Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Fort Carson sees drop in military suicides

In December Fort Carson offered some hope in addressing military suicides when I posted this.
Fort Carson sees progress in mental health battle as suicides drop

According to the following, it looks as if they just may have gotten it right.
Fort Carson reports 1 confirmed suicide this year
3:29 PM, Sep 1, 2011
Written by
Associated Press
FORT CARSON (AP) - Fort Carson commanders reported Thursday that one soldier suicide has been confirmed so far this year and three other possible suicides are still under investigation, a signal that a broad prevention campaign may be paying off. Last year, Fort Carson reported seven suicides.

Brig. Gen. James Doty, Fort Carson's acting senior commander, said the post emphasized suicide-prevention training at all levels of leadership, from corporal up.

"I could take any one of these guys," Doty said, motioning to an auditorium where about 400 soldiers were attending a suicide prevention forum, "and they would know what the signs of behavior problems are, they would know what the signs of PTSD are, they would know what the signs of (traumatic brain injury) are."

"That's extraordinary," he said.

Fort Carson is one of only a few posts where behavioral health specialists work alongside soldiers where they live and train, so they are easily accessible.
read more here

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