By Robyn Mincher, DCoE Strategic
Communications
When Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta
spoke on the last day of the annual suicide prevention conference, his powerful
words confirmed a dedication to lead a collaborative, forward-thinking force to
solve what he called “one of the most complex and urgent problems facing our
military families” and “perhaps the most frustrating challenge that I’ve come
across since becoming secretary of defense.”
Looking ahead, Panetta cited four areas
of action in suicide prevention — leadership responsibility, improvement in
quality and access to health care, the enhancement of coping and resilience
skills, and the increase of research.
“My long-term goal with the Department
of Defense is to be a game-changing innovator in this field,” Panetta said.
“Just as we helped foster the jet age; the space race; the Internet — I want us
to break new ground in understanding the human mind and human emotion. In doing
so, we will be drawing on a rich history of military needs and stirring
innovation.”
Leadership responsibility and progress
marked the final day of collaborative discussion to advance the prevention of
suicide across the community, health care and inside the homes of our service
members. The day began with forum panel featuring senior-enlisted leaders from
all the services discussing how educated leaders play a significant role in
leadership intervention.
“We’re taking the art of leadership and
merging that with the science [of suicide prevention]. To say this is just a
science project or just a leadership project is not true,” said Chief Master of
the Air Force Sgt. James Roy. “We get our knowledge base from our experts that
are sitting here in these rows.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius spoke of the importance of new programs, such as the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Operation Immersion
that foster a deeper understanding between civilian providers and the military
community they support. The program gives providers a glimpse into military
life.
“This is an initiative that brought
community-based health care providers to a National Guard base where they live
like soldiers for a few days … they meet with soldiers of every rank and their
families to hear about military culture, life on the front line and what life
is like being back home. This gives health care providers and in-depth understanding
of what service members and their families are actually going through and help
them provide better care,” Sebelius said. “Together with the Departments of
Defense and Veterans Affairs, [we] create a system where there is no wrong door
for a service member, veteran or family seeking help.”
Sebelius highlighted the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline as a resource for the military community, and noted
a statistic that confirmed why such a conference is so important in furthering
suicide prevention and psychological health care for our heroes and their
families. In the first five months of this year, more than 85,000 calls from
military members were answered by lifeline professionals — more than 500 per
day.
Panetta expressed gratitude for the
continued efforts of the attendees, composed of the top experts in suicide
prevention, military health care and leadership, to find the ultimate solutions
to preventing suicide.
“I thank you all for your leadership,
for your wise counsel and for your commitment in ensuring that our service
members and their families receive the kind of treatment and support that they
so richly deserve,” he said.
In closing remarks, Jackie Garrick,
Defense Suicide Prevention Office acting director, announced planning efforts
for the 2013 suicide prevention conference, scheduled to be hosted in Denver,
Colo.
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