What improvements would you recommend in the suicide prevention and intervention program in your organization?

2018-06-21T07:29:00-04:00

What class does your organization offer, such as the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training ( ASIST) or any other related classes?

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jun 21 at 2018 8:55 AM

2018-06-21T08:55:39-04:00

Prevention- Design a questionnaire with specific questions, and distribute to all members in the Command, then review the results. Intervention- Based on the results, should be case by case, schedule regular mental health check ups.

Response by LTC Stephen Conway made Jun 21 at 2018 10:26 AM

2018-06-21T10:26:04-04:00

Change the "responsible drinking" theme and focus on no drinking. Too many service dying, being addicted or prosecuted for alcohol related crimes and offenses. I have two drunk, druggie dropout stepdaughters on welfare. My sister was a drunk who committed suicide at age 49 and drinking was a factor. Alcohol is legal again since 1933 but the "science of stupid" '(supposedly responsible drinking)continues to add more victims daily.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2018 9:48 PM

2018-06-21T21:48:16-04:00

I had a member make a comment on two separate occasions to two different junior members that he “felt like suck-starting a mossberg (shotgun)”. Clearly a cry for help, these junior members reported it to the Division Senior Chief who called me stating he hadn’t been trained to handle situations like this. The point is that training more members at various levels (rank) in ASIST, not just the Command Cadre. The member was immediately escorted to interview with the Medical Officer who set him up with counseling. The two junior members were given high praise privately in the CO’s office to keep the situation as confidential as possible.

We’re training our supervisors (E7-E9) to get to know those members in their charge. Meet their spouses and children during morale days. It’s a solid practice for many reasons but in this instance these members can identify behavior changes, family stresses, and mood shift. When an otherwise stellar performer starting showing up late for work, despite counseling at many levels, the Chiefs wanted to hold a Chiefs board on him. I advised the Chiefs that a board would not be effective if something external had made a change in his behavior. The Division Senior Chief interviewed him and found that he had recently gone through a divorce, sold everything he owned except his guns, moved into a second-hand RV isolating himself, and began drinking heavily every night….making him late every morning. This intervention got him the counseling he desperately needed and back on his feet again.

I hope this helps a little.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 22 at 2018 2:30 PM

2018-06-22T14:30:07-04:00

In-vivo sessions has show a lot of success with PTSD related issues. The person relives the situation(in a controlled environment with a trained practitioner) to a point where it becomes boring and no longer a major factor, they come up with ways to over come what triggers the PTSD event. I am not MH professional and can't say if this is applicable to what you are looking for. Having listened to things at VA I work at, I have heard good things about it.