The USAA Educational Foundation and Department of Defense Collaborate to Combat Military Suicides

To help combat the growing trend of suicide by servicemembers, The USAA Educational Foundation collaborated with the DoD Suicide Prevention and Risk Reduction Committee (SPARRC) to produce a publication focused on suicide prevention.

Since the “Suicide Prevention” publication was made available in October of 2010, more than 50,000 copies have been ordered and another 19,000 downloaded by individuals and organizations requesting the publication.

“In the past, stigma has been the biggest deterrent for individuals seeking treatment. The military is addressing this issue and encouraging at-risk individuals to get help,” said Barbara Gentry, The USAA Educational Foundation president. “We’re proud to have played a role in the development of this important publication. Saving even one life is important.”

According to the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force, the military suicide rate has increased steadily over the past five years, exceeding the national average of 11.1 suicides per 100,000 people. The military averaged 12.5 suicides per 10,000 last year.

The task force report findings stated, “In the five years from 2005 to 2009, more than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces took their own lives, an average of one suicide every 36 hours.”

At the launch of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention in September, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates underscored the importance of a nationwide approach to suicide prevention. He outlined the challenges military members and families face with regard to suicide and praised advancements in protection and battlefield medicine in the nearly decade of war.

The secretary cautioned however that while more troops are surviving physical injuries, psychological war wounds have taken a toll and everyone has a responsibility to help save lives.

“In everything we do, we must remember that every soldier, sailor, airman or Marine is part not just of the military, but also of a larger community,” the secretary said. “Their families, their hometowns, their civilian employers, their places of worship all must be involved in the solution.”

Doing its part, The USAA Educational Foundation “Suicide Prevention” publication offers information on: factors that can cause suicidal thoughts and actions; warning signs; how to help someone in crisis; grieving the loss of someone you know; and, available resources

The publication is free and can be ordered individually or in bulk at www.usaaedfoundation.org or by calling 1-800-531-6196 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-531-6196 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

EDITOR NOTE: The most important proactive step to take if someone is in need of help is to act. Those who know the distressed person best are encouraged to help them seek professional assistance.  If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, call 1-800-273-TALK begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-273-TALK end_of_the_skype_highlighting (8255).

The USAA Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help consumers make informed decisions by providing information on financial management, safety concerns and significant life events. The USAA Educational Foundation does not endorse or promote any commercial, supplier, product or service.