Suicide Prevention

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, seek assistance immediately by contacting the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

Understanding suicide warning signs and risk factors can empower you to help identify, prevent and intervene early to save lives. Our suicide prevention resources help individuals recognize and understand suicide related behaviors, risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors as well as learn how to help if confronted with a suicide situation. These valuable resources can be used not only by Sailors or Marines who need a helping hand but also by family members and friends, command leadership, command suicide prevention coordinators (SPCs), behavioral health providers, primary care and other specialty providers and chaplains.

Resources

Warning Signs and Risk Factors >>
Acute Suicide Warning Signs
Risk Factors
SAD PERSONS
Know the Signs
Suicide Warning Signs
Warning Signs
What to Do >>
ACT Now
5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain
Help Someone Else
What can I do to help someone who may be suicidal?
What you can do to prevent suicide
Understanding and Helping the Suicidal Person
Never Leave a Marine Behind
Information >>
- CDC Suicide Facts at Glance
- Suicide at a Glance Infographic
- Terminology Related to Suicide
- The Truths about Sailors and Suicide
- Dispelling the Myths about Suicide
- Small Steps Save Lives
- NIMH Suicide in America: Frequently Asked Questions
- SAMHSA Suicide Prevention
- American Association of Suicidology
- Prevention and Protective Factors >>
  - CDC Preventing Suicide
  - Defense Suicide Prevention Protective Factors
  - DCoE Protective and Risk Factors
  - SPRC Risk & Protective Factors
  - Prevention Basics
  - Military and Government Suicide Prevention Resources >>
    - U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Program
    - U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Month Web page
    - Navy Chief of Chaplains Confidential Communications Fact Sheet
    - Navy Chief of Chaplains Confidential Communications FAQs
    - Defense Suicide Prevention Office
    - 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
    - DHCC Suicide Prevention
    - DCoE Suicide Prevention
    - CDC Suicide Prevention
    - SAMHSA-HRSA Suicide Prevention
    - NIMH Suicide Prevention
    - U.S. Air Force Suicide Prevention Program
    - U.S. Coast Guard Suicide Prevention Program
    - Real Warriors Campaign
    - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention
    - Navy and Marine Corps Guidance >>
      - OPNAV INST 1720.4B Navy Suicide Prevention Policy
      - Marine Corps Order 1720.2 Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program
      - BUMED Instruction 1700.6 Command Suicide Prevention Program
      - U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Program
      - Training and Conferences >>
        
        American Association of Suicidology Conference
        
        SPRC Training
        
        Center for Deployment Psychology Suicide online training
        
        Presenter Training-Suicide Prevention
        
        Suicide Prevention Coordinators >>
        
        Guidance for Developing a Crisis Response Plan
        
        U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Program
        
        Command Suicide Prevention Program Resources
        
        U.S. Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program
        
        U.S. Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program Training Resources
        
        LifeLink-Navy Suicide Prevention Newsletter
        
        Navy Suicide Prevention-An All Hands Effort
        
        Leaders >>
        
        Reducing Access to Firearms: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Military Leaders
        
        Commanding Officer's Suicide Prevention Program Handbook
        
        Navy Leader's Guide for Managing Sailors in Distress
        
        Reserve Suicide Postvention Plan: A Toolkit for Commanders
        
        U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Program
        
        U.S. Navy Suicide Prevention Program Training Resources
        
        Suicide: What Unit Leaders Need to Know
        
        Clinicians >>
        
        Risk Assessment (+)
        
        Suicide Assessment Tools
        
        Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
        
        VA Suicide Risk Assessment Guide
        
        VA Safety Plan and Pocket Guide
        
        Suicide Assessment Five Step Evaluation and Triage
        
        Suicide Facts for Primary Care Providers
        
        Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care Providers
        
        Role of Nurses in Preventing Suicide
        
        Emergency Department Evaluation and Suicide Risk
        
        After a Suicide Attempt Resources (+)
        
        After an Attempt A Guide for Providers in the Emergency Department
        
        After a Suicide: A Prevention Primer for Providers
Behavioral Health Providers >>
Risk Assessment(+)
- VA Suicide Risk Assessment Guide
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
- Suicide Assessment Tools
- VA Safety Plan Quick Guide
- Assessing and Responding to Suicidal Ideation (NCPTSD)
- American Psychiatric Association Guidelines Treatment of Patients with Suicidal behaviors
- Role of Clinical Social Workers and Counselors in Preventing Suicide
- Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Counselors
- Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse
- VA Suicide Prevention Mini Clinic
- After a Suicide Attempt Resources (+)
  - Taking Care of Yourself After a Suicide Attempt
  - Information and Support After a Suicide Attempt: (A Department of Veterans Affairs Resource Guide for Family Members of Veterans Who are Coping with Suicidality)
- SAMHSA Military Families
- Survivors of Suicide >>
  - Coping with Loss After Suicide
  - AAS - Suicide Loss Survivors
  - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
  - SAVE
  - Coping after Suicide Brochure
  - USMC Postvention & Survivors of Suicide
  - Coping After a Loss
  - Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors
  - SPAN USA
  - Navy Doc I have felt the pain
  - Reserve Suicide Postvention Plan
  - "Postvention: A Chaplain's Response" DOD/VA Annual Suicide Prevention Conference March 2011
  - Understanding Suicide Bereavement
  - Suicide Survivors: Defining Needs and Interventions
  - At a Glance Safe Reporting on Suicide<
  - Public Service Announcements & Videos >>
    - Every Sailor Every Day Video
    - Veteran's Crisis Line
    - TRICARE
