ROUTINE R 021549Z SEP 22 MID200080179056U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 059/22 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/SEP// SUBJ/SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH// RMKS/1. September is Suicide Prevention Month. Every suicide is a tragedy that has long term effects on families and communities, and the Department of the Navy (DON) is not exempt from the effects of this public health challenge. Reversing the rising numbers of suicide deaths among Sailors and Marines in recent years requires a total force effort. We need you to live. 2. Suicide is a complex problem with no single cause and no single solution. Service Members and veterans are at high risk for some of the common risk factors, including financial and legal challenges, relationship stress, experiencing a mental health condition, and having a physical health problem. 3. Through advances in research and practice, we have learned a great deal about how to prevent suicide. We've learned that safely storing lethal means is critical during a crisis and protects Service Members and their families. We've also learned that compassionate leaders are integral to creating psychologically safe (protective) environments that prevent isolation and ultimately reduce suicidal ideations and behaviors. 4. Compassionate leadership means fundamentally understanding, at a personal level, the unique challenges Sailors and Marines face regardless of having personally experiencing those challenges. Periods of transition and relationship and work stressors are among the most stressful life events, and these are common experiences in the military. 5. This Suicide Prevention Month, I encourage leaders at all levels to: a. Inspire help-seeking behavior, mental fitness, and empathetic leadership and model the value and impact of normalizing conversations about daily life stressors and mental health. b. Equip their teams to identify risk factors, protective factors, intervention measures, and resources for mental, physical, social, and spiritual resilience by engaging community resources such as chaplains, military family life counselors, and community counseling programs. c. Treat mental health with the same importance of physical health ensuring Service Members and their families have readily accessible resources available to them. 6. The DON is committed to ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all members within our community. We want our community to be well in all areas of life, and we must cultivate a culture that prioritizes trust, respect, and connection to achieve that. 7. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the following resources are available. a. The National Suicide Hotline: 988. b. The Military Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 (press 1) or Text 838255 / www.veteranscrisisline.net. c. Military OneSource: 800-342-9647 (OCONUS) / TTY: 800-342-9647 / www.militaryonesource.mil. d. Vet Centers: 877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387) / www.vetcenter.va.gov e. Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP): 844-DONCEAP (1-844-366-2327) / TTY: 888-262-7848 / International: 866-829- 0270 / www.magellanascend.com. f. Embedded resources such as the Military Family Life Counselors, chaplains, Deployment Resiliency Counselors, Deployment Readiness Coordinators and your leadership. 8. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//