Rise in Marine suicides prompts new training

[unhappycamper]

Rise in Marine suicides prompts new training
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 14, 2009 10:48:30 EDT

The number of Marines who killed themselves last year has alarmed the service’s leadership, prompting additional prevention training that must be completed by the end of March.

Forty-one Marines took their lives in 2008 and another 146 attempted to do so, according to Marine administrative message 0134/09. That translates to 19 suicides for every 100,000 Marines. It is “our highest rate … since 1995 and reflects an unacceptable loss of life,” the message states.

The latest guidance directs company, battalion and squadron-level commanders to conduct all-hands suicide-prevention training by March 31. The package was introduced Feb. 27, about three months after several generals, including Assistant Commandant Gen. James Amos, spent five hours discussing suicide prevention.

The two-hour presentation includes videos made by commanders, and a slide show detailing the latest statistics and warning signs exhibited by Marines at risk of committing suicide.

The Corps has conducted annual suicide prevention training since 1997, but officials worry it has become a tired ritual and that too many Marines are simply going through the motions or tuning out the message all together.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/03/marine_suicides_031409w/%2e