ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The National Guard faces unique challenges in tackling suicides.
Where Soldiers on active duty have access to military healthcare and the constant support of peers and leaders, National Guard Soldiers spend just one weekend a month with their unit, making it difficult to track changes in behavior and mood.
Families serve as a vital link for identifying suicidal behavior and tendencies in National Guardsmen, according to the Florida Guard's psychological health expert.
"Often, the most important person in suicide prevention is the family member," said Stephanie Lincoln, the director of Psychological Health for the Florida National Guard. "I'm not - and the leadership is not - with the Soldier 24/7 or in contact with them every day."
Suicide is a problem that continues to plague the U.S. military at all levels; though not all trends are as clear-cut as one might think. According to data from Lincoln, the Army's suicide rate for the month of June hit 32, are cord since the beginning of the overseas contingency operations in 2001.
As of July of this year, the Army National Guard reported 58 suicides,already nearing the 64 suicides in 2009.
The reasons may surprise some, however. A majority of the Guardsmen who commit suicide - 32 out of 58 in 2010 - have never deployed. In contrast, 56of the 77 suicides among active duty Soldiers this year were Soldiers who had previously been deployed.
Those most at risk in the Army National Guard are males between the ages of 20-24 who have served for about two years. Although the reasons behind many suicides will never be known, it is clear that there are differences among the active and reserve components when it comes to suicides.
It's also difficult to compare civilian and military suicide rates accurately. Most of the current civilian data on suicides is from 2006 - well before the current recession brought increased stress to many Americans.Also, while the military investigates every single suicide to determine the circumstances behind it, the civilian world often does not have the abilityto probe into the cause of each known suicide.
Lincoln said identifying Soldiers who may be at risk is relatively easy. The hard part, she says, is getting the information out to the Soldiers and their families. Lincoln does this by attending Yellow Ribbon ceremonies both beforeand after deployments to brief Soldiers and families about suicide prevention
and the resources available to them.
The Yellow Ribbon program provides National Guardsmen and their families with information, services, referrals and proactive outreach opportunities throughout the deployment cycle.
"I'm talking not to Soldiers - they've received multiple suicide briefings throughout the deployment process - but to the family members," said Lincoln."It's the spouses, sisters, brothers, moms and dads who notice the changes."
Early detection is the key in helping Soldiers to deal with problems and good communication plays an important role in detecting a problem. Often, Lincoln said, family members and friends have pieces of information - things a Soldier has told them or actions they have witnessed - that together paint a clear picture of what a Soldier is going through.
Many times those pieces of information are kept secret for fear of embarrassing or angering the Soldier and it's not until after something catastrophic has happened that the entire story is pieced together.
"Often by the time the leadership hears about a problem, it's reached a catastrophic level," said Lincoln. "We don't want it to get to that point.
"The stigma attached to mental illness and the fear of negative impacts tomilitary careers often keeps Soldiers from seeking help. Sometimes Soldiersor families may not know where to go for help or have the financial ability to pay for those services.
The Florida National Guard can put Soldiers and families in contact with programs and services and may also have funds available to those who are noteligible for VA benefits or do not have health insurance to cover counseling and mental health services. Soldiers need only to come forward and ask for help.
"You can go see a counselor and no one will know about it," said Lincoln."You get it fixed and drive on. It's the huge incidents, where you become a risk to your fellow Soldiers, that will affect your military career."
Jamie Keyes, experienced firsth and the warning signs in her son, Nathan, after he returned from Iraq in 2008. He was having nightmares, experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, anger, withdrawal and insomnia. Keyes said her son was engaging in dangerous behavior such as driving too fast, sleeping with a weapon and abusing alcohol.
Keyes, like many family members, didn't know how to deal with this behavioror where to turn for help.
"All families should educate themselves about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how to respond to and cope with a family member who has it," she said.
Keyes said it is important to communicate with others any concerns you mayhave about your Soldier and to make sure those concerns are taken seriously and responded to accordingly.
"Make sure that whoever you contact is really listening and taking action tohelp your Soldier or veteran," she said. "Never leave a depressed Soldier orveteran alone when they are drinking, talking about suicide or using drugs."
Florida Guardsmen have access to a variety of services offered through the
VA, the military and civilian sector.
The most important thing is to tell someone and get help. Soldiers or family members who need assistance can contact Stephanie Lincoln directly, at (904)315-4491 or contact Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 or www.militaryonesource.com or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at1-800-273-TALK.
"We can't risk lives at the sake of having someone mad at us," said Lincoln.