R 162049Z NOV 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 658/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/CALL TO ACTION FOR PREVENTING MARINE SUICIDES//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC MFC-5/YMD:20120410//
REF/B/MSGID:MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF/200624ZSEP2012//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1720.2, MARINE CORPS SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
REF B IS MARADMIN 524/12, NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND ANNUAL SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND MASTER TRAINING TEAM REQUIREMENTS//
POC/TODD SHUTTLEWORTH/CIV/UNIT:MRA MF/-/TEL:703-784-9542//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A, "SUICIDE PREVENTION SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS A SINGLE ACTIVITY OR TRAINING." THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF SUICIDE PREVENTION WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS IS A PROACTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN THE READINESS OF BOTH INDIVIDUAL MARINES AND THEIR UNITS. THE LOSS OF ONE MARINE TO SUICIDE AFFECTS ALL AND WE WILL REDUCE SUICIDES THROUGH AN ALL-HANDS COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TOOLS FOR COMMANDERS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP OUR MARINES INCLUDING A HOST OF HELPING PROFESSIONALS AT MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, I.E., SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM/GENERAL COUNSELING.
2. LEADERS SHALL ENSURE THAT THE NEVER LEAVE A MARINE BEHIND (NLMB) TRAINING IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR SO THAT MARINES KNOW HOW TO HELP A FELLOW MARINE IN DISTRESS. THE FOCUS OF THE TRAINING IS ON SEEKING HELP EARLY BEFORE A SITUATION BECOMES A CRISIS, PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT, FRONTLINE SUPERVISOR INTERVENTION AND COMMAND CLI FELLOW MARINES TO HELP.
3. FORCE PRESERVATION COUNCILS AND HUMAN FACTORS BOARDS PROVIDE UNIT LEADERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER AND ACT ON AT RISK INFORMATION TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF MARINES.
4. THE MARINE CORPS' DSTRESS LINE, WHICH EXPANDED WORLDWIDE IN EARLY 2012, PROVIDES ANONYMOUS, 24/7 COUNSELING SERVICES TO ANY MARINE, SAILOR, OR FAMILY MEMBER. THE LINE IS STAFFED BY VETERAN MARINES AND FMF CORPSMEN, MARINE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CIVILIAN COUNSELORS SPECIFICALLY TRAINED IN MARINE CULTURE. THE COUNSELING PROVIDED GIVES ANY MARINE, SAILOR, OR FAMILY MEMBER 'ONE OF THEIR OWN' TO SPEAK WITH ABOUT EVERYDAY STRESS OR THEIR HEAVIEST BURDENS IN LIFE.
5. KNOWING THAT ALCOHOL IS AN UNDERLYING RISK FACTOR IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THE MARINE CORPS IS REFRESHING AN ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORT WHICH EMBRACES AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND ONESELF IS PARAMOUNT; PRESERVING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BY ACTIVELY PREVENTING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE OR MISUSE. THE PLAN IS EVIDENCE BASED AND INCLUDES "PRIME FOR LIFE," WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT RELIES ON TEACHING PROCESSES DEVELOPED FROM RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE ADDICTION FIELD THAT ALTER ATTITUDES, INCREASE RISK AWARENESS, AND ABSTINENCE, AND REDUCE HIGH-RISK DRINKING.
6. OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL AND READINESS (OSCAR) TRAINING BUILDS TEAMS OF MENTORS (SELECTED UNIT MARINES AND LEADERS), EXTENDERS (UNIT MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSONNEL), AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A NETWORK OF SUPPORT. THIS MODEL EMPOWERS MARINES WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO BREAK STIGMA AND ACT AS SENSORS FOR THE COMMANDER BY NOTICING SMALL CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AND TAKING ACTION EARLY. THIS SUPPORTS THE COMMANDER IN BUILDING UNIT STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND READINESS AS WELL AS KEEPING MARINES IN THE FIGHT.
7. UTILIZATION OF THE FAMILIES OVER COMING UNDER STRESS (FOCUS) PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN MARINE FAMILIES, COUPLES, AND CHILDREN TO USE STRENGTH-BASED RESILIENCY SKILLS TO MEET MANY OF THE CHALLENGES AND STRESSORS COMMONLY EXPERIENCED IN MILITARY LIFE. THIS NON-MEDICAL PROGRAM BUILDS FAMILY COHESION, CARE, AND COMMUNICATION.
8. PARTNERING WITH THE DOD REAL WARRIORS CAMPAIGN. THIS CAMPAIGN PROMOTES HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG SERVICES MEMBERS AND VETERANS WITH INVISIBLE WOUNDS AND ENCOURAGES MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS AND USE OF RESOURCES.
9. THE EXPANDING MILITARY AND FAMILY LIFE COUNSELOR PROGRAM (MFLC) PROVIDES SHORT TERM NON-MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL COUNSELING TO ADDRESS LIFE SKILLS, MILITARY LIFESTYLE, AND FINANCIAL ISSUES.
10. NAVY MEDICINE PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MARINES, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, TO MAINTAIN OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN READINESS.
11 THE TRAINING OF SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFICERS (SPPO) FOR EACH BATTALION AND SQUADRON. THE SPPO IS THE BEST SUITED MARINE AND
IS ESSENTIALLY THE "EYES AND EARS" OF THE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER.
12. SUICIDE PREVENTION IS NOT A CYCLIC ACTION. ENGAGED LEADERS ARE ALERT TO THOSE AT RISK FOR SUICIDE AT ALL TIMES AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO HELP MARINES ADDRESS THE HARD TIMES OR PAIN IN THEIR LIVES. AFFIRMING THE INDOMINATABLE SPIRIT OF MARINES IS AN ENDURING MISSION AND HOW WE "KEEP FAITH WITH MARINES AND FAMILIES."
13. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
14. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//