The Marine Corps has a suicide problem. And while the institution seeks a solution, the symptoms of suicide continue to evolve and become more complex with each passing year. The highest level of Marine Corps leadership made mitigating suicide a priority issue, but those efforts have not translated into actionable intelligence amongst the ranks. The Marine Corps needs to develop a well-rounded policy and action plan which incorporates policy, health care competence, and peer-involvement to reduce suicide amongst the ranks. To develop a well-rounded policy and action plan, the Marine Corps should first review the hiring of health care physicians. Simply hiring more behavioral health care physicians to treat Marines is not the answer. Behavioral health physicians with personal backgrounds in combat operations should be implemented as a knowledge requirement. While the pool of available physicians with combat experience will reduce the applicant pool, the competence and level of understanding the provider brings to the table is immeasurable. …show more content…
From the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps down to lower echelons, the same message is consistently delivered, help is available. However, there are things that should be happening that are not. The most apparent is buy-in from mid-level leadership. Mid-level leaders face daunting tasks to meet increasing operational tempos with little dwell time and scarce resources. Taking one Marine out of the process impacts the overall combat readiness when time cannot be centrally focused on essential tasks. Another reason why things aren’t happening is that leaders simply believe the notion suicide is for the weak! If Marines cannot handle the stresses of combat and life then why should leaders devote their time to them when other mission essential tasks are at hand with more capable Marines who can handle the stressors? This notion is only amplified by the force structure draw down. The focus of effort is the top level Marine who wants to reenlist, not the Marine who needs …show more content…
And while the institution seeks a solution, improving the current form of educating and involving other Marines are tools to help reduce the complexity of suicide. The highest levels of Marine Corps leadership made suicide a priority issue, but they need the full force of the institution to fight the battle. If suicide is not translated amongst the ranks into actionable intelligence, the battle will be lost. In order to win the battle against suicide, the Marine Corps needs to develop a well-rounded policy and action plan which incorporates policy, health care, and peer-involvement to reduce suicides amongst the
Since I was ten years old, I have been a member of the Young Marines, a program dedicated to the enrichment of youth. Aside from my family and school, this organization has had an incredible impact on my life, not only providing me with many unique and amazing experiences, but by shaping the foundation of my character by instilling in me the three core principles of the Young Marines: Discipline, Leadership, and Teamwork and also by emphasizing the importance of community service. I have had many amazing and unique experiences as a Young Marine which included the challenges of promotion to become the senior ranking officer, learning many new skills such as CPR, teaching Drug Demand Reduction, leading and mentoring the members of the Unit, going on encampments and traveling. In my sophomore year, my Unit Commander, a Korean War veteran, selected me to travel with him to Seoul. Every few years he chooses a Young Marine to take to South Korea based on merit.
Introduction The little community of Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada has been and is currently facing an immense loss due to a high amount of youth suicides. The community has been under a state of emergency since April 2016 after many of the community’s youth have tried to or succeed at committing suicide. These suicides have been the product of colonialism and intergenerational trauma from the generations that came before them. The devastation in the community can teach Child and Youth Care practitioners how to put into action programs that build youth’s strengths and resilience as well as overcome any negative factor that have been created during this epidemic.
Veterans that struggle with loving themselves and aspiring hope for a life ahead have to feel love from the world around them. Victims must portray an attitude of love and self confidence in order to remove the facade they have put on for quite some time. Suicide has grown to become a large issue over the years especially in young teens. Some teens express the same feelings of regret, hate, and grief as these veterans do. It takes a
Taking Down Suicide Through Communal Support Twenty-two, is the number found from statistics that shows the number of military veteran suicide each day (Philipps, 2015) and weather that is a small or great amount, the amount greatly surpasses the amount of teachers, police officers, or firemen suicide each day. With such a high suicide rate, the amount of outlets and solutions available for military veterans is rather miniscule in comparison and the slightest amount of appraisal are “Thank you for your service” which are rather hollow and shrouded with cluelessness (Lister, 2015).This high number of suicide is not only a result from veterans dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder, but it also stems from mood disorders, substance abuse,
Chapter 4 covered anxiety, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders. Anxiety, fear and phobias are normal human emotions that in most respects are used to keep us safe by influencing us to avoid potentially dangerous situations. It is only when our emotions are not in proportion to the reality of the situation that our fears, obsessions and anxiety become pathological. It is very easy for me to see how an otherwise healthy individual could develop generalized anxiety disorder in today’s society. There is just so much to be legitimately concerned with such as the economy, the high cost of health care and war (such as the war on terrorism).
