Preventing Suicide - "You Are Not Alone"

Photo By Sgt. Trinity Carter | Suicide Prevention.  

CO, UNITED STATES

04.15.2021

Story by Spc. Trinity Carter 

14th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT CARSON, Colo. — The year 2020 has brought about many unprecedented challenges for numerous individuals and the world as a whole. Although now in the year 2021 and a couple COVID-19 vaccines spreading throughout the globe, there are a vast amount of people struggling with mental health who were greatly affected by the pandemic and situations it brought about. One story in particular stood out to Calvin Lidmark, the Employee Assistance Program Coordinator for the Army substance abuse program (ASAP) on Fort Carson. ASAP is a comprehensive program that combines deterrence, prevention, and treatment designed to strengthen the overall fitness and effectiveness of the Army. This story states the relevance of how mental health is affected due to the pandemic.
A DA civilian family member, who was attending college, lived in the dorms as the college began to transition to virtual schooling. This individual was forced to quarantine during the beginning portion of the pandemic as multiple organizations were closing themselves due to the virus. The student felt fully isolated with setbacks with their learning. Their friends began to be more distant because of the isolation and for this student they felt no hope. Their parents began to feel the shift in their child as suicidal comments were made. Concerned, the parents reached out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to seek assistance for their child. Lidmark and the student created a safety plan and talked to the student about reaching out to chat lines to connect with others that are in a similar situation. With time there was progress with opening the student’s mind to other viable options they could try to communicate with people and better understand how to manage the feeling of their friends and classmates not talking to them as much. This student now has made it through quarantine and has the knowledge that they are not alone during rough times. They found people to talk to and relate with, which made the thoughts of suicide not an option like it once was to them.
Lidmark emphasizes the importance of the EAP program that helps provide resources for DA civilians about suicide prevention. DOD Civilians, family members, and contractors should contact EAP for assistance, while soldiers should reach out to leadership, chaplains, MFLC, medical providers, and behavioral health. Showing that reaching out to ASAP in times of need can better equip an individual struggling with suicidal thoughts by providing resources that will point them in the right direction.
These resources are for anyone and everyone on post whether they are Soldiers, DA civilians, dependents, or veterans. There are many different ways to gather information for Soldiers and DA civilians however, the biggest resources for them are the chaplains and behavioral health prior to contacting ASAP.
“We do ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) training,” Cherll Paxton, the Suicide Prevention Program Manager mentions, “Not just us, the chaplains also do that. What is available to units include ACE, ACE-SI, ASIST, therapy dog visits, and ASAP specialist consults for unit level high risk behavior assessment and mitigation.”
Paxton mentions even more opportunities, not only for the assistance with preventing suicide, but also to mitigate stress and anxiety. Paxton also states that they are always open to ideas to promote the awareness of suicide prevention. If there is anyone that has ideas to help civilians and Soldiers you are always welcome to give them to ASAP through phone or email.
The ASAP office staff wants everyone to feel invited and welcome to seek help themselves or assistance for others through this program. They emphasize ask, care, and escort of those you suspect may be struggling with these thoughts. Make sure to be direct when asking, be genuine when caring and consoling the individual, and escort that individual to available resources. Be sure to make escorting feel like a team effort for this individual rather than something they are being forced to do. These are key steps within the prevention program. Each person of the ASAP staff gave the same strong message, “You are not alone.”
If you are struggling or know someone who maybe struggling, below are helpful phone numbers listed to assist with suicidal thoughts:
Suicide Prevention Program Manager – 719-526-0401
Employee Assistance Program Coordinator – 719-526-2196
Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800-273-8255
Colorado Crisis Line – 844-493-8255
Crisis Text line – 838-255
Military One Source – 800-342-9647

• Date Taken: 04.15.2021
• Date Posted: 04.23.2021 13:27
• Story ID: 393921
• Location: CO, US