HD 1-2 , 2-2, 3-2 and 4-2: Suicide Awareness and Prevention

HD 1-2 , 2-2, 3-2 and 4-2:Suicide Awareness and Prevention “Strength of the Corps – Taking Care of Others” Set a Climate to Ask for Help

Music Video Hold On by Good Charlotte This world, this world is coldBut you don't, you don't have to goYou're feeling sad you're feeling lonelyAnd no one seems to care Your days you say they're way too longAnd your nights you cant sleep at all (hold on)And you're not sure what you're looking forBut you don't want to no moreAnd you're not sure what you're waiting for but you don't want to no moreBut we all bleed the same way as you doWe all have the same things to go thruHold on...if you feel like letting goHold on...it gets better than you knowDon't stop looking you're one step closerDon't stop searching its not over...hold on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRo5NKZn_BY

Hold On" is the fifth and final single taken from Good Charlotte's second studio album The Young and the Hopeless. It was written in response to the people who had written to the band saying they were considering suicide. The music video features suicide survivors talking about their experiences, either through losing a loved one or remembering a time they were suicidal.

Core Values Honor Duty Respect Respect for self and Respect for others

Purpose of Instruction • Reintroduce major issues of Suicide Awareness and Prevention to include concepts of Risk Factors, Warning Signs, Compounding Factors, and Protective Factors • Attempt to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health evaluation and care • Reemphasize the support structures available to cadets at The Citadel • Encourage cadets to be proactive in seeking help for both themselves and their buddies. • Strengthen the concept of responsibility as cadets to take care of friends or as aspiring leaders to take care of subordinates.

Key Facts about Suicide • Suicide takes the lives of more than 30,000 Americans every year. • Every 18 minutes another life is lost to suicide. • Every day 80 Americans take their own lives and over 1,900 Americans visit Emergency Departments for self-inflicted injury • Suicide is now the 11th leading cause of death in Americans. • For every two victims of homicide in the U.S. there are three persons who take their own lives. • There are now twice as many deaths due to suicide as to HIV/AIDS. • Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, aged 25-65. • Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care. • Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females. • More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. Data from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What is your Role? • As Cadet Leaders you should: • Realize that this is an issue in the Corps, the US Military, and society at large. It will impact you and your future subordinates • Make yourself aware of the Campus resources • Remember and practice the acronym ACE • Ask your buddy • Care for your buddy • Escort your buddy

Warning Signs Examples of common warning signs: • Appearing sad or depressed all the time. • Withdrawing from family and friends. • Feeling hopeless/helpless. • Feeling strong anger or rage. • Feeling trapped -- like there is no way out of a situation. • Feeling excessive guilt or shame. • Experiencing dramatic mood changes. • Abusing drugs or alcohol. • Exhibiting a change in personality • Acting impulsively/recklessly. • Losing interest in most activities. • Change in eating habits. • Change in sleep habits. • Losing interest in most activities. • Performing poorly at work or in school. • Giving away prized possessions. • Talking or writing about death or suicide.

Campus Resources • Cadet Chain of Command including Human Affairs Team • Tactical Officer • Infirmary • Counseling Center • Chaplain or Campus Ministry Team • Trusted Faculty or Staff member • Public Safety

Vignette Questions • What warning signs or symptoms presented in the vignette indicated that the Cadet was experiencing problems? • What courses of actions could you have taken to help this Cadet? • What are some barriers, attitudes, and problems that Cadets might face from leaders when asking for help? • Who could you have referred this Cadet to for help? • What problems do you have as leaders in dealing with Cadets who exhibit behavioral and emotional problems?

Vignette #1 Cadet Smith is a 20 year-old male who has returned to The Citadel for his spring semester of his Third Class year. While surfing Facebook, he learned that his deployed girlfriend was involved in another relationship. After that, Cadet Smith began to abuse alcohol. One evening, Cadet Smith refused to go to the gym with his buddies, which was unusual. That night, Cadet Smith attempted to hurt himself by cutting himself with box cutter knife. • What were the warning signs? • Given that you know Cadet Smith, and are aware of his distress, which of the following would be the best response? • Wait and see how things go because it’s not a good idea to interfere in another cadet’s personal matters. He might get angry. • If I knew about his girlfriend problems, I would talk to him to see if he was alright. I would ask him if he felt suicidal. If he said yes, I would escort him to see the commander. • Because of his alcohol abuse, I would inform the Platoon SGT that something was troubling Cadet Smith i.e., he was drinking too much. I would suggest that the Tac Officer talk with him.

