Personally Committing to Suicide Prevention: How Everyone Can Make a Difference

U.S. Navy Photo by Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Kyle Drummond

U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Coté

U.S. Navy Photo by Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Kyle Drummond

By Lt. Cmdr. Steven Hervey / Chaplain, NAS Sigonella

Many of you may know that September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, but what you may not know is that this year marks the 45th year that time has been set aside to focus on suicide prevention. Suicide Prevention Month traces its roots back to 1974, when the American Association of Suicidology first recognized Suicide Prevention Week. In 2003, September 10th was designated as World Suicide Prevention Day, and in 2012, the Department of Defense began Suicide Prevention Month.

While the history is interesting, the reason why we set aside time to highlight suicide prevention is what truly matters. The true significance is recognizing the important roles that each of us play in the prevention of suicide. We all have the opportunity to reduce the risk for suicide and suicide-related behavior in our own lives and in the lives of others! And we also have an obligation to recognize the risk factors and encourage open dialogue in our community to make that happen.

First, we need to take care of ourselves. Just like the safety message you hear before every flight, make sure your “oxygen mask” is on before taking care of others. Most of the time, suicide and suicide-related behavior is linked to stress caused by secondary issues such as work, finances, or relationships. We can decrease the stress and take care of ourselves by pursuing interests, relationships, and activities which decrease our stress and promote our psychological health. If you need help centering your mental health, there are numerous resources to take advantage of right here at Sigonella. Chaplains, Fleet and Family Support Center counselors, mental healthcare providers, and the CREDO program all stand ready to support you. If you ever feel overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, contact one of these resources now.

Secondly, we need to take care of each other. When it comes to suicide prevention, there are NO BYSTANDERS. You must get involved and be there for others. In many suicides, people knew a person needed help but did not take action. Trust your instincts and intervene early on. Start the conversation and ask, "Are you ok?" Let them know you are concerned about them and discuss any behaviors you have noticed. Make sure you Ask, Care, and Treat (Ask, Care Escort for our Army and Air Force counterparts or Recognize, Ask Care Escort for the Marines) as you have been trained so they can receive help if necessary. Always remember: if they are not considering suicide, you’ve lost nothing, but if they are, your engagement could be the deciding influence in their life.

We can also take care of others by crushing the stigma regarding suicide and treatment for mental health. There are many misconceptions regarding getting help for stress related issues. One is that seeking help is a sign of weakness. This couldn’t be farther from the truth—seeking help when needed is actually a sign of strength. Even the strongest people need help at times and asking for help leads to future success. A second myth is that seeking help will jeopardize a security clearance. In the overwhelming majority of cases those who do seek help return to full duty, with security clearances intact. These stigmas often keep people from getting the help they need and we must remove these roadblocks so people can receive the care they need when they need it.

Finally, we take care of others by remembering suicide prevention is not a one day, one week, or one month endeavor. September is Suicide Prevention Month, but suicide prevention is needed around the clock, 365 days a year. Let us use this month and its scheduled events to recommit ourselves to this great endeavor so that we are ready to be there for others, that we might make a difference, and enable them to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives.