Each September, Suicide Prevention Month-led by the 21st Century Sailor Office's Suicide Prevention Branch, OPNAV N171-serves as an extended launch for sustainable and tailored local engagement throughout the upcoming fiscal year. Through its Every Sailor, Every Day campaign, Navy Suicide Prevention Branch provides tools and resources designed to empower behavior change by engaging Sailors and their families with strategies to build resilience, navigate stress, recognize risk, seek help and intervene early.

"This isn't just a 30-day 'blitz,'" said Capt. Mike D. Fisher, Director, Navy Suicide Prevention Branch. "It's about reenergizing ongoing suicide prevention efforts and enlisting all hands in the effort to be there for Every Sailor, Every Day."

This September, the campaign introduced new applications of its primary message, 1 Small ACT, addressing ways to support one's own psychological and emotional health through self-care, while promoting Navy's evidence-based prevention and intervention resources. Additionally, the campaign continued to encourage ways to build strong relationships and communities by remaining actively engaged with others, aligning with the Defense Suicide Prevention Office's newest theme, "Be There."

"Engagement across the fleet this month really demonstrated our entire Navy community's commitment to building a supportive Navy culture that encourages wellness, support and seeking help," said Fisher. "Now it's time to keep the momentum going."

Several Sailors shared their experiences and what motivates them to take care of themselves and serve in roles to support their shipmates, including suicide prevention coordinators from around the fleet whose stories are featured on Navy Medicine Live. Others held local events to build community, break down barriers and motivate positive action. U.S. Naval Hospital Guam's chief petty officers manned exit gates, displaying 1 Small ACT posters that they created to encourage passersby to take steps to promote good psychological health. Fleet and Family Support Center Yokosuka held a 1 Small ACT event where participants received information and resources on stress navigation and suicide prevention.

Sailors at Amphibious Construction Battalion One (ACB 1) came together to produce a 1 Small ACT public service announcement (PSA) educating audiences on risk factors and warning signs of suicide, while promoting the many ways to seek help. The video ends on a hopeful note, encouraging viewers to "talk and listen to each other" and that "life is worth living." This video can be viewed on the Navy Operational Stress Control YouTube page.

Additionally, more than 50 new Small ACT Selfies were submitted for the 1 Small ACT Photo Gallery in September, highlighting the many ways to be there for oneself and others, and the many people who are actively engaged in the commitment to prevent suicide. Participants include Sailors aboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka; Naval Air Station Everett; Naval Air Station Key West; Training Support Center Great Lakes; U.S. Naval Hospital Guam; Navy & Marine Corps Public Health Center; and various commands and families from around the fleet. These photos are posted in the 1 Small ACT Photo Gallery, which is now viewable on the new official Navy Suicide Prevention Branch Flickr page here.

With 2016 Suicide Prevention Month coming to a close, now is a good time to reflect on local kick-off efforts and share best practices to promote sustained engagement throughout the year. To that end, the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) will recognize one outstanding installation from each of the Services and one from either the Reserves or National Guard for their efforts in suicide prevention and promotion of community engagement during September 2016. DSPO will honor the recipients during the 2016 Suicide Prevention Month Outreach Recognition Ceremony in mid-November at the Pentagon.

Only one submission per installation will be submitted for final consideration by DSPO. The submission process is as follows:
* Review criteria listed in the DSPO Outreach Recognition Call for Nominations, detailing how DSPO judges will evaluate efforts based on audiences, participation, effectiveness and timeliness. The Call for Nominations can be accessed here.
* Fill out the DSPO Outreach Recognition Nomination form and submit to your local installation public affairs office (PAO), available here.
* The installation public affairs office will compile submissions and coordinate with Navy Suicide Prevention Branch for review.
* Navy Suicide Prevention Branch will review submissions and provide to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office by October 14, 2016.

Ships, squadrons and deployed units should coordinate with their homeport public affairs offices to ensure proper routing. Reserve component commands should work with their public affairs office to ensure that only one submission per unit is forwarded to Navy Suicide Prevention Branch for review.

Entries must be received from installation PAOs by Navy Suicide Prevention Branch no later than October 11, 2016. All efforts must be compliant with guidance on safe and successful messaging for final consideration, which can be viewed in the 1 Small ACT Toolkit, here.

Suicide prevention is more than a training topic. Efforts to educate and engage your shipmates on strategies to promote physical and psychological health, recognize risk and intervene early, and reduce barriers to seeking help can save lives. It's about being there for Every Sailor, Every Day.

For additional information on Navy Suicide Prevention Branch efforts, visit www.suicide.navy.mil. For ongoing tips and Small ACTs to help you be there for yourself and others, subscribe to http://navstress.wordpress.com, 'Like' @U.S. Navy Operational Stress Control on Facebook and follow @NavStress on Twitter.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/.