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September: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Speak Up, Reach Out
 Being in the military can be stressful -- both physically and mentally -- which can put service members and their families at a high risk for depression. Sometimes depression can escalate and tragically end in suicide. It is important that you know the symptoms of depression and signs of suicide so that you can spot them in yourself and others. All segments of the MHS want to prevent suicides, and there are many resources available to get help. This month we aim to educate service members, peers, family members, co-workers, friends and the public on how to recognize the signs of suicide, where to access care and treatment, and how to intervene.
Resources Across the MHS and Its Partners
Give Help, Get Help
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Military OneSource – When a Service Member May Be at Risk of Committing Suicide- One of the most difficult challenges you may face as a supervisor or military leader is knowing what to do if one of your service members is at risk of committing suicide. Don't ignore the warning signs. If one of your service members appears to be at risk of suicide, it is vital to get help immediately. Because suicide takes a heavy toll on unit readiness, preventing suicide is a high priority. Everyone -- from leaders to fellow service members and friends -- must help the military member get the help he or she needs. Active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families can call the Military One Source line at 1-800-342-9647, available 24/7 or schedule short-term, non-medical counseling sessions online. |
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Military Pathways - Formerly the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (MHSAP), Military Pathways offers service personnel and their families the opportunity to take anonymous, mental health and alcohol use self-assessments online, via the phone, and through special events held at installations. The self-assessments are a brief series of questions that, when linked together, help create a picture of how an individual is feeling |
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National Suicide Prevention Hotline - Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you. |
Resources From the Services and the VA
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Air Force Suicide Prevention Program - Designed to provide information and tools to members of the Air Force community (Suicide Prevention Program Managers, commanders, gatekeepers, IDS members, etc.) in their efforts to help reduce Air Force suicides.
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Army Suicide Prevention Program – Improve readiness through the development and enhancement of the Army Suicide Prevention Program policies designed to minimize suicide behavior; thereby preserving mission effectiveness through individual readiness for Soldiers, their Families, and Department of the Army civilians.
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Marines Suicide Prevention Program - A comprehensive resource for Marines in distress and leaders who are managing Marines in distress. Includes resource tool boxes for Marines & Family, Commands and Leaders, and Health Professionals.
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Navy Suicide Prevention Program - A resource for Sailors, Commands, and Leaders including prevention posters, news, facts and statistics.
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U.S. Coast Guard Suicide Prevention Program -The Suicide Prevention Program provides training and response to suicidal behavior with an emphasis on awareness and prevention. |
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Veterans Health Administration Suicide Prevention Program - Suicide Prevention is everyone's business, and VA is enhancing its efforts in this vital area of veteran health.
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MHS Organizations
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TRICARE - Suicide Prevention Portal - Information on how to get help and how to recognize the warning signs. |
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Uniformed Services University Suicide Behavior and Prevention Laboratory - The Suicide Behavior and Prevention Laboratory at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is dedicated to the study, development, and empirical evaluation of effective interventions for individuals with suicide behavior.
USU also provides fact sheets through its Courage to Care campaign:
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Defense Centers of Excellence: Outreach Center - The Outreach Center answers questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injury around the clock and every day of the year from members of all the military services (including the National Guard and Reserve), veterans, families, healthcare providers, military leaders, and employers.
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National Center for Telehealth and Technology: Suicide Risk Management & Surveillance Office (SRMSO) - The Suicide Risk Management & Surveillance Office (SRMSO) helps the Department of Defense standardize and track suicide events and their risk/protective factors. For the first time, this program provides the opportunity to examine suicide risk and protective factors across the DoD and between Services. In addition, it provides a surveillance system to detect how these risk factors may change over time as the DoD mission or military population changes. |
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Real Warriors Campaign - The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families. |
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Force Health Protection and Readiness - Includes research on mental health issues, including suicide prevention, through DeployMED ResearchLink
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From the DoD and Beyond
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Air Force Crossroads - Suicide Resources - The official community website of the Air Force. |
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Army Behavioral Health: Suicide Prevention - Suicide prevention resources from Army Medicine |
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U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine Suicide Resources (CHPPM) - A comprehensive index of Army resources for suicide prevention.
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Army Well-Being: Suicide Prevention - Suicide prevention resources from Army Well-Being, assisting Soldiers, Army Wives, Families, Wounded Warriors and Survivors by providing resources and information to maintain healthy well-being |
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Hooah4Health: Suicide Prevention Resource Manual - Suicide prevention resources on the U.S. Army's health promotion and wellness web site |
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Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center - Suicide Prevention - Facts, resources and presentations on suicide prevention from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. |
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Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Help for Survivors: Suicide - Resources for survivors affected by a suicide from TAPS, which provides comfort and care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through comprehensive services and programs including peer based emotional support, case work assistance, crisis intervention, and grief and trauma resources. |
More Information
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