Defense Suicide Preventin Office (DSPO) Initiatives Ms. Jacqueline Garrick, LCSW-C, BCETS Directr, DSPO Nvember 18, 2013
Task Frce Implementatin Plan Based n DD Task Frce recmmendatins, OUSD (P&R) develped an implementatin mem guiding the Department s suicide preventin effrts. P&R detailed this plan t Cngress. Of the Task Frce s 76 recmmendatins: 36 required new actins frm DD 34 had actin planned, underway r cmpleted 6 did nt merit any actin by DD A General Officer Steering Cmmittee (GOSC) develped nine pririty grups f actins based n the Implementatin Plan: * Grup 1 Issue Plicy Directive Grup 2 Increase Fidelity f Data and Data Prcesses Grup 3 Develp a Prgram Evaluatin Prcess Grup 4 Imprve Strategic Messaging and Reduce Stigma Grup 5 Develp Means Reductin Plicy Grup 6 Cnduct a Cmprehensive Training Evaluatin Grup 7 Evaluate Access and Quality f Behaviral Health Care Grup 8 Review and Standardize Investigatins Grup 9 Develp a Cmprehensive Research Strategy * In final crdinatin Cmpleted In Prgress 2
Natinal Defense Authrizatin Act: FY13 Natinal Defense Authrizatin Act (NDAA) FY13 Sectins 580-582 designate individual with respnsibility fr all DD suicide preventin versight Mandates creatin f a cmprehensive suicide preventin plicy (by July 1, 2013) Allws mental health prfessinals and cmmanders t inquire abut privately-wned firearms, ammunitin, and ptentially ther dangerus weapns that culd pse a threat fr Service members identified as at risk f suicide r a danger t thers DSPO s strategy cntinues t als be guided by several ther surces: Executive Order: Imprving Access t Mental Health Services fr Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families RAND Study DD and VA Integrated Mental Health Strategy Cnslidated Implementatin Plan Sectin 533 f NDAA fr Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 3
Timeline: Evlutin f DD Suicide Preventin Prgram NDAA 09 Sectin 733 mandated a DD Task Frce t examine matters f suicide preventin RAND published The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military DD submitted a Phase 2 Reprt, which accepted 36 recmmendatins and established an Implementatin Plan DD Task Frce issued a reprt with 76 recmmendatins Executive Order was issued n DD/VA mental health access DDD 6490.14 was released 2 0 0 1 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 DD Task Frce n the Preventin f Suicide by Members f the Armed Frces was established SPARRC was chartered SPGOSC was established SPARRC: Suicide Preventin and Risk Reductin Cmmittee SPGOSC: Suicide Preventin General Officer Steering Cmmittee DD submitted a Phase 1 Reprt, which assessed fundatinal recmmendatins DSPO began peratins NDAA 12 Sectin 533 directed DD t enhance its suicide preventin prgram Launch f Natinal Strategy n Suicide Preventin NDAA 2013 is signed Vets4Warrirs Becmes Part f DSPO 4
Prgress and Accmplishments Plicy Issued the first DD-wide cmprehensive plicy, DDD 6490.14, n suicide preventin. Suicide Data Repsitry Created jint DD/VA Suicide Data Repsitry with CDC t increase the fidelity f suicide-related data and imprve data prcesses. Mrtality data includes all Service members ging back t 1979. Natinal Strategy fr Suicide Preventin (NSSP) Advanced natinal suicide preventin strategy thrugh the Actin Alliance and develped cmmunity actin teams n best practices. eppbes (electrnic Planning, Prgramming, and Budgeting Executin System) Utilized autmated resurce management tl t analyze all DD suicide preventin and resilience prgrams and resurces. Tl has prvided greater visibility int Service-level cmpliance eppbes maps t the gals f the NSSP 5
Prgress and Accmplishments Public Affairs Guidance Prvided standardized suicide preventin educatin and training t DD public affairs fficials t prmte messaging that encurages help-seeking and prevents suicide cntagin. Military Crisis Line Campaign Implemented an aggressive 12-mnth campaign with VA t increase awareness f DD crisis supprt services. DSPO has participated in dzens f events and prvided mre than 54,000 crisis supprt materials. 6
