JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - When Missouri’s adjutant general decided to put together a monthly command message, he did so to address serious topics and issues facing Missouri National Guard members and their Families.
No topic is more important to Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner than suicide prevention. For that reason, Danner recorded a command message on the issue which is posted on www.MoGuard.com.
“Every Guard and Family member is equally important and an extremely valuable asset to our organization,” Danner said. “As such, we must take the necessary steps to care for the greatest resource this nation has to offer: our people.”
Between constant deployments and ongoing economic problems, these can be tough times for Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, said Michelle Hartmann, Director of Psychological Health for the Missouri National Guard. According to the Defense Department, there were 15 potential suicides in January and five in February.
“Guardsmen have civilian lives and civilian jobs,” Hartmann said. “The active duty service members have a full-time job, stability and support resources readily available to them. Guardsmen have military stresses and civilian stresses on top of them – especially now when the economy is so poor.”
Hartmann went on to say that, in 2009, the active duty Army had its highest suicide rate in 28 years. For Guardsmen, suicides are harder to track and information is often difficult to disseminate. Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen also have additional pressures on them that their active duty counterparts don’t have to worry about.
The Soldiers and Airmen Hartmann has worked with come from very different backgrounds. Some of them live in rural areas where mental health professionals are not always available. Others have lost civilian jobs in the current economic climate, Hartmann said.
But as difficult as the external pressures can be, what prevents many troops from seeking help is the warrior ethos they’ve been internalizing since basic training.
“They’re taught to be warriors, to handle any situation they’re faced with,” Hartmann said. “For many Soldiers and Airmen, admitting something is going on emotionally is a sign of weakness. They don’t want to appear weak.”
For others, the problem is as simple as not recognizing that there is a problem.
“One of the biggest challenges is that unlike a physical wound, identifying an emotional or psychological wound may be more difficult because you can’t always see it,” Hartmann said.
To help identify those wounds, Missouri National Guard’s state chaplain’s office and Family program are working on making sure they are accessible resources for all Guardsmen.
“Deployment itself can be a crisis,” said Master Sgt. Marsha Thompson of the state Family program office. “A lot of issues come out of it.
Thompson said the Family program is stepping up its effort to make sure Families and friends of deploying Soldiers know what signs to look for.
“Educating Families and making them aware of what to look for is the key,” Thompson said. “Suicide prevention isn’t just for professionals. We need people looking for signs and talking.”
Working alongside the state chaplain’s office, the Family program office and other resources, Hartmann said the Guard is making a concerted effort to ensure Soldiers and Airmen receive training and education on the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Some Guardsmen most at risk for suicide have never deployed, and their issues are the result of their civilian rather than military lives, Hartmann said. Even so, the Guard is there to help.
“Some suicides or suicide attempts within the military are happening with those who have never deployed,” Hartmann said. “Many times, their stressors have nothing to do with their National Guard service but our support is still available to them. If we can help them be both physically and emotionally resilient, they will be better and more productive Guard members.”
For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.
Available Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a resource available for individuals who are at risk or know somebody who they believe might be at risk for suicide. They can be reached, toll free, 24-hours a day at (800) 273-8255. suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Army Human Resources Suicide Prevention: Seeks to improve readiness through the development and enhancement of the Army Suicide Prevention Program policies designed to minimize suicide behavior; thereby preserving mission effectiveness through individual readiness for Soldiers, their Families, and Department of the Army civilians. www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp
Military OneSource: This Web site includes a list of lifeline phone numbers, training videos, and a commander toolkit to help leaders develop suicide prevention programs. This resource also offers free counseling sessions to service members and their families who may be struggling with various life stressors. (800) 342-9647.
U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine: Resources for service members and leadership to identify and help alleviate mental health issues.
chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/dhpw/population/combat.aspx
National Guard Bureau’s Psychological Health Program: A wide range of resources for Soldiers, Airmen and Family members.
www.jointservicessupport.org/PHP/Default.aspx
Help for the Homefront: A Missouri Department of Mental Health program with resources for helping Soldiers and Family members readjust following a deployment.
www.comtrea.org/homefront.pdf
Department of Veterans Affairs: Has information and resources for Veterans who may be wrestling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, substance abuse and other issues.
www.mentalhealth.va.gov/