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Mental Health Resources

Dec- 2-2008 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT , Ft. Lewis , Homefront

Over the weekend The Olympian and The News Tribune published a series of articles on the difficult subject of suicide in the military. This also provides an opportunity to pass along the suicide hotline number if you or someone you know is in crisis: 1-800-273-TALK.

The Army and the VA have redoubled their efforts to prevent suicides. Both have expanded services and launched initiatives aimed at suicide prevention.

The Army is hiring dozens of counselors and has developed an interactive video so soldiers can identify warning signs and help a distraught colleague through various scenarios. The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health recently announced a five-year, $50 million research program into the factors behind soldier suicides.

The VA, meanwhile, is taking steps to improve its screening among veterans diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and increase training so chaplains can look for warning signs. In July 2007, it launched a national suicide hotline, which receives thousands of calls each month, Blow said.


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