It’s the last day of September, therefore the last day of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (check out my post here); so now do we just move on to the next awareness month? I get the idea of awareness months, but sometimes I worry that after that month passes, it will be forgotten. People tend to take up the mantle of a cause when its cool or profitable, and then it eventually falls by the wayside. For those that are living through these sorts of things, one month of recognition just simply isn’t enough.
I wanted to highlight some resources that concentrate on keeping this issue at the forefront all the time. It isn’t until issues of mental health because a concern all the time, that things will change. There shouldn’t be a negative stigma attached to someone living well. As someone that has personally struggled with depression and anxiety
The Wingman Project, of the Air National Guard –
was created in August 2007 by the Deputy Director of Safety of the Air National Guard as a collaborative solution, including chaplains, family support, medical community, and safety, for all Airmen and their families to address suicide intervention. Since then, the project has been endorsed by the US Air Force and the Department of Defense, receiving an HQ Air Force “Best Practice” in July 2009.
On their website you can access ACE training for family and friends, and also request comprehensive ACE training, where you could then train others to be a Wingman.
The New StepUp Campaign encourages everyone to spread the word about the Wingman project and suicide prevention awareness. Learn ACE, download the mobile app and find your local DPH. Talking about it, and not sweeping it under the rug is the way to make it “normal” and acceptable!
I met some of these wonderful people this summer at the National Training Seminar for Military Child Education Coalition.
The Acadia Military Support Services Program is specially designed to help our Active Duty Service Members and their families focus on healing from the trauma of living through life-threatening events and human tragedy while courageously performing their military duties to maintain our freedom. Our highly qualified professionals stand ready to provide first-class mental health care, and unequaled substance abuse recovery and rehabilitation through our network of TRICARE certified facilities.
There’s a wide range of resources and treatments available through this program, and they are prepared to handle anything that comes their way. They have compassion and love for our troops and their families; and providing care in a stress-free and safe environment is their goal. They have residential treatment facilities scattered about the US, and provide assistance to the service member and their families from all five branches including the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
The Real Warriors Campaign is a multimedia public awareness campaign designed to encourage help-seeking behavior among service members, veterans and military families coping with invisible wounds. Launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) in 2009, the campaign is an integral part of the Defense Department’s overall effort to encourage warriors and families to seek appropriate care and support for psychological health concerns.
What I love the most about the Real Warriors Campaign is that they feature, and regularly talk about, real service members that have sought out mental health and psychological treatment. I think that really is
the best way to address this issue. These real warriors have continued on with successful military careers, maintaining security clearances and learning coping skills to do all those things. They also provide confidential assistance through phone, live chat and email in partnership with the Defense Centers of Excellence Outreach Center.
been where you are.
I wish I could post every single video and PSA. I urge you to watch more of them, spread the word, show them to your friends, husbands, wives, friends….
