Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Johans Chavarro | 150924-N-IU636-029 PEARL HARBOR (Sept. 24, 2015) Sailors, a part of the Pearl Harbor...... read more read more
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PEARL HARBOR - Sailors a part of the Pearl Harbor Coalition Sailors against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) chapter participated in a Suicide Prevention Month gate awareness event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Sept. 24.
The event was held to bring light to the Navy's Everyday Sailor, Every Day campaign, "1 Small Act." The campaign is designed to encourage dialogue and provide early resources to prevent suicide with simple, everyday actions that can ultimately save lives using the Navy's "ACT" (Ask Care Treat) bystander intervention model.
"Every life is precious, and the fight is year-round," said Capt. Mike Fisher, OPNAV N171 director. "We want people engaged with their shipmates every day of the year. We're talking about being there for every Sailor, every day."
And with their slogans and posters held over their heads, the handful of Sailors from the Pearl Harbor CSADD chapter aimed to do just that.
“We’re just trying to send a positive message out there to let people know that CSADD does care and you only do have one life to live,” said Pearl Harbor CSADD President Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Anthony R. Ramos. “All it takes sometimes is one small act, maybe like this gate awareness, to help someone if they’re having a bad day. Just us being out here may show someone that even though things may not be going well at the moment, there is always going to be someone out there who cares about you.”
According to Ramos, the “1 Small Act” initiative is a responsibility all Sailors should have toward one another, not just as shipmates, but also as family.
“We all need to know that we are all important to each other, and that every life matters,” said Ramos. “When you think about it, when you join the Navy that’s another family you have. We’re all brothers and sisters. We’re all one big family. So if you start to see everyone out there promoting how one small act can make a difference, it’s going to start opening people’s eyes and let them know, ‘OK, I really do have somebody to talk to.’”
Ramos recollected on a time he and his peers were faced with the challenge of approaching a friend and shipmate about suicide and how the simple act of talking to them helped bring perspective to their situation.
“Once we talked to this Sailor, we tried to make them realize why their life was important: Their kids, their career, the leadership impact they had on, not just me, but everyone around them,” said Ramos. “Sometimes people forget that everything you do is a blessing. This Sailor ended up snapping out of it and just made chief this last cycle.”
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Mark Bonner, Pearl Harbor CSADD vice president, echoed Ramos’ sentiments and the importance of having the courage to make that one small act, to take that first step.
“It’s like a ladder. One small step could lead to another, which could lead to something bigger,” said Bonner. “If we can impact just one Sailor, one person, that’s what matters.”
For more information, please visit the Navy Suicide Prevention's Every Sailor, Every Day Web page at: http://www.npc.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspx.
Help is always available. Call the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (press 1), text 838255 or visit www.militarycrisisline.net for confidential, free support, 24/7.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2015 17:24 |
| Story ID: | 177124 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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