MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- -- "One suicide is one too many."
Lieutenant Anthony J. Wegierski, H&S Bn. chaplain, is one of those in the chaplain corps serving to help prevent a phenomenon that is either unrecognized or ignored until too late. An awareness of the problem is the first step to getting help for an individual.
"Prevention is a general understanding that everyone is important," said Wegierski. "If a person's environment [co-workers, roommates, etc.] is aware, they can do things to support that individual."
Leadership, as with everything in the Marine Corps, plays a vital role.
"You need your leaders to recognize the indicators," said Crystal Dilliard, Semper Fit Health Promotion Coordinator.
Semper Fit is one of the agencies that can help educate units to recognize the signs of someone who may be on the edge.
Certain trends in behavior and mood, known as risk factors, can be indicators of someone who is contemplating suicide.
"One of the first things you want to look for is a marked change in their behavior," said Lt. David MacVicar, Mental Health Unit clinical psychologist, "[Such as] they look down constantly, keeping to themselves. The biggest risk factors are depression and substance abuse."
Other risk factors include a previous history of suicidal threats or attempts, a preoccupation with death, giving away possessions, impulsive anger, legal or financial trouble and performance difficulties. Indicators should not be ignored.
"You always take it seriously," said Wegierski. "You never overlook [what they say] or anything in that regard. You never know what's inside."
Stress events or setbacks are triggers that may lead to a suicide or a suicide attempt.
"If you've got a hard-charging Marine who's suffered a significant setback, it would warrant sitting down with him and talking about what's going on," said MacVicar.
Common examples of stress events are the threatened separation or end of relationship, a humiliation, a failure or a disciplinary crisis.
In some cases, stress events which precede a suicide may seem to be common problems to most people rather than exceptional difficulties. Such events may appear overwhelming to a person with an underlying psychiatric condition such as depression or alcohol abuse.
The good news is that the conditions that lead to suicide are treatable. Counseling for substance abuse is available through various agencies.
"There are other options," said Wegierski.
Though many feel that there is a stigma about talking with someone about suicidal thoughts, talking about suicide is not a sign of weakness nor will talking to someone about it give them the idea to do it, said MacVicar.
Some worry that speaking up about someone who's at risk will hurt his career. It won't, said MacVicar. Regardless, a career is no good to a Marine or sailor if he is dead.
"Getting help is what's going to be better in the long run," he said. "Ultimately, you need to put life ahead of career."
The Mental Health Unit aboard the Depot is available to help permanent party personnel, and battalion chaplains are also ready to listen.
Further, unless there is an immediate threat to an individual's life, such as active plans to commit suicide within a short period of time, the chaplains can keep confidentiality. The effort isn't to harm or embarrass, but to help.
For more information about treatment, contact the Mental Health Unit at 228-3869 or your battalion chaplain.