Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
The Department of Defense (DoD) is emphasizing its commitment to suicide prevention and awareness this September through its campaign, "Joining Your Fight: Connect to Protect."
"Suicide prevention takes a community to create change, to sustain hope, and to convey that we are all in this together," said Dr. Liz Clark, director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). "I know the work is not easy, but we must look out for each other and draw strength from each other as we light a path forward. Each death by suicide is one too many, and the Department is deeply committed to ending the scourge of suicide throughout the force."
This year's campaign aims to increase connection, safety, and hope within the military community. The Department has taken significant steps in recent years to address this public health crisis, including establishing the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC). This committee, composed of external experts, made over 100 recommendations for improving the Department's suicide prevention and response programs.
In line with SPRIRC's work, the Department is implementing actions across five lines of effort: fostering a supportive environment for Service members, improving mental health care delivery, addressing stigma and barriers to care, revising existing suicide training, and promoting lethal means safety.
"Taking care of our military community is our top priority," said Elizabeth Foster, executive director of the Office of Force Resiliency. "We are committed to reducing the number of deaths by suicide throughout our Armed Forces and will continue to aggressively implement the SPRIRC recommendations as approved by the Secretary of Defense to build a foundation for long-term progress."
The Department encourages Service members, civilians, and their families to seek help if needed and support those who may be struggling. For immediate assistance or more information on resources available, individuals can call the Veteran's Crisis Hotline at 9-8-8 or visit https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.
