Tangible Trust: A Different Focus to Prevent Suicides in the Army
Abstract
Despite policy changes, mandatory training events, research studies, and novel initiatives across numerous organizations, the US Army continues its battle against suicide. Historical and current suicide prevention measures focus on the identification of risk factors through yearly training; however, the number of inordinate risk variables and complexities of timely identification of suicide ideation or behavior limit this approach. As soldier suicides continue to impact the Army's readiness, the Army requires a change in focus to combat the ever increasing-rate of soldier suicides. This monograph proposes placing a stronger emphasis on tangible protective factors already in place in the Army the leaders, counseling, and substantiated behavioral health institutions to create tangible means of trust as a complement to current suicide prevention techniques. Deliberately creating a tangible protective environment by increasing trust one soldier at a time and using that trust as the means to remove the stigma of seeking behavioral health can further contribute to suicide prevention.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 20, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1160688
Entities
People
- Brian H. Choi
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies