A team of trained suicide prevention professionals helped Navy suicide prevention coordinators (SPC) within Navy Region Southwest improve the ways they look for warning signs and how to intervene.

As part of a pilot program, twenty certified SPCs attended NRSW-sponsored training, Feb. 23-27, at Murphy Canyon Chapel. LivingWorks, a company that trains suicide prevention, led Sailors through a course providing necessary communication skills for suicide intervention.

Cmdr. Eric Johnson, NRSW director, 21st Century Sailor, said this training is taking SPCs expertise to the next level, and teaching them how to recognize signs of suicide, how to deal with signs of suicide, how to refer people to health resources and how to build a community, or network of suicide resources within their installations.

According to Johnson, military suicides in general have increased dramatically over the past couple of years. In 2006, there were 45 confirmed suicides in the Navy, and in 2014 that number increased to 68. Johnson said that increase each year has led to more proactive measures within the ranks.

"Our strategy is early intervention and Sailors taking care of Sailors." Johnson said.

Setting up advanced training for SPCs is a result of feedback received from the fleet. Through focus groups and leadership assessments, the fleet is demanding higher quality training; more face-to-face interaction and less reliance on web-based courses.

Chief Culinary Specialist Jon Wright, NRSW SPC, has personally been impacted by suicide. His mother committed suicide a few years ago, and he dealt with some other personal low points that resulted in thoughts of hurting himself. "Not good thoughts to have when I was going through my divorce," he said. "Did I share that with anybody? No, I didn't share that I was having those thoughts."

However, Wright said looking back he recognized there were people he could have opened up to. "Talking about it, it takes that weight off of you, and sometimes you just need to talk to get stuff off your chest."

Learning how to talk to someone thinking about self-harm was part of safeTALK, which is a workshop designed to teach anyone how to be a suicide-alert helper. The safeTALK workshop included role-playing scenarios to put SPCs in the position of someone thinking of suicide. Wright said going through those scenarios reminded him how difficult it is to be that person who feels alone, and on the brink of ending it all.

"Everybody in the class had a tough time with it." In that moment he realized how critical it is for him to look for signs. "That person feels alone, so when you get there, it's very difficult to discuss sometimes."

Wright knew he had to take proactive measures to protect himself. He said his alcohol consumption played a role in his suicidal ideations, so he made a conscious decision to stop drinking.

Johnson said alcohol abuse and other destructive behaviors play a role in many suicide cases, which is why NRSW SPCs received training on the numerous available programs to help Sailors before they reach their breaking point.

"We talked with the SPCs about the need to integrate other programs; for the command climate specialist, DAPA, the SAPR VA, to meet routinely as a committee and know what each other is doing."

Wright said the training is a confidence booster. The main point he's taken away from the course is people need to really listen to what others are going through, and not be afraid to talk about suicide.

Johnson said SPCs will be able to take what they learned through the course and teach Sailors at their commands. Johnson added that while each command has a different approach, in order for suicide prevention efforts to be effective they need to have SPCs who genuinely care, programs that interact, and the support of the entire chain of command.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southwest, visit www.navy.mil/.