Campbell reaches out to families about suicides

[unhappycamper]

Campbell reaches out to families about suicides
By Kristin M. Hall - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Mar 12, 2009 16:16:12 EDT

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Fort Campbell officials struggling to stem a recent increase in military suicides hope family members will be able to spot signs that soldiers may be depressed and hesitant to seek help from the Army.

Of the 100 family members and spouses at a meeting at the post Thursday, more than a dozen raised their hands when asked if they knew someone who had committed suicide. Those family members — often the first to notice problems — received information and training on recognizing signs of suicidal thoughts — and how to get help for the soldiers at the installation along the Tennessee state line.

Eight Fort Campbell soldiers have killed themselves since the beginning of the year. Suicides in the Army have increased yearly since 2004 as soldiers deal with longer and repeated tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials at Fort Campbell declared a “state of emergency,” and the Army has also made suicide prevention training mandatory for soldiers and leaders to combat the trend.

Fort Campbell hired a suicide prevention program manager, the first on a U.S. military installation, to oversee family support and social work programs on the post and organize efforts to help soldiers struggling after multiple deployments.

Joe Varney’s work is vital now as thousands of soldiers have returned from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan since the fall.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_suicides_army_031209/%2e