R 260829Z AUG 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 484/10
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MR//
SUBJ/201 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK//
POC/KIMBERLY MCGOLDRICK/CIV/UNIT:MRA/-/TEL:(703) 432-9357//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK IS 5-11 SEPTEMBER 2010 AND WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY IS 10 SEPTEMBER 2010.  ACTIVITIES IN RECOGNITION OF THESE EVENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AT ALL MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS AND WHEREVER MARINES RESIDE TO COMBAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SUICIDES AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN THE MARINE CORPS.  INSTALLATIONS, ACTIVITIES AND COMMANDS ARE ALL ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE STATIC DISPLAYS, INVITE AND PROMOTE LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED SPEAKERS, LEADERS, AND ENGAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND CHAPLAINS TO PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE DEMONSTRATION OF USMC SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
2.  AS OF 31 JULY THIS YEAR,  28 MARINES HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE.  AT THE SAME DATE LAST YEAR THE MARINE CORPS HAD SUFFERED 35 SUICIDES.  ONE DEATH BY SUICIDE CAN AFFECT 100 OR MORE PEOPLE.  YOU, OUR LEADERS AND FRIENDS, COMRADES IN ARMS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF THE INJURIES A MARINE SUFFERS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, AND HONORED OUR CODE AND COMMITMENT TO NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND.
3.  TAKE A MOMENT TO VISIT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM WEBSITE, WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SUICIDEPREVENT.  IT IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED TO ALLOW DIRECT ACCESS FOR MARINES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO HELP PREVENT SUICIDE.  PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DOWNLOADABLE PDF FILE FOR THE R.A.C.E. BIFOLD.  THIS BIFOLD MAY BE REPRODUCED WITH TAILORED LOCAL CONTACT NUMBERS AND IS POCKET SIZED FOR A READY REFERENCE WHEN YOU FIND A MARINE IN DISTRESS.
4.  TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO YOUR MARINES AND ENGAGE IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES TO PROVIDE A STABLE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP.  SURVIVING THE STRESS OF NORMAL LIFE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SURVIVING THE RIGORS AND STRESS OF COMBAT.  SUPPORT FROM THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY ENSURE OUR WARRIORS STAY WEAPONS READY.
5.  USE THIS WEEK TO REFLECT ON YOUR ROLE AS A LEADER, FRIEND AND FAMILY MEMBER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS KILLER OF MARINES.  ASK YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMAND, ARE WE, AS FELLOW MARINES, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.  WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO TO COMBAT STIGMA, IMPLEMENT TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MAKE YOUR MARINES FEEL COMFORTABLE USING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.
6.  THIS IS A BATTLE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE, AND WITH EVERYONES DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, SUICIDES AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS CAN AND WILL BE DECREASED.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD C. ZILMER, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//