Fort Bragg Tackles the Issue of Suicide

With the Army's increasing suicides tolls, the leadership at Fort Bragg hosted a media round table on Thursday. Reporting the most suicides of any army installation, at 14, Fort Bragg is making this a priority.

Members of the round table included: 

• Col. Chad McRee, 16th Military Police Brigade commander and Fort Bragg suicide prevention program manager
• Lt. Col. Michael Baumeister, 82nd Sustainment Brigade deputy commander
• Maj. Ralph Clark, Fort Bragg Family Life Chaplain
• Col. Jay Earle of Womack Army Medical Center's Behavioral Health department
• Master Sgt. Eric Brooks, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command.

Relationship issues are one of the biggest indicators of the epidemic shared Col. Chad McCree, leader of Fort Bragg's suicide prevention task force.

The prevention programs have improved according to the soldiers and leaders from different Fort Bragg units and there is now more than ever, a more heightened awareness on the topic. 

One valuable resource available is the Survivor Outreach Service. The organization advocates on behalf of all families who have suffered the loss of a soldier. The unified support program embraces and reassures survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family, for as long as they desire. It provides an avenue of resources to include support groups, bi-monthly newsletters, information briefs and social activities.

Other resources include weekly support group meetings for survivors.

"This program has been helpful to me in dealing with our family issues and I'm glad to see the post being more proactive," one family member said.

Next Thursday Fort Bragg will hold a suicide prevention stand-down, focusing on training and suicide prevention.

Besides Military One Source, 1-800-342-9647, Fort Bragg has their own hotline, 396-HELP (4357).