Photo by Bonnie Heater Sgt. Maj. Michael Brown, Pentagon Human Resources Policy Directorate sergeant major speaks to Soldiers immediately following the mandatory U.S. Army Suicide Intervention program held March 13 at Barnes Avenue Friendship Chapel. Brown was accompanied by Maj. Gen. John Hawkins, the director of the Army Human Resources Policy Directorate, G1, who advised Soldiers to avoid closing their ears to the warning signs of a Soldier who may be considering suicide. Suicide is not an easy subject to deal with in the Army, especially since the Army's warrior culture is considered to be "Strong No Matter What." Yet, the recent increase in the number of suicides indicates that Army officials will have to be more aggressive in suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

Responding to a rise in suicides, Army units are conducting suicide intervention training within a 30- day window consecutively February 15 to March 15, 2009. Fort Gordon has already completed most of it training in this critical area.

The service-wide training utilizes an interactive video, information and other materials to help Soldiers recognize actions that may lead to suicide and teaches them intervention techniques to seek help for themself or others. The program aims at teaching not only Soldiers but civilians too.

The first phase of the training is an interactive video called "Beyond the Front," which illustrates signs and possible behaviors of a person thinking about committing suicide. The second phase is a 120-day "Chain-Teaching" program that reinforces the first phase. The second phase runs from March 15 to July 15, 2009. The last phase is called "Sustainment," which will run concurrently with phases one and two.

Chaplain (Capt.) Kerry Greene, 15th Signal Brigade, says the program is geared toward, "Warning signs, risk factors, and getting people help as soon as possible."

The interactive video allows Chaplains to monitor people for feedback as they watch the video," said Greene.

The Army Times reported a "25 percent increase in suicides in 2008 over the previous year. Last year was the fourth consecutive year that the number of Army suicides rose."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the main causes of suicide are "personal relationships, legal and financial issues and problems on the jobs, coupled with Soldiers doing multiple deployments.

Implementing the 'Stand-down' training is important because, it will likely help reduce the stigma of asking for help in the area of mental health.

Greene says the way this program differs from the past program is that commanders will be able to make this training available to Family members, Family Readiness Groups, leaders and other participants.

The training will be annual and will be institutionalized like the Army Physical Fitness Test, and marks- manship training. It is also a training program that will appeal to all audiences.

"It's more in depth training, much better than the PowerPoint presentation we had in basic training," says Advance Individual Training student Pvt. Rachel Fischetti, Company D 369th Signal Battalion.

Khortnie Stephens, Company D 369th Signal Battalion agrees and says, "Watching for suicide in the past meant just watching the person along with reporting, but this training gives more options on how to deal with the suicide and the signs."

Sustainment of Soldiers is what the Army wants to do with its new suicide intervention program. Army leaders say it is time to 'Stand-down' to losing another Soldier to suicide.