R 141530Z DEC 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//SD//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS //N05000//
MARADMIN 621/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/SAFETY THEME FOR SECOND QUARTER FY02//
REF/A/MSG/CMC MARADMIN/-/216/00//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
POC/D. ROBBINS/LT (USN)/-/-/TEL: 703-784-9526/TEL: DSN 278-9526//
POC/J. D. GRACE/LTCOL/-/-/TEL: 703-614-2423/TEL: DSN 224-2423//
RMKS/1. IN KEEPING WITH THE INTENT OF THE REF A, SUICIDE AWARNESS
IS THE COORDINATED SAFETY THEME FOR THE SECOND QUARTER FY 2002. OVER
THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, JANUARY HAS HAD THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE FOR
THE MARINE CORPS. WHILE MANY BELIEVE THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS THE
TIME OF INCREASED RISK FOR SUICIDE, IT IS ACTUALLY THE POST-HOLIDAY
PERIOD THAT IS MOST TUMULTUOUS. JANUARY CAN BRING SERIOUS FINANCIAL
BURDEN AND FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND THEREFORE REQUIRES OUR CLOSEST
ATTENTION.
2. IN CY 2001, WE HAVE HAD 26 SUICIDES. THIS IS AN INCREASE FROM
THE 23 WE HAD AT THIS TIME IN 2000. OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE OUR
SUICIDE RATE BY FIVE PERCENT PER YEAR THROUGH FY06. THE LIFE OF
EVERY MARINE, UNIFORMED AND CIVILIAN, IS CRITICAL; WE MUST TAKE THE
THREAT OF SUICIDE AMONG THEM, AS WELL AS THE SAILORS SERVING BESIDE
THEM, SERIOUSLY. NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF ALL SUICIDE VICTIMS GAVE SOME
ADVANCE WARNING.
3. THE MARINE CORPS IMPLEMENTED THE USE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
NAVY SUICIDE INCIDENT REPORT (DONSIR) IN 1999 TO TRACK RISK FACTORS
ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE. INITIAL FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT WORK PROBLEMS,
THE LOSS OF AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP, AND LEGAL PROBLEMS AS THE
THREE MOST COMMON FACTORS LEADING A MARINE TO COMMIT SUICIDE. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT MOST SUICIDAL PEOPLE DESPERATELY WANT TO
LIVE, THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO SEE ALTERNATIVES TO THEIR PROBLEMS, AND
THAT SUICIDE MAY BE PREVENTABLE. SUICIDE PREVENTION SHOULD BE MUCH
MORE THAN A ONE-TIME OBSERVANCE; IT SHOULD BE THE CONCERN OF EVERY
LEADER, EVERY MARINE, EVERY DAY. IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS
STRUGGLING, BRING THEM TO THE ATTENTION OF SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP.
SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS ARE:
A. EXTREME HOPELESSNESS
B. INCREASED ANXIETY
C. TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE OR PRIOR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
D. IRRITABILITY AND ANGER
E. WITHDRAWING FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY
F. GIVING AWAY PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
4. IT IS VERY HARD FOR SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULT TIMES
TO REACH OUT AND ASK FOR HELP. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE
MILITARY CULTURE, WHERE THERE MAY BE A PERCEPTION OF WEAKNESS IN
OBTAINING HELP FOR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS OR A FEAR OF RETRIBUTION. IT
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH MARINE TO REFUTE THESE PERCEPTIONS.
COMING FORWARD AND ASKING FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH. MARINES
TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
5. THE HQMC SAFETY DIVISION WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE SUICIDE
AWARENESS. THE REVISED MARINE CORPS SAFETY CAMPAIGN PLAN WILL
INCLUDE A POCKET CARD EMPHASIZING SUICIDE PREVENTION. I ASK THAT
EVERY MARINE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH ITS GUIDANCE. FOR EXAMPLE:
A. TAKE ALL COMMENTS ABOUT SUICIDE SERIOUSLY
B. REFER IMMEDIATELY ANYONE MAKING SUICIDAL STATEMENTS OR
ATTEMPTS TO THE NEAREST MILITARY OR CIVILIAN MEDICAL CARE
FACILITY OR EMERGENCY ROOM. A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WILL
EVALUATE THE SERIOUSNESS/DANGER OF THE TALK/BEHAVIOR AND GET
THE INDIVIDUAL THE HELP NEEDED.
C. ESCORT THE INDIVIDUAL THERE.
D. REFER THE INDIVIDUAL FOR APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-ON TREATMENT
THROUGH SUCH RESOURCES AS CHAPLAINS, MCCS COUNSELORS AND/OR
OTHERS FOR FOLLOW-UP SERVICES.
6. THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS HAS SUICIDE PREVENTION VIDEO TRAINING
MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMANDS. THE PACKAGE CONTAINS AN
18-MINUTE VIDEO TITLED "SUICIDE PREVENTION: TAKING ACTION - SAVING
LIVES," A FACILITATOR'S MANUAL, AND POWERPOINT SLIDES. ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE TRAINING PACKAGE MAY BE ORDERED VIA THE FOLLOWING
WEBSITE: HTTP://DODIMAGERY.AFIS.OSD.MIL, REQUEST PIN 806377. OR,
EMAIL THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM MANAGER AT:
ROBBINSD@MANPOWER.USMC.MIL.
7. WHILE TRAINING RESOURCES GIVE US IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
SUICIDE AWARENESS, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ROLE OF EACH
MARINE AND EACH COMMANDER IN PREVENTING SUICIDE: LISTENING, OFFERING
HELP, AND KNOWING YOUR RESOURCES WILL HELP FELLOW MARINES IN THEIR
TIME OF NEED.//
BT