Vignette #2 • Cadet Jones was a 21 year-old, white female, sophomore that has been away for a semester abroad. During this time two of her best high school friends were killed in a car accident and was not able to attend their funerals. Since she has been away from school she is not well known and is neither well-liked nor disliked by others. She frequently talked about her boyfriend back home and their plans to marry once she graduates. About a week before she died, she received a letter from her boyfriend indicating that he wanted to terminate their relationship. Cadet Jones was discovered in her bunk dead from a drug overdose. • Can you list the warning signs? • Given that you know Cadet Jones and are aware of her distress, which of the following would be the best response? • “ Dear John or Dear Joan” letters are common in a long distance relationship. It is best to wait and see how a individual will respond to such a letter. You don’t want to ask intrusive questions unnecessarily because the cadet could get angry. • If I had known about her boyfriend problems, I would have asked one of her girlfriends to talk to her. Girls relate better to each other. She would never tell a guy if she was suicidal. • Both the loss of friends and the loss of her boyfriend were concerns. I would talk to her to see if she was alright. As her buddy, I would make sure she talked to either the Chaplain or Counseling Center about her losses.

Vignette #3 • Knob Morgan was a 19 year-old, black male, who struggled with the cadet life during Fall semester. He has ADHD and some other related learning disabilities that makes it difficult for him to excel in Knob life. Because of his challenges , he was often ridiculed by peers and leadership. Everyone believed that he accepted the treatment as “part of The System” • Prior to his death, he gave away some personal belongings. About one day before his death, he also told a buddy that he had “had enough”. This was interpreted as simple frustration. Knob Morgan was found dead in a upperclass buddies car by carbon monoxide poisoning. • Can you list the warning signs? • Given that you know Knob Morgan, and aware of his distress, which of the following would be the best response? • If I had known he was angry about being “teased”, I would talk to him to see if he was alright. I would ask him if he felt suicidal. If he said yes, I would convince him to see a behavioral health provider in the morning. After he made a commitment, I would tell him that I would pick him up the next day. • In the Corps, people are always joking with each other. That’s how we all deal with the stress. If you can’t handle the ribbing, you should leave The Citadel. • When I heard that he had had enough, I would immediately ask him if he was thinking of suicide. If he said yes, I would stay with him, and inform the chain of command. I would never leave him alone until he saw a helping provider.

What Leaders Can Do • To know your people, leaders must: • Talk to your fellow cadet or subordinates and listen to what they have to say. • Send the message that you are interested in hearing about their problems. • Emphasize that seeking help in times of distress displays courage, strength, responsibility, and good judgment. • Get them help!

What Leaders Can Do (continued) • To know your people, leaders must: • Accept the unique and diverse qualities of each Cadet. • Treat each Cadet with the utmost respect and regard. • Ensure Cadets have access to mental health services. To know your unit, leaders must: • Understand that organizational stress affects the unit’s morale and in turn can impact the mission.

Important Numbers

Videos and Resources National Suicide Prevention Hotline website http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Materials/ The links below are from the DOD Prevention web site: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0810_restoringhope/ http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0810_restoringhope/armyvideo_02.html http://www.usmc-mccs.org/suicideprevent/ http://www.usmc-mccs.org/suicideprevent/training-videos.cfm?sid=ml&smid=11 This is another You Tube Suicide Prevention video by Rapper isONya8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLooshd560o

Resources http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2008/apr/06/for_brian_ruff_jr_death_seemed_like_only36283/ For Brian Ruff Jr., death seemed like only answerBy Ken BurgerThe Post and Courier Sunday, April 6, 2008

HD 1-2 , 2-2, 3-2 and 4-2: Suicide Awareness and Prevention