R 261525Z NOV 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML ALMAR(n)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS
ALMAR 067/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/SUICIDE AWARENESS//
RMKS/1. RECENT REPORTS OF SUICIDE IN THE MARINE CORPS HIGHLIGHT
A DISTURBING TREND THAT NEEDS OUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND
RENEWED COMMITMENT. WE MUST FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON ENSURING EVERY
POSSIBLE MEASURE IS TAKEN TO BATTLE THIS TRAGIC AND SENSELESS
LOSS OF LIFE. ONE MARINE LOST TO SUICIDE IS ONE TOO MANY.
2. THE NUMBER OF REPORTED MARINE CORPS SUICIDES FOR FY01 WAS 27.
THE NUMBER OF REPORTED MARINE CORPS SUICIDES FOR FY02 WAS 20.
TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN 7 REPORTED MARINE CORPS SUICIDES IN
FY 03: 3 IN OCTOBER, AND 4 IN NOVEMBER. IF THE CURRENT TREND
CONTINUES, WE WILL EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE THE SUICIDE RATE OF LAST YEAR.
3. EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT NUMEROUS FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO DEATH
BY SUICIDE. WARNING SIGNS ARE OFTEN PRESENTED TO MARINES
CLOSE TO THE VICTIM, BUT THESE ARE SOMETIMES IGNORED.
THE MARINE CORPS HAS HAD AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM OF SUICIDE AWARENESS
TRAINING FOR MANY YEARS NOW. WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION
PROGRAMS AND EMPHASIZE AWARENESS ON THE PART OF ALL MARINES.
MY PURPOSE IN SENDING THIS ALMAR IS TO REINFORCE OUR ONGOING
INITIATIVES AND SOUND A CALL FOR ACTION.
4. WHEN MARINES AND SAILORS EXHIBIT WARNING SIGNS, WE ALL NEED TO
FACILITATE THE POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION OF OUR
TRAINED PROFESSIONALS: UNIT CHAPLAINS, MEDICAL OFFICERS, AND
MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT
WE USE EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE AT OUR DISPOSAL TO PREVENT THE
LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY SUICIDE. THE FIRST STEP IS TO IDENTIFY
THE RISK. BY CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER AT ALL LEVELS IN THE
CHAIN OF COMMAND WE CAN GREATLY REDUCE RISK FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THESE TRAGIC DEATHS.
5. "TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN" HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF THE UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS FOR 227 YEARS. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR
THE VITAL ROLE THAT EACH OF US PLAYS IN SUICIDE PREVENTION.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES L. JONES, GENERAL,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//