Army Post Trains Soldiers To Stop Suicides

With 11 Suicides This Year, Fort Campbell In Ky. Begins 3-Day Stand Down To Address Crisis

(AP)  Regular duties are suspended for three days at Fort Campbell, which leads the Army in suicides this year, so commanders can identify and help soldiers who are struggling with the stress of war and most at risk for killing themselves.

The post began a stand down on Wednesday so soldiers can focus on suicide prevention training in the wake of 11 confirmed suicides by Fort Campbell soldiers this year. More deaths are being investigated as possible suicides.

"This is not a place where Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division want to be," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend. "We don't want to lead the Army in this statistic."

From January to March, the installation on the Kentucky-Tennessee line averaged one suicide per week, Townsend said. After an Army-wide suicide prevention campaign in started in March, there were no suicides for six weeks, he said.

"But last week we had two. Two in a week," Townsend said.

In a series of addresses this week, Townsend will speak to each of the approximately 25,000 soldiers assigned to the division. He told more than 4,000 soldiers Wednesday morning that the suicides must stop.

"Someone here has had thoughts or is having thoughts about hurting themselves," Townsend said. "Or you know someone who is."

Army leaders have been developing new guidance for commanders to help installations like Fort Campbell deal with rising suicide rates. Across the Army, suicides from January through March rose to a reported 56 - 22 confirmed and 34 still being investigated and pending confirmation.

The Army has said that soldier suicides reached the highest rate on record in 2008. Officials said the deaths in 2008 would amount to a rate of 20.2 per 100,000 soldiers, which is higher than the civilian rate, when adjusted to reflect the Army's younger and male-heavy demographics.

Frequent deployments by the division since 2001 have contributed to the stress suffered by soldiers at Fort Campbell, said Col. Ken Brown, the head of chaplains on the installation.

The three 101st Airborne combat brigades have gone through at least three tours in Iraq. The 3rd Brigade also served seven months in Afghanistan, early in the war, and the 4th Brigade has just returned from a 15-month tour in Afghanistan.

"We've been at war at this installation for seven years," Brown said. "I think that has a cumulative effect across the force."

Fort Campbell leaders have asked soldiers on the post to look out for each other and paired them up through a "battle buddy" system. Unit leaders are also reviewing and updating lists of soldiers who may be a risk for suicide and are reminding them they can seek help from resources such as a chaplain or a hospital.

But Army officials say many soldiers are afraid that seeking help for mental health issues will hurt their career or make them appear weak to their fellow soldiers. Townsend urged soldiers to speak up.

"You wouldn't hesitate to seek medical attention for a physical wound or injury," Townsend said. "Don't hesitate to seek medical attention for a psychological injury."

[rrozsa]

But Army officials say many soldiers are afraid that seeking help for mental health issues will hurt their career or make them appear weak to their fellow soldiers. Townsend urged soldiers to speak up.

==========================

I would think that killing yourself would ultimately be more harmful to your career than seeking mental help...

[Dgunner]

IIt saddens a a vet to hear of this on going problem. The responsibility of the armed forces to keep our military men and women in top mental and physical condition has faltered in thier duties.There were some suicides in vietnam and probably a lot more afterwards that were never disclosed.I personally can't imagine what they going through thier minds as this war is a different type of war in differenr locations with different stresses.Iwas and have never been suicidal. My problem was I was more genocidal than suicidal.I maintained the mentality that If they were where they weren't supposed to be ? I killed them all . The innocent should not have been in the company of the enemy , if the enemy didn't want thier innocent family or non combatants killed ? They da-n well better stay out of range . The ME pilots woukd hunt me down . Go find the indiam he has very clear understanding of our mission and why we are here.i had my LT. ask me once what was the body count at that last pick up? I said all of them. He had my pay docked two weeks. Un til he found out that was the truthful answer. The pilots pitched together and paid me the money. Because of ptsd I sometimes break down for no apparrent reason . The mind is wonderful machine like organ , when it is healthy the worlg it sees is healthy. when it is not healthy ? well you can guess?

[chadb19]

Totally As a vet...I can tell you that shortening the 12-15 month tours to 6-8 months (like the Marines and Air Force) would greatly reduce stress, family issues and suicide. You cant keep sending a soldier on repeated 12-15 tours in a hell hole like Iraq and Afgan. SHORTEN THE TOURS FOR THE ARMY TO 6-8 MONTHS!!

[inventagod]

"This is not a place where Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division want to be," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend. "We don't want to lead the Army in this statistic."

"Please don't make us look bad - wait until you are on leave"???
Yup, caring and thoughtful

No.

The army sent too few troops into Iraq and burned them out over too long a period of time.

Hence, this is a leadership failure, not a thing that can be fixed by added training.

[amazedd]

Attention to all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere.

The wounds I received I got doing a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery.

What is full? That is the utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20% further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid re-growth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.

The Management (a.k.a Lt. Jay, SEAL)