R 132312Z AUG 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 443/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/2012 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK//
POC/ADAM WALSH/CIV/UNIT:MFC5/-/TEL:703-784-9542//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK IS 9-15 SEPTEMBER 2012 AND WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IS 10 SEPTEMBER 2012.  IN RECOGNITION OF THESE EVENTS ALL INSTALLATIONS, ACTIVITIES AND COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE AND PROMOTE LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED SPEAKERS AND LEADERS AND ENGAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN PRESENTING A COMPREHENSIVE DEMONSTRATION OF USMC SUPPORT FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.
2.  THE THEME OF NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IS "COLLABORATIONS IN SUICIDOLOGY: BRIDGING THE DISCIPLINES."  THIS THEME MIRRORS THE MARINE CORPS MESSAGE THAT SUICIDE IS A COMPLEX BUT PREVENTABLE PROBLEM REQUIRING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY AND AN ALL-HANDS EFFORT.  MARINES AND THEIR LOVED ONES WHO FEEL SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED TO GAIN AND MAINTAIN STRONG MENTAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL FITNESS ARE BETTER ABLE TO WITHSTAND, RECOVER, AND GROW IN THE FACE OF STRESS AND ADVERSITY.  IN TIMES OF CRISIS, STRONG MARINES SEEK HELP FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FELLOW MARINES. 
3.  OUR CURRENT TREND THIS CALENDAR YEAR IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.  ONE DEATH BY SUICIDE IS TOO MANY AND EACH DEATH CAN AFFECT 100 OR MORE PEOPLE.  EVERY DAY, AS A RESULT OF NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS TRAINING, MARINES RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF STRESS IN ONE ANOTHER, ASK THE QUESTION: "ARE YOU THINKING OF KILLING YOURSELF?" DEMONSTRATE CARE THROUGH ACTIVE LISTENING, AND ESCORT FELLOW MARINES TO HELP.  LET US HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND.  WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SHOW MARINES THAT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, ASSISTANCE WORKS, AND SUICIDE IS NOT AN OPTION. 
4.  DURING THIS MONTH AND THE COMING YEAR WE CONSIDER THE QUESTION, "HAVE WE DONE ALL WE CAN TO PREVENT SUICIDE WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY?" LEADERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FELLOW MARINES MUST LISTEN AND SPEAK WITH MARINES - ENGAGE THEM DAILY.  ENCOURAGE PROBLEM SOLVING TO GIVE MARINES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND PREVENT LIFE STRESSORS FROM BUILDING TO CRISIS LEVELS.  CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SEEKING ASSISTANCE IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH AND ACKNOWLEDGE SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR OTHERS AS CONSISTENT WITH OUR ETHOS.  WE MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BUILD A STRONG AND FIT CORPS.  THIS IS A BATTLE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE, AND WITH EVERYONE'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, NO MARINE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.  
5.  FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND PROGRAM DIRECTIVES VISIT THE MARINE CORPS SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM WEBSITE, WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SUICIDEPREVENT.  THIS WEBSITE IS UPDATED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR MARINES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP PREVENT SUICIDE. 
6.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//