Prgress and Accmplishments Suicide Preventin Mnth (SPM) Activities: Chaplains Frum Army Health Fair DSPO Orientatin Day Warrir Care Plicy Webinar Summit n Cmmunity-based Appraches Out f the Darkness Walk Prvided materials t stakehlders fr ther SPM events: Suicide Preventin 5K Run at Camp Buehring in Kuwait Suicide Preventin Standdwn at Ft. A.P. Hill Events at installatins including Camp LeJeune, Ft. Leavenwrth, and Ft. Riley Military Appreciatin events at Majr League Baseball games Jb-related event held by Hiring Heres fr wunded warrirs and their families 7
Prgress and Accmplishments Military Family Guide Prvides infrmatin n suicide warning signs, risk factrs, actins t help thse in crisis, and mre Published in August 2013 Available fr dwnlad at www.suicideutreach.rg and in print Partners In Care Expanded prgram in which faithbased rganizatins prvide services and supprt t members f Natinal Guard and their families. Lcal faith-based rganizatins can bring hpe and ffer supprt and cntinuity f spiritual care t increase resilience Offers diverse, pluralistic, inter-faith netwrk f participating faith cmmunities Vluntary invlvement 8
Prgress and Accmplishments Gun Lcks Distributed mre than 100,000 gun lcks t the Services thrugh events natinwide t prmte safety and reduce gun-related suicides. Lethal Means Reductin Defined plicies t ensure the safety f high-risk individuals frm military and privately-wned weapns. Drug Take-Back Develped 14 recmmendatins with DD pharmacists fr the delivery and dispsal f unwanted r unused medicatins. 9
Prgress and Accmplishments Reserve Cmpnent Suicide Pstventin Plan Expanded distributin f a tlkit that prvides cmmanders with insight and guidance fr supprting their unit, families and cmmunities after a suicide event. SF-86 Strategic Campaign Plan Launched effrt t minimize false perceptins regarding the impact f behavir healthcare n persnal security clearances. Vets4Warrirs Established versight f a peer cunseling and utreach prgram fr Service members and their families. Suicide Preventin and Resiliency Resurce Inventry (SPRRI) Assessed needs f Natinal Guard & Reserve leaders and supprt prfessinals; issued recmmendatins t imprve preventin and resilience. Translatin and Implementatin f Evaluatin, Research and Studies (TIERS) Develped a framewrk fr the translatin f suicide preventin research and evidenced-based practices int plicies and prgrams. 10
Lking Frward: Activities Thrugh 2013 and Beynd Cnducting versight f DDD 6490.14 implementatin by the Services Fulfilling NDAA 2013 requirements Expanding effrts with VA t respnd t 2012 EO t enhance the mental health services f Service members, Veterans and their families Imprving data fidelity thrugh partnerships with VA and CDC Implementing DD-wide prgram evaluatin in measures f efficiencies and effectiveness Explring fr Service members use f therapeutic sentencing techniques develped by Veterans Treatment Curts in military justice prceedings Taking c-leadership f the MilVets Task Frce fr the Actin Alliance 11
Lking Frward: Enhancing Resilience DD Directive (DDD) 6490.14, amng ther things, requires DD t: Fster a cmmand climate that encurages persnnel t seek help and build resilience. Facilitate a hlistic apprach t well-being thrugh ttal fitness. Prvide cntinuus access t quality care and ther supprtive services t strengthen resilience and readiness f DD persnnel and their dependents. Take steps t identify members wh are at risk fr suicide. Determine best practices f suicide preventin, resilience, r preventative prgrams. Prvide rbust training standards n suicide preventin. DSPO is expanding services, including peer supprt and research, t enhance the resilience f Service members. 12
Lking Frward: Enhancing Resilience In 2013 DSPO-led wrkgrup meetings cnfirmed Jint Chiefs f Staff s definitin f resilience as the ability t withstand, adapt, recver, and r grw in the face f challenges and demands. Thrugh plicy guidance and identifying best practices, DSPO aims t use Ttal Frce Fitness t bst readiness and resilience. Ppulatins targeted fr resilience effrts: Individual Family Unit Active Duty Reserve Initiatives will address the resilience needs f the military thrugh several fcus areas t ffer a cmprehensive, hlistic, and expanded apprach t suicide preventin. 13
Cntact Infrmatin Jacqueline Garrick, LCSW-C, BCETS Directr Defense Suicide Preventin Office 1700 N. Mre St. Suite 1425 703-614-8838 jacqueline.n.garrick.civ@mail.mil www.suicideutreach.rg 14