Posted on Apr 29, 2014
SM who have tried to commit suicide, put them out or retain and help. Does the Military owe them anything?
18K
71
34
3
3
0
I was talking to my friends, Army people of course, after the shooting here at Hood and after we have chaptered a SM who attempted suicide twice.
My opinion was how come the Army doesnt chapter a SM after the 1st attempt or send them somewhere to get assistance while during the chapter process?
Having a SM who has attempted suicide this is what i saw from a Leaders point of view. Remind you I am not a behavioral health counselor or anything of that nature.
-It pulls tons of resources from the unit. Someone to watch the SM while they are in the hospital. We had to provide an NCO 24 hours a day for 5 days. Also we had to provide a NCO escort to all of the SM appointments. Some which lasted 4-6 hours.
-It kept me, the PSG at the time, focused on nothing but that SM. I had everyone above wanting all types of answers that had me constantly on the phone or at the hospital or behavioral health.
-Also i pointed out that, if the SM doesnt care about their own life what would stop them from taking others people's lives.
Is it bad to have suicidal SM assigned to maybe some type of behavior health company? I dont know if anything like that exist in the Army
I would like to hear others opinion on should the Army keep them in the military or put them out.
My opinion was how come the Army doesnt chapter a SM after the 1st attempt or send them somewhere to get assistance while during the chapter process?
Having a SM who has attempted suicide this is what i saw from a Leaders point of view. Remind you I am not a behavioral health counselor or anything of that nature.
-It pulls tons of resources from the unit. Someone to watch the SM while they are in the hospital. We had to provide an NCO 24 hours a day for 5 days. Also we had to provide a NCO escort to all of the SM appointments. Some which lasted 4-6 hours.
-It kept me, the PSG at the time, focused on nothing but that SM. I had everyone above wanting all types of answers that had me constantly on the phone or at the hospital or behavioral health.
-Also i pointed out that, if the SM doesnt care about their own life what would stop them from taking others people's lives.
Is it bad to have suicidal SM assigned to maybe some type of behavior health company? I dont know if anything like that exist in the Army
I would like to hear others opinion on should the Army keep them in the military or put them out.
Posted in these groups: 
Suicide
Suicide
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
7
7
0
I had a friend in my BN not once but twice make the attempt to commit suicide...the second time he almost succeeded. Each time he was brought to the hospital placed in care and as much help could be given was. The day after he ETS'd he succeeded in killing himself.
As soldiers we don't leave fallen comrades whether it drains resources or not. Of course it's be much simpler to send them on their way but to what end? Some folks will see the light...others will do as they are determined to do from the start. The difference is, I know we did everything in our power to help my friend and he did it anyway. If we just cut him loose the first time, I think I'd regret it.
As soldiers we don't leave fallen comrades whether it drains resources or not. Of course it's be much simpler to send them on their way but to what end? Some folks will see the light...others will do as they are determined to do from the start. The difference is, I know we did everything in our power to help my friend and he did it anyway. If we just cut him loose the first time, I think I'd regret it.
(7)
(0)
Celia Coronel
I have a question? My boyfriend tried to commit suicide in his barracks while extremely drunk. He was token to a hospital and I was told that he was transferred to another hospital and is doing better. What can I expect ? Since I'm getting so little information. What will happen to him.
(0)
(0)
6
6
0
Once word got out that attempts at suicide could lead to immediate discharge, there would be two big negative effects: 1) service members would be even more reluctant than they already are to give any sign that they are contemplating suicide and 2) they would take to methods which have a greater chance of lethal outcomes (in other words, no more overdoses, and more gun in the mouth or stepping in front of a locomotive).
Given the negative potential, what is the positive? As mentioned by SGT Elphick, a veteran suicide vs. a military suicide is still a big knock (if not bigger) on the military. And shooting up a military base vs. shooting up a shopping mall is again, no big win.
The military *does* have the wherewithal to care for suicidal service members when our assets are employed correctly. In the civilian world, it is way more of a crap shoot. Let's help each other, if possible.
Given the negative potential, what is the positive? As mentioned by SGT Elphick, a veteran suicide vs. a military suicide is still a big knock (if not bigger) on the military. And shooting up a military base vs. shooting up a shopping mall is again, no big win.
The military *does* have the wherewithal to care for suicidal service members when our assets are employed correctly. In the civilian world, it is way more of a crap shoot. Let's help each other, if possible.
(6)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
You missed a third order effect CPT Wolfer. That being the number of Soldiers who would fake suicide attempts in an effort to get out of the Army, resulting in more wasted resources.
(4)
(0)
5
5
0
"I will never leave a fallen comrade" pretty much sums up the appropriate response to helping suicidal SMs in my opinion. As a PL I once had an old crusty SFC with 20 years service who was SF in the early 90s. He broke his back in a training accident, fell into deep depression, self medicated with alcohol and nearly took his own life. A battle buddly helped him out and he went on to be one of our best mechanics and our Master Resiliency Trainer. We would never give up on a comdade wounded in battle and we should never give up on a Soldier who is considering suicide. If it ever got that bad for me, I would hope someone would be there to pull me back.
(5)
(0)
SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS
CPT Johnson,
Thank you for sharing this story. Success stories are probably as important to hear as failures.
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
Thank you for sharing this story. Success stories are probably as important to hear as failures.
SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
No problem SFC Finck. I think it was Patton who said “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” I think it is important to remember we can all come back from the edge if it ever gets that bad.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google