From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Mental health and other professionals gathered at Naval Hospital Lemoore, Calif., April 21, for the first of more than 20 workshops the Navy plans to hold across the country, focusing on assessing and managing suicide risks.
The Lemoore workshop was conducted by the Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization Suicide Prevention Research Center (SPRC) in support of a Navy-wide effort to reduce suicides among Sailors, Marines and their families.
"The Navy is committed to strengthening the core competencies of mental health and medical providers to assess and manage the suicidal behaviors of those they serve," said Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie Chavez, Personal Readiness and Community Support Branch, which coordinates suicide prevention awareness, operational stress control, sexual assault response and prevention, and family readiness programs. "We are taking serious interest in what nationally recognized experts have to say."
In the near future, workshops will be held aboard Navy and Marine Corps installations in South Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington and Texas. By Sept. 30, 700 to 1,000 psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses and other professionals will be trained during the workshops.
The Suicide Prevention Research Center was created following publication of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention in 2001, and is supported by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Since 2007, it has trained nearly 20,000 mental health clinicians, including 1,300 in the Air Force and 450 in the Marine Corps.
"If you ask mental health clinicians what kind of training they received in graduate school for dealing with suicidal patients, most will say, 'None,' " said Laurie Davidson, SPRC manager of provider initiatives. "So it's extremely important to ensure that the mental health workforce knows what the risk factors and warning signs are for suicide and how to assess the level of risk."
Participants in the Lemoore workshop said they found the training helpful.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Gina Buffaloe, Naval Hospital Lemoore Mental Health Department, said she learned "assessment skills needed to identify people who have suicidal ideations and how to get them to appropriate help."
Lt. Pon Chanthaphon, Naval Hospital Lemoore command chaplain, hosted the April 21 event. Participants included mental health professionals from the hospital as well as chaplains from NAS Lemoore, counselors from Lemoore's Fleet and Family Support Center and representatives of the Veterans Affairs hospital in nearby Fresno.
Lt. (Dr.) C. Christopher Schultheiss, Naval Hospital Lemoore Mental Health department head, was the principal military speaker, covering factors that have been seen in Navy suicides and attempted suicides, as well as demographics and other topics including Navy policies and commanding officers' responsibilities.
Schultheiss said men are more likely than women to be suicide victims, and enlisted members are more likely than officers, but there are no significant statistical differences by age group, pay grade or length of service.
"Anyone can become at risk," Schultheiss said.
He said that while a majority of suicide victims had not seen medical professionals in the 30 days before their deaths, half had family members or significant others who knew they were suicidal or having problems. It is for this reason that it is essential to encourage service members to ask for help, and for friends and family members to know about and follow the "Ask, Care, Treat" model.
According to OPNAVINST 1720.4A, commands must have suicide prevention coordinators and written crisis intervention plans, he said.
Commanding officers must refer service members for treatment swiftly if they appear to be at risk of suicide and must put in place safety measures that restrict their access to means of suicide, according to the instruction. They also should communicate with mental health providers and reintegrate service members into their units after treatment.
The workshop was among 26 one- and two-day workshops scheduled by the Personal Readiness and Community Support Branch of the Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel, for 19 medical treatment facilities this fiscal year. The workshops are part of a comprehensive effort by the chief of naval personnel to reduce suicides.
For information about the Navy's suicide prevention efforts, go to http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspx.
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