Army officials struggling to reduce the number of suicides among soldiers want family members to help spot trouble signs, such as depression. At Fort Campbell alone, eight soldiers have killed themselves since the beginning of the year, reports The Associated Press. The number of self-inflicted deaths has grown annually over the past half-decade, coinciding with the elongation and repetition of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, AP reports. This prompted the brass at Campbell to declare a “state of emergency,” and to make suicide prevention training mandatory. “Of the 100 family members and spouses at a meeting at the post Thursday, more than a dozen raised their hands when asked if they knew someone who had committed suicide,” AP reports. “Those family members — often the first to notice problems — received information and training on recognizing signs of suicidal thoughts — and how to get help for the soldiers at the installation along the Tennessee state line.” The base brought in a suicide-prevention program manager, the first on a U.S. military installation, to oversee family support and social work programs on the post and organize efforts to help soldiers struggling after multiple deployments. “They go from being in the combat zone one day to being in their home the next and our trick is to try to help them turn off that mind-set — that they are no longer in a combat situation,” Joe Varney, the suicide-prevention expert, told AP. Now a vital part of the effort to help soldiers cope, Varney tends to thousands of soldiers who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Another part of the coping plan involves partnering soldiers with “Battle Buddies.” In fact, every Fort Campbell soldier is required to carry a card with contact information for another soldier, usually someone they work with frequently, AP reports. Maggie McCoy, whose husband killed himself last year at their home near Fort Campbell, said she’s happy to see the extra training. But she wants better access to mental health treatment for war veterans. “I think the big focus needs to be on properly evaluating soldiers when they come back,” said McCoy, who is also a former soldier.

TAGS: Fort Campbell, Joe Varney, suicide, U.S. Army

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