Honor – Duty – Respect FOR TRAINING USE ONLY Suicide Awareness & Prevention SY2013-2014 Current...

Honor – Duty – RespectFOR TRAINING USE ONLY

Suicide Suicide Awareness & Awareness & PreventionPrevention

SY2013-2014Current as of: 18 Nov 2013

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Same Ol’ Same Ol’ ???

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• Video 1 “Warning Signs” Link (1+20 & 0+28)

• Video 2 “Best Friend” Link (1+08)

• SSG Kevin Allen story

Link to videos at: http://mediasite.nation.citadel.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/b52fcbf0916c45cb9dab9a034a0f193921/?state=s1eauyvgJFcIe4feWTol#?state=JhRD6Jy4Ook5jSuOhDhg&_suid=178


Same Ol’ Same Ol’…

• Brothers: Army SSG Kevin Allen; former AF Airman Jason Allen

• Both “veterans” of annual Suicide Awareness & Prevention training

• Kevin: “I have to be honest. I couldn’t have cared less about the training. And nobody in the room could. We sat through it every single year.”

• In 2009, Kevin was concerned about his brother but took no action…he wanted to intervene, but he wasn’t sure how…

• A week later Jason killed himself.1

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1 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/192827902/at-a-texas-base-battling-armys-tragic-top-threat-suicide


• There is no silver bullet to prevention

• We cannot be complacent

• Suicide awareness & prevention is:• A leadership thing• An action thing • (A-C-E)(Ask-Care-Escort)

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Bottom Line Up Front


Purpose

• Learn how leaders and peers might create a command climate that is both suicide aware & committed to prevention

• Know how to ASK-CARE-ESCORT

Corps Leading the Corps5


Lineup

• The problem

• Power of we, us, our

• Resources – personal & on-campus help

• Role play

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The Problem--The Headlines--

• “According to the Pentagon, there were 349 confirmed suicides in 2012, compared with 310 U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan in the same period.”1 NPR (Jun ‘13)

• Suicide Rate Rose During Recession, Study Finds www.NYTimes.com (Nov ‘12)

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1 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/192827902/at-a-texas-base-battling-armys-tragic-top-threat-suicide


The Problem--The Statistics2--

• Suicide is third leading cause of death among persons aged 15-24 years

• Among 15- to 24-year olds, suicide accounts for 20% of all deaths annually

• Among 15- to 24-year olds, there are approximately 100-200 attempts for every completed suicide

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2 All facts for CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/Suicide_DataSheet-a.pdf


The Problem--The Challenge--

• Half suicides in military are troops who never saw war

• Other factors include relationships, drugs & alcohol, or money problems

• “Suicide is not like food poisoning, where you find out what is in the salad bar and you go and remove the tuna salad”3

• No single demographic, no sure-fire criteria

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3 Michael Schoenbaum, Nat’l Institute of Mental Health, quoted in http://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/192827902/at-a-texas-base-battling-armys-tragic-top-threat-suicide


How to Deal with the Big Unknown, “Suicide”

What do the commander and NCO offer as solutions?

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Play “Leadership” Video (4+15)

Link to video at: http://mediasite.nation.citadel.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/Full/b52fcbf0916c45cb9dab9a034a0f193921/?state=s1eauyvgJFcIe4feWTol#?state=JhRD6Jy4Ook5jSuOhDhg&_suid=178


We, Us, Our• Know each other• Create positive, helpful climate/culture• Know where to get help

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“If we get to the point -- and we're trying -- where young men and women trust each other enough that if they feel these impulses, that they will approach a battle buddy or wingman or shipmate -- whatever we happen to call them -- with their fears, their anxieties, their stresses, and that the battle buddy cares enough about them to trust the chain of command to deal with them, then I think we'll make a difference.”—General Martin E. Dempsey, CJCS, 25 Sep 12


Growing Trust

• Know your people

• Set the tone – personally & routinely– Particularly the leaders

• Validate the experts

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What’s “Not Quite Right” Look Like…

• Appearing sad all the time• Withdrawing from family and friends • Feeling hopeless/helpless• Feeling strong anger or rage • Feeling trapped • Feeling excessive guilt or shame • Experiencing dramatic mood changes • Abusing drugs or alcohol

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• Exhibiting change in personality • Acting impulsively/recklessly• Losing interest in most activities• Change in eating habits• Change in sleep habits• Performing poorly in school • Giving away prized possessions• Talking about death or suicide


Dealing with “Not Quite Right”…PERSONAL•Build personal resiliency (mental, social, physical, spiritual)•Trust someone enough to reach out

ANOTHER•ASK

– I’m concerned about you. What’s going on?– How can I help you?– Are you thinking about suicide?

•CARE– Stay and be calm; don’t be judgmental

•ESCORT– Get escort assistance

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Campus Resources

• Roommate, classmate, other cadet…THEN• Cadet Chain of Command, including HAT• Tactical Officer• Infirmary (24/7)• Counseling Center• Campus Ministry Team or Chaplain • Trusted Faculty or Staff member• Public Safety • Officer in Charge (at night)

Who is Your Go-To, Personal Resource?

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A-ASKA-ASKC-CAREC-CAREE-EscortE-Escort


Role Play

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• Four role players: CO or 1SG; HAO or HA NCO; cadet in distress; cadet confidante

• Scenario 1: in the barracks during daylight hours • Scenario 2: in barracks after ESP • ROE:

– Goal is to work through ASK-CARE-ESCORT steps, with particular emphasis on WHERE and HOW to escort

– Goal is not to focus on the specific “issue” for the cadet in distress


Important NumbersThere are resources on campus if you need help

Counseling Center 953-6799

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

If you need help after these hours, call the Infirmary. They can contact the Counseling

Center.

Officer-in-ChargeLaw Barracks – 953-1070

Murray Barracks – 953-0460Padgett Thomas Barracks – 953-6444

Stevens Barracks – 953-1512Watts Barracks – 953-1722

Infirmary 953-6847

Officer-of-the-Day (Cadet) Cell Phone – 425-3420

OmbudspersonsMajor Robert Pickering

Work Phone: 953-5096 Cell Phone: 437-9645

Major Elizabeth Connor Work Phone: 953-7469 Cell Phone: 469-7492

National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-TALKhttp://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Your Personal Contact:__________________

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BACKUP SLIDES

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• What warning signs or symptoms presented in the vignette indicated that the Cadet was experiencing problems?

• What courses of actions could you have taken to help this Cadet?

• What are some barriers, attitudes, and problems that Cadets might face from leaders when asking for help?

• Who could you have referred this Cadet to for help?

• What problems do you have as leaders in dealing with Cadets who exhibit behavioral and emotional problems?

Vignette Questions

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