Department of Defense components have created 'suicide prevention' programs and trained their military and civilian personnel to be alert and responsive to the needs of their organizations and circumstances. The DoD programs lend themselves to being adapted throughout all Federal Departments and Agencies.
I suggest a top down directive to all federal departments that will encourage suicide prevention training for federal employees that are in supervisory positions, hear and investigate employee complaints, interact with survivors of suicide (military as well as civilian), and others that have duties in law enforcement, security, mental health, supervising conduct of prisoners, and comparable positions.
See also my blog: Military-Civilian Teamwork in Suicide Prevention, at:
Comments (3)
not sure what Gov office you work out, but, I am getting sick of all the Suicide classes we have to take. If they want to do away with themselfs, thats ok with me.
The growing numbers of suicides in American armed forces has prompted some debate in the past few years. Our troops invaded these countries with the spirit of avengers seeking those who have proverbially cast the first stone at us, aka 9/11 world trade center disaster. Our troops encountered people and resisters who simply are trying to protect what is theirs, protecting what little they have, generally a few pots, a small source of water, few scattered tents and permanent buildings. Most people in these two countries live in abject poverty, while the ruling class lived marginally better. Our troops began to understand the lie, that no one in these two countries, attacked the United States, that the invasion they are part of was based upon a lie. Our troops in Afghanistan watched as the USA put the poppy drug lords in charge of that country. They watched as the true purpose of the invasion unfolded before them, that the only reason to put boots on that ground in Afghanistan was to provide security for pipelines from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and the sea ports there of.
Our armed forces bombed, shot, and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and colorfully described Taliban soldiers. They destroyed small cities and towns, which are geographically located near water sources. After they are destroyed they are inevitably rebuilt and reoccupied. The extensive use of depleted uranium (DU) munitions on none hardened targets was overused and even encouraged. Turn over that inventory of weapons, its good for the economy to make more. Depleted uranium weapons are another means to get ride of nuclear waste while breaking down thought barriers so that the use nuclear weapons can again gain acceptance. Meanwhile, DU dust has been scattered near and far around social structures. As the years passed and people had children, the horror of radioactive material can be seen upon the physical deformities of the next generation of mankind. As that realization that our troops are breathing and pissing radioactive dust each and every day, that their future family plans are ruined by the realization of the horror of deformity, the only few outs they have left is honor in battle, quick and clean, or the slow degenerative death of cancer. They were sold a lie, they lived the lie, they killed for a lie, and now they die for the lie.
The New York Times of June 7, 2009 included an Editorial titled 'Intolerable Rise in Soldier Suicides.' First paragraph, as follows (fair use): 'Nearly the entire military corps at Fort Campbell, Ky., was summoned last month to hear an anxious general make an extraordinary plea about the alarming rate of suicide by soldiers. “Don’t take away your tomorrow,” the general beseeched his audience of thousands of men and women at the base, where 14 suicides in the first half of this year leads what many fear could be a record toll across the military services.'
I posted a letter, June 7, 2009, to the NYT 'Letter to the Editor,' text as follows:
(Intolerable Rise in Soldier Suicides, June 7, 2009) The entire nation is experiencing a difficult period. The number of calls to suicide prevention 'hotlines' has also increased. Employers, both government and the private sector, have a role in dealing with suicidal conduct, ideation, and suicide attempts. Understanding the phenomenon and how to interact with a suicidal person, including getting him or her to professional help ASAP is vital.
I suggest
1. a top down directive to all government entities (State to Local) to encourage suicide prevention training for employees that are in supervisory positions, hear and investigate employee complaints, interact with survivors of suicide, civilian as well as military;
2. (as an interim resource) provide an appropriate level of 'suicide prevention' certification training to include a communities nonprofessional civilian/lay volunteers who meet standards (interview, lecture, study, role exercises, etc.).
Dr. Calvin Frederick, a past President of the American Association of Suicidology wrote (quoting):
Dealing with suicidal behavior, that is, suicide prevention) differs from more classical diagnostic and treatment procedures in the following respects:
1. suicidal behavior covers a broad range of disturbances and personalities and is, therefore, not a unitary concept;
2. it possesses a unique life or death quality;
3. intervention does not utilize traditional therapy methods;
4. the problem is multidimensional and multidisciplinary, often involving social and cultural attitudes, the law, medical intervention, and innovative psychological approaches;
5. the use of indigenous volunteers as stable and sensitive crisis workers is greater than that found in most aspects of therapeutic endeavor.
See my blog: Military-Civilian Teamwork in Suicide Prevention, at:
http://scribe1917x.livejournal.com/8508.html
Moldeven