USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Religious Ministries Division is offering suicide awareness training to Sailors and Marines in a unique way.

"The suicide program for the Sailors and Marines is to encourage awareness," said Lt. Luke Dundon, one of Bonhomme Richard's chaplains. "First is the reality of stresses and challenges that come about in a military life which can possibly lead to the unfortunate result of suicide. The importance of the training program is to bring the subject out into the open into a conversation, so that people can be aware of it, better understand what leads to it, and be more aware of ways in which we can prevent it from ever happening, or ever even approaching that place where a person may end their life by suicide."

The Religious Ministries Division aboard Bonhomme Richard has found a new way to present the training, personally visiting two divisions per day.

"The interactive portion is the core of our program here," said Dundon. "By having face to face conversations with one another, we can encourage better suicide awareness because it helps lead to the development of close relationships. By showing everyone the best tactics to combat suicide instead of just talking about it, we can be more effective."

Culinary Specialist 1st Class Edwin Fiesta has been through numerous variations of suicide awareness training, but believes this has been the most effective training to date.

"What was great about this training is [chaplain Dundon] got everyone involved and interacted with us as a group," said Fiesta. "Nobody was left out. Most suicide training is some kind of lecture or 'death by powerpoint.' I think now the Sailors and Marines have a better understanding of what to look for and how to help."

Pfc. Timothy Dalton thinks his fellow Marines learned a lot from the training.

"I thought he hit a lot of key points," said Dalton. "As Marines, we need to hear this so we know more. As long as we keep getting word about this, Marines will be able to become familiar with it and be able to help people in the future."

Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The BHR ESG consists of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and USS Germantown (LSD 42).

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