriously contemplating such action, contact the MP Desk @ 1109 immediately.