R 131608Z DEC 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 066/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/SUICIDE PREVENTION (CORRECTED COPY)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. OUR SUICIDE RATE IS ON PACE TO HIT A THREE YEAR
HIGH IN CY 2004. IN THE FIRST ELEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, THERE
HAVE BEEN 29 ACTIVE DUTY SUICIDES AND 83 ATTEMPTS - MORE THAN WE HAD
AS A SERVICE DURING ALL OF LAST YEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE AND
IS IMPACTING MARINES THROUGHOUT THE CORPS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. THE
INCREASED OPERATIONAL TEMPO THAT OUR CORPS IS EXPERIENCING MAY BE
AFFECTING THE ABILITY OF OUR MARINES TO DEAL WITH PERCEIVED
OVERWHELMING STRESSES ASSOCIATED WITH RELATIONSHIP, FINANCIAL, AND
DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS.
2. MARINES CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE MAY DISPLAY ONE OR MORE OF A
VARIETY OF WARNING SIGNS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OUR MARINES AND
SAILORS MAY ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT COMMITTING SUICIDE, OR THEY MAY
DISPLAY A NOTICEABLE PREOCCUPATION WITH DEATH AND DYING. THEY MAY
GIVE AWAY THEIR POSSESSIONS. THERE MAY BE NOTICEABLE CHANGES IN
BEHAVIOR, TO INCLUDE UNNECESSARY RISK-TAKING, INCREASED USE OF
ALCOHOL, DIFFICULTY IN EATING OR SLEEPING, WITHDRAWAL FROM FRIENDS
AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, OR LOSS OF INTEREST IN HOBBIES, WORK, SCHOOL
OR PERSONAL APPEARANCE. OUR MARINES AND SAILORS MAY ACTUALLY
PREPARE FOR DEATH BY MAKING OUT A WILL AND DISCUSSING OR COMPLETING
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS.
3. ON THE OTHER HAND, TO COMPLICATE PREVENTION EFFORTS, OUR RESEARCH
ALSO SHOWS THAT SUICIDAL MARINES OFTEN DISPLAY NO OUTWARD SIGNS AT
ALL. THEY MAY FEEL IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE LABELED AS "WEAK" OR "DEFECTIVE" IN THE EYES
OF THEIR SUBORDINATES, PEERS OR LEADERS. ULTIMATELY, MARINES AND
SAILORS MAY KEEP EVERYTHING TO THEMSELVES UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE FOR
INTERVENTION. THIS PERCEPTION MUST BE TURNED AROUND THROUGH COMMAND
CLIMATE AND EDUCATION.
4. SINCE WARNING SIGNS ARE NOT ALWAYS PRESENT, IT IS CRITICAL THAT
OUR MARINES AND SAILORS FEEL THEIR LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS THEM IN
SEEKING HELP THROUGH THE MULTITUDE OF OUTLETS AVAILABLE FOR
ASSISTANCE. THEREFORE, LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS NEED TO REMAIN
VIGILANT AND ESTABLISH COMMAND CLIMATES THAT ENCOURAGE OUR MARINES
AND SAILORS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR PROBLEMS TO WHOMEVER THEY FEEL MOST
COMFORTABLE. COMMAND CLIMATES THAT ENCOURAGE MARINES AND SAILORS TO
SEEK HELP FACILITATE THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK PERSONNEL
AND THE PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT LEAD TO SUICIDE. THE FOCUS OF OUR
LEADERSHIP SHOULD NEVER WAVER FROM THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR
MARINES AND SAILORS AND FROM ENSURING THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE GUIDED
AND SUPPORTED IN GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.
5. AS COMMANDERS, LEADERS, CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS OF MARINES AND
SAILORS IN NEED, IT IS OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. NO MARINE OR SAILOR SHOULD EVER FEEL ALONE
OR ABANDONED. OUR READINESS AND THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U. S.
MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//