Social Work With Veterans In the United States there are currently more than 2.7 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Each year these military members return home from war only to face obstacles such as unemployment, medical and mental health issues, and homelessness. Social workers are dedicated to the men and women who have served and are currently serving our country and the VA employs more social workers than any other U.S. agency (Malai, 2015). Social workers are continuously working with social service programs whose goal is eliminate homelessness in the veteran community, combat unemployment in the post-deployed, and provide outstanding medical and mental health care through VA programs.
Veterans Affairs PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the main leading cause for veterans to kill themselves everyday. American soldiers are coming home from the past wars of Vietnam and current wars of Iraq and Afghanistan there suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) which is on the rise of returning soldiers. First the effects on soldiers everyday life the hidden effects. Veterans suffering from ptsd/tbi are on part of that 1% that don’t get the help they deserve and killing themselves for no reason due to the fact they are denied help due to lack of funding. One way we know that everyday life of american soldiers are hiding their effects is not telling their families.
People rarely hear or men dying in war but there are constantly deaths regarding suicide. It has become a common situation, “ I've never known any dead man killed in a war. Killed jumping off buildings, yes,” (Bradbury, 91). Suicide ties into the bigger problem that because of all the distractions they aren’t able to take a minute to actually find themselves and see that they are
The recent study from VA 's Suicide Data Report, 2012 found “U.S. veteran suicide rates to be higher figure, 22 suicides per day, or 8,000 per year.” The VA study also recorded 11,000 non-fatal
OEF/OIF veterans report relationship problems among those that exhibit suicidal behaviors. Studies have shown that increased social supports, such as being married and having a sense of purpose and control, decrease suicidal behaviors (DeBeer et al, 2014). It has been recommended that clinicians should assess perceptions of social support when working with veterans. Clinicians should move beyond the standard risk factors, such as PTSD and depression, and “address the role that life crisis play in triggering suicidal behavior” (Kaplan et al, 2012). Interventions that focus on good relationships will help tremendously in averting a suicidal
Suicide among U.S. Veterans Stress due to war, long durations of overseas tours, and personal issues has soldiers killing themselves and even exceeded the suicide rate over regular civilians. Most of these soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These soldiers are needed in the military and we cannot bear to lose a spirited and strong patriot who is willing to die for their own country. Army Leaders are trying to do everything they can think of to end the suicide deaths of soldiers and are requesting more mental health professionals to join the military and help out. Considering that the U.S. military suicide rate has been steadily increasing over the past decade, it is obvious that the current military suicide prevention programs are not conductively working, and updated tactics should be implemented.
As of 2015, 5 in 100,000 girls and 14 in 100,000 teenagers commit suicide (Lewis). Teenagers are becoming more vulnerable and schools seem to be taking no notice. If these lives could be saved, it would help so many families across the united states. The National Institute of Mental Health states that there “are as many as 25 attempts of suicide to every one that is actually committed” (Eco Child’s Play). Suicides can be prevented by treatment of the illness.
Over the years the issue of suicide has been slowly increasing. It is now the third leading cause of death among young people. The effects of suicide are tragic and felt long after the individual has taken their own life. Some people who consider suicide, however, never make a “serious” attempt at it. For every attempted suicide, there is said to be more than one person whose thought of suicide has never translated into an actual attempt.
By creating a community fueled by things such as love and camaraderie, more individuals are able to take advantage of the comfort and support that is provided. If more people were able to feel the same sense of community and belonging that I am fortunate enough to, then I believe that the well-being of more individuals would improve substantially. After hearing the numerous stories that have been presented at the Magalassi Foundation’s “We Matter” symposiums throughout the years, I have taken appreciation for how fortunate I am to be in the place that I am at both mentally and physically. Furthermore, I have determined that it is my duty to help spread the message of suicide prevention to others so that they can benefit in the same way that I have. If by circulating valuable mental health information can stop even one person from being consumed by the darkness of suicide, then progress will be able to transpire.
The statistics about teenage runaways, alcoholism, drug problems, pregnancy, eating disorders, and suicide are startling. Every year, thousands of people succeed in taking their lives and even more have attempted suicide at some point in their lives. Although we have reached the stage that hearing about suicide is now common, it is was viewed as trivial and petty back then. It seems like a reverse spectrum