Marine and Family Programs Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program (MCSPP)

1. Marine and Family Programs Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program (MCSPP) LCDR Andrew L. Martin, Psy.D. Suicide Prevention Program Manager Headquarters, Marine Corps (M&RA) andrew.l.martin@usmc.mil 703-784-9542

2. Mission and Strategy Mission: Year over year reduction in suicides until zero; then sustain. Strategy: Leaders foster resilience and encourage Marines to engage helping services early, before problems worsen to crisis levels.

3. USMC Suicides and Attempts USMC Rate per 100,000 * Civilian Rate per 100,000 Through August 2011 * Last available civilian suicide rate information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rate adjusted for Marine demographics. ** Includes 1 suspected suicide that has yet to be confirmed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. *** Includes 12 suspected suicides that have yet to be confirmed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Source: HQMC (MFC-5) 2011Sep01

4. USMC Associated Stressors * Reflects a history of the stressor/risk factor within 1 year of the suicide

5. 2010 Marine Corps Risk Factors

6. Organizational Chart – MFC5

7. Program Functions

8. Leadership • Focused and engaged • A Marine Corps program • Provide annual training to all Marines • Maintain two sergeant trainers per battalion/squadron • Unit protocol for managing Marines at risk • Force Protection Boards • Death brief, 8-day and 30-day briefs, DoDSER • First flag officer briefs deaths to ACMC

9. Never Leave a Marine Behind

10. Never Leave a Marine Behind Annual Suicide Prevention Training • Award-winning, evocative • Developed and tested by Marines • Focus is on changing behavior - Personal resilience - Peer-to-peer support - Frontline supervisor intervention - Command climate management • Separate modules for Jr. Marines, NCOs, SNCOs and officers

11. Never Leave a Marine Behind

12. Tools • Monthly Suicide Activity Report • Leaders Guide to Managing Marines in Distress • MCSPP Website and staff (best practices, statistics, technical support)

13. Behavioral Health Integration • SAPR • Peer training • Frontline supervisor intervention • Core Values  peer to peer intervention • Privacy versus command awareness • COSC • Peer training • Core values  peer-to-peer intervention • Common risk/protective factors • Holistic approach; all levels of leadership focused and engaged • 20% suicides with combat exposure

14. Behavioral Health Integration • Family Advocacy and General Counseling • Relationship problems #1 stressor associated with suicide • ½ suicides married; ½ single • 13% suicides involved in FAP program • 13% suicides with physical abuse perpetrator history • 5% suicides with emotional abuse perpetrator history • 3% suicides with sexual abuse victim history • Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment • Common risk and protective factors • Alcohol as depressant  depression  suicide • 19% suicides drank at time of death • 27% suicides with past alcohol dependence/abuse diagnosis • 19% suicides received substance abuse treatment in last year

15. Behavioral Health Integration

16. Prevention Continuum An Evidence Based Framework…. READY REACTING INJURED ILL BUMED USMC and BUMED USMC STRESS CONTINUUM

17. Questions