Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s commanding officer signed a proclamation in support of the Navy-wide ‘Act, Care and Treat’ suicide training program onboard NAS Pensacola Sept. 13.

Capt. Christopher Martin, the NAS Pensacola commanding officer, signed the Suicide Prevention Proclamation (SPP), part of a Navy-wide initiative designed to highlight the importance of taking action and recognizing the impact of stressors in service members’ daily lives as well as developing protective measures against stressors and suicide.

“Each and every NAS Pensacola Sailor and their family members are critical in achieving mission readiness in northwest Florida,” he said. “Losing a single Sailor to something which can be prevented is a tragic occurrence, and we’re dedicated to ensuring Sailors and their families are aware of the support avenues available to them.”

The proclamation, something each facility in Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) is signing, emphasizes the Navy’s “Act, Care Treat” (ACT) initiative and the “1 Small ACT” message. Both are generated by the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Navy Suicide Prevention Program, and are designed to raise awareness of suicide, its warning signs and encourage people to directly engage with those at risk.

“It is a tough uphill battle,” said Lt. Christopher Terrell, a NAS Pensacola chaplain. “Discussing suicide openly is still a largely taboo subject in our society. Asking someone directly if they are thinking about attempting suicide is not a dangerous or unhelpful course of action. In fact, directly engaging and questioning a Sailor or individual who is struggling is often extraordinarily helpful.”

Terrell added that NAS Pensacola employs both the SafeTALK and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) programs – both developed by Living Works, a U.S.-based organization dedicated to providing suicide prevention training, and adopted by the Navy.

SafeTALK is a four-hour workshop offered monthly and is designed to help Sailors recognize and address the signs and symptoms of those contemplating suicide, and provides guidelines on how to respond to an attempted suicide.

The ASIST program, an intensive two-day course designed to provide trainees with tools to effectively communicate with someone contemplating suicide, is offered every quarter, but according to Terrell, both ASIST and SafeTALK can be offered as requested by a command.

“ASIST trains our Sailors on how to intervene and directly help those individuals who are contemplating suicide from attempting suicide by direct action,” Terrell said, “Sailors struggling with suicidal thoughts or tendencies often don’t reach out on their own, often for fear of losing their position or career in the Navy.”
Terrell said the negative connotation of asking for assistance or reaching out for help when overwhelmed by stress is a thing of the past, citing a naval instruction ensuring commanding officers create an environment encouraging an open dialogue between Sailors and their command.

“The assumption that reaching out for help due to suicidal thoughts is a Navy career-ender is entirely false,” he said. “Commands should be cultivating a climate that makes it acceptable to ask for help, receive help, recover and continue on in their naval career unimpeded. As long as the Uniform Code of Military Justice was not violated and the Sailor seeking help is able to get help and recover, there should be no detriment to that Sailor or their career in the Navy.”

Terrell added that there are numerous resources available to Sailors seeking assistance – from the base chaplains who offer 100 percent confidentiality to hotlines staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“If a Sailor comes forward seeking help and assistance, assistance and help will be provided,” he said. “If you find yourself thinking about suicide that doesn’t mean you are broken beyond repair. It just means you need some help, and we all need help from time to time.” 

The Military Crisis Line offers confidential support for active-duty and Reserve service members and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1 (800) 273-8255. Service member can also access www.militarycrisisline.net, an organization staffed by qualified responders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The website offers an online chat service, as well as phone call and text messaging services for individuals.

NAS Pensacola, referred to as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands including Naval Aviation Schools Command, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Naval Aviation Technical Training Center, Marine Aviation Training Support Groups 21 and 23 and is the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command.