Commentary: Suicide prevention is everyone’s business
By Staff Sgt. Ron Lee, Maryland National Guard Resiliency—
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Each day service members, veterans, and retirees take their own lives due to a myriad of different stressors. The military isn’t the only organization facing this problem; suicide is a national issue. Military members are often referred to as heroes, but the fact is, service members are only human and are subject to the same life pressures as anyone else.
“We as a Guard community are still struggling with suicides. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve deployed or not, suicides remain an issue,” said Army Col. Nathan Crum, G-1 deputy chief of staff for personnel, Maryland Army National Guard.
The military consistently relies on training to ensure personnel remain current on tactics, equipment and procedures. This is true for everything from the M-16 rifle range to changing a field dressing on a fellow troop. So it should come as no surprise that this is how the military is confronting suicide awareness and prevention. Training is the number one way soldiers are learning strategies to deal with deployments, finances, and personal and family issues.
“Awareness, understanding and concern for those around us is key to tackling this daunting challenge,” Crum said. “Luckily, the Maryland Army National Guard, with its established training programs, is a forerunner in prevention.”
Training is delivered in several forms and is designed to bring soldiers together in group settings where they can share comfortably among peers. Vulnerable individuals identified in time will always be directed to trained professionals.
“Although we have had our own experiences and exposures, we have to understand that these situations cannot compare to what the person at risk is experiencing,” said Army Staff Sgt. John Dethdy, Maryland National Guard state trauma crisis noncommissioned officer.
Many times the outward signs of a problem in a suicidal individual might appear insignificant, but trained personnel are taught to realize that these signs may be indications of more troubling issues. One of the foundations of military leadership is the Be, Know, Do philosophy.
“Suicide prevention starts with exercising basic leadership skills: knowing your soldiers and caring for them,” Crum said. “Suicide prevention training is not a training distractor. It is simply another way of reinforcing the leadership and soldier lessons we all have been taught over the course of our military experiences.”
According to the Army Times Magazine, there has been a 17 percent drop in suicides over this same time last year among Army Reserve and National Guard members. One suicide is too many, but shrinking numbers provide proof that increasing awareness is a winning strategy.
Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. Moreover, this month’s campaign is about resiliency in all phases of a service member’s life. In addition to raising awareness and educating the military, we can help by taking action and getting involved to create a better future for troubled service members thinking about suicide.
For the month of September, the Maryland National Guard is promoting a series of events to raise awareness during Suicide Prevention Month. Activities include a Poster Contest, Essay Contest and an Awareness Walk.
Maryland National Guard members who wish to participate in the events should contact Staff Sgt. Ron Lee, Maryland National Guard Resiliency Coordinator at 410-576-1448 and visit the MD Guard Resiliency Facebook page.
Maryland National Guard members who wish to participate in the events should contact Staff Sgt. Ron Lee, Maryland National Guard Resiliency Coordinator at 410-576-1448 and visit the MD Guard Resiliency Facebook page.
