311200Z AUG 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 497/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF//
SUBJ/2011 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK//
POC/JOAN FISCHER/CIV/UNIT:MFC5/-/TEL:(703)784-9542//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS COMMITMENT TO ENCOURAGE ALL COMMANDERS AND ACTIVITIES TO PROVIDE STATIC DISPLAYS, INVITE AND PROMOTE LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED SPEAKERS AND LEADERS, AND ENGAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN PRESENTING A COMPREHENSIVE DEMONSTRATION OF USMC SUPPORT IN SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION DURING NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK, 4-10 SEPTEMBER 2011.
2.  THE MARINE CORPS MESSAGE , NOT ONLY ONE WEEK A YEAR BUT YEAR AROUND, IS MARINES WITH STRONG MENTAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL FITNESS ARE BETTER ABLE TO WITHSTAND, RECOVER AND GROW IN THE FACE OF STRESS AND ADVERSITY. IT IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH TO SEEK HELP, AND SEEKING HELP IS CONSISTENT WITH MISSION READINESS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE.
3.  OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE SUICIDES TO ZERO AND THEN SUSTAIN THIS NUMBER YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, DETERMINATION AND INVOLVEMENT. AS OF 31 JULY THIS YEAR, 21 MARINES HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE. THIS COMPARES TO 35 IN 2009 AND 28 IN 2010 AT THE SAME DATE. THIS CONTINUAL REDUCTION REFLECTS THE MARINE CORPS COMMITMENT TO TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN AND ENSURING NO MARINE IS LEFT BEHIND - EVER. BUILDING STRONG AND RESILIENT MARINES, WHO SEEK PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS, IS CRITICAL FOR MILITARY READINESS AND PERSONAL WELL BEING. WE MUST BE VIGILANT IN NOT ONLY REDUCING SUICIDES BUT ALSO SUICIDE ATTEMPTS.  DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS THE NUMBER OF MARINE CORPS SUICIDE ATTEMPTS HAS REMAINED STABLE INDICATING OUR BATTLE IS NOT OVER.  WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE MARINES TO SEEK ASSISTANCE AS A VIABLE OPTION TO SUICIDE.
4.  DURING THIS MONTH AND THE COMING YEAR WE MUST TURN OUR ATTENTION TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION, HAVE WE DONE ALL WE CAN DO TO PREVENT SUICIDE WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS FAMILY?'.  ALL LEADERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMIT THEMSELVES IN LISTENING AND SPEAKING WITH THEIR MARINES AND TO ENGAGE DAILY IN THEIR LIVES.  ENCOURAGE PROBLEM-SOLVING TO GIVE MARINES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND PREVENT LIFE STRESSORS FROM BUILDING TO CRISIS LEVELS.  LEADERS LEAD BY EXAMPLE.  PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR RESILIENCE BUILDING WHILE LOOKING WITHIN YOURSELF TO ENSURE YOU TOO ARE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SOCIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY FIT.  SEEKING ASSISTANCE IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH.  SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR OTHERS IS CONSISTENT WITH MARINE CORPS ETHOS.  WE MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BUILD A STRONG AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY. THIS IS A BATTLE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE, AND WITH EVERYONE'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, NO MARINE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.
5.  TAKE A MOMENT TO VISIT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM WEBSITE, WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG SLASH SUICIDEPREVENT.  THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY 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.//