thedrifter
03-17-09, 07:38 AM
Suicide: 41 Too Many -- Cherry Point Officials Speak on Suicide Prevention
3/16/2009 By Cpl. Lisa R. Strickland , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. — More Marines committed suicide in 2008 than any other year in the 21st century.
Headquarters Marine Corps reported in a 2008 Suicide Prevention Program update that 187 Marines attempted suicide last year, 41 were successful. The majority had previously deployed. Seven took their own lives while in a war.
Serious emotional distress often requires help from an outside source. However, many Marines are in fear of ruining their career by seeking help, said Lt. Angela Coriano, clinical psychologist at Cherry Point’s Naval Health Clinic. Coriano said, a Marine should not avoid getting help because of fear of their record being affected.
“We only report if you threaten to hurt yourself or someone else,” said Coriano. “If someone is just depressed, not suicidal, then we’ll do therapy with them. As long as there’s no concern for safety and the mission, it will stay here at the clinic.”
According to Cherry Point officials, reducing the number of suicides begins with suicide prevention and that often means ensuring Marines understand their value in the community.
“Suicide is a tough, tough topic and we find most of the people just couldn’t handle the burdens in their life and maybe felt lonely,” said Frances Seybold, director of Marine Corps Family Team Building here. “If we can capture Marines and families early and get them involved in the base then maybe they won’t feel so alone.”
Seybold said the air station offers many programs for Marines and their families that many don’t even know about. There’s life skills classes, communication courses for couples, family care plan classes, family readiness training and many more courses, trips and events.
“With theses courses a Marine can navigate through the Marine Corps lifestyle and maintain a more healthy and better mental state,” said Seybold. “We can help you meet those challenges and you might have less stress, less conflict and less burdens in your life.”
Often, a Marine can be helped by talking through his or her problems. Capt. William Lesak, a chaplain here at Cherry Point, said he and other chaplains are always here to help Marines and Sailors through tough times.
“One of the things we try to do is to get them to talk,” said Lesak.
Lesak said the solution isn’t just sitting down with the Marine, but ensuring the Marine knows he is important to the Corps, his shop and his fellow Marines. Lesak said, as leaders, Marines must lookout for each other, and give fellow Marines the opportunity to speak up and talk about their feelings.
The goal of suicide prevention is to help Marines find ways to improve their mental state, lives and understand they’re not alone, said Coriano.
“It’s a good feeling to see someone from the beginning where they may have come in and been suicidal and now they’re feeling better and seeing the positive outlooks of life,” said Coriano.
Ellie
3/16/2009 By Cpl. Lisa R. Strickland , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. — More Marines committed suicide in 2008 than any other year in the 21st century.
Headquarters Marine Corps reported in a 2008 Suicide Prevention Program update that 187 Marines attempted suicide last year, 41 were successful. The majority had previously deployed. Seven took their own lives while in a war.
Serious emotional distress often requires help from an outside source. However, many Marines are in fear of ruining their career by seeking help, said Lt. Angela Coriano, clinical psychologist at Cherry Point’s Naval Health Clinic. Coriano said, a Marine should not avoid getting help because of fear of their record being affected.
“We only report if you threaten to hurt yourself or someone else,” said Coriano. “If someone is just depressed, not suicidal, then we’ll do therapy with them. As long as there’s no concern for safety and the mission, it will stay here at the clinic.”
According to Cherry Point officials, reducing the number of suicides begins with suicide prevention and that often means ensuring Marines understand their value in the community.
“Suicide is a tough, tough topic and we find most of the people just couldn’t handle the burdens in their life and maybe felt lonely,” said Frances Seybold, director of Marine Corps Family Team Building here. “If we can capture Marines and families early and get them involved in the base then maybe they won’t feel so alone.”
Seybold said the air station offers many programs for Marines and their families that many don’t even know about. There’s life skills classes, communication courses for couples, family care plan classes, family readiness training and many more courses, trips and events.
“With theses courses a Marine can navigate through the Marine Corps lifestyle and maintain a more healthy and better mental state,” said Seybold. “We can help you meet those challenges and you might have less stress, less conflict and less burdens in your life.”
Often, a Marine can be helped by talking through his or her problems. Capt. William Lesak, a chaplain here at Cherry Point, said he and other chaplains are always here to help Marines and Sailors through tough times.
“One of the things we try to do is to get them to talk,” said Lesak.
Lesak said the solution isn’t just sitting down with the Marine, but ensuring the Marine knows he is important to the Corps, his shop and his fellow Marines. Lesak said, as leaders, Marines must lookout for each other, and give fellow Marines the opportunity to speak up and talk about their feelings.
The goal of suicide prevention is to help Marines find ways to improve their mental state, lives and understand they’re not alone, said Coriano.
“It’s a good feeling to see someone from the beginning where they may have come in and been suicidal and now they’re feeling better and seeing the positive outlooks of life,” said Coriano.
Ellie