Posted on Jun 15, 2022
Views are mixed on efforts to reduce military suicides at Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood
1.14K
6
2
4
4
0
Soldiers dying by suicide are at their highest levels since 9/11, and while some installations are trying do more to help prevent them, critics say its not enough.
In 2019, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri’s Ozarks had the highest number of suicide attempts among the Army’s soldiers in their first six months of service.
The military post is home to more than 15,000 basic trainees every year, and hosts advanced individual training that follows basic training in areas including military policing and engineering.
In response to the increase in suicides, Fort Leonard Wood started numerous programs designed to help soldiers feel connected and know they could reach out for help.
Those efforts include a Resiliency Fair, held in a large hall on base where soldiers, their families and civilian employees could learn about options to get help, or help their loved ones who are experiencing mental health issues.
In 2019, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri’s Ozarks had the highest number of suicide attempts among the Army’s soldiers in their first six months of service.
The military post is home to more than 15,000 basic trainees every year, and hosts advanced individual training that follows basic training in areas including military policing and engineering.
In response to the increase in suicides, Fort Leonard Wood started numerous programs designed to help soldiers feel connected and know they could reach out for help.
Those efforts include a Resiliency Fair, held in a large hall on base where soldiers, their families and civilian employees could learn about options to get help, or help their loved ones who are experiencing mental health issues.
Views are mixed on efforts to reduce military suicides at Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood
Posted from kcur.org
Fort Leonard Wood
Suicide
Mental Health
Depression
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel ... my son went through Basic Training there.
..."Ford gives the military credit for trying to address the issue of suicide, but said it can and should be doing so much more.
Fort Leonard Wood leaders say they are committed to long term efforts to continue to address mental health and reduce instances of suicide. The installation’s entire leadership team reviews every suicide attempt on base.
“Just to make sure — what can we do better? How can we make a more positive, healthy environment? How can we make things available? How can we make the resources available to the soldiers?” Nemetz said.
Nemetz said even one soldier suicide is too many, but human nature and the power of psychological problems will make it hard to prevent all suicides. But she does report an increase in soldiers and their families reaching out and seeking help in the past year."
..."Ford gives the military credit for trying to address the issue of suicide, but said it can and should be doing so much more.
Fort Leonard Wood leaders say they are committed to long term efforts to continue to address mental health and reduce instances of suicide. The installation’s entire leadership team reviews every suicide attempt on base.
“Just to make sure — what can we do better? How can we make a more positive, healthy environment? How can we make things available? How can we make the resources available to the soldiers?” Nemetz said.
Nemetz said even one soldier suicide is too many, but human nature and the power of psychological problems will make it hard to prevent all suicides. But she does report an increase in soldiers and their families reaching out and seeking help in the past year."
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
So many thoughts on this article - Ultimately, the DOD and VA need to be proactive in treating suicide amongst our ranks. We have been in the reactive mode for too long and thus losing our brothers and sisters in arms. Addressing the core issues in leadership which cause these lives to be lost is falling on deaf ears. I will not stop fighting for a better DOD and VA … if not for my own life and those gone too soon, then for the future generations who are filling out shoes. We can talk all day, but change has to come from the top - the bottom can get loud enough if we are willing…
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google