The US Army Suicide Prevention Program aims to reduce suicides among soldiers and their loved ones, especially war veterans, by teaching leaders suicide intervention techniques and educating all service members on how to recognize when someone might be thinking of taking their own life. The program also provides counseling to service members who show signs of PTSD or have difficulty adjusting to family life after returning from a war zone. Educational materials are provided to service members, family members, and civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOD).
The Army Suicide Prevention Program is a program initiated by the United States military to reduce the number of suicides committed by soldiers and their loved ones, especially war veterans. It involves teaching leaders suicide intervention techniques and educating all service members on how to recognize when someone might be thinking of taking their own life. The US Army also distributes educational materials and operates a suicide prevention hotline.
Suicides among military service members have risen dramatically in recent years as war veterans have returned home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many soldiers return with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can cause depression and lead to suicide. The Army’s Suicide Prevention Program aims to provide counseling to service members who show signs of PTSD or have difficulty adjusting to family life after returning from a war zone.
Another component of the program is teaching soldiers how to recognize when one of their comrades or family members might be thinking of taking their own life. Mandatory briefings are provided to service members on a periodic basis, usually annually. They are usually conducted by a chaplain or mental health professional. Soldiers may be encouraged to speak with one of these individuals privately if they suffer from PTSD or are contemplating suicide.
In addition to recognizing the signs of suicide, the Army’s Suicide Prevention Program also teaches soldiers how to intervene on behalf of another service member if they feel they are at risk. Service members may be given situations and in some cases asked to play a role. This is to help them be prepared in case they may need to do a real-life intervention on behalf of a mate.
Educational materials are provided to service members, family members, and civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOD). This is often in the form of brochures that contain references to mental health professionals, chaplains and the Suicide Prevention Hotline. In doing so, the military hopes to remove the stigma long associated with military members undergoing counseling, as this has traditionally had a negative effect on a soldier’s career.
The Army’s Suicide Prevention Program aims to help members of the military and their families by preventing them from taking their own lives. This helps the military maintain a state of readiness at all times. The US government believes this is an integral part of repaying those who have served their nation and its citizens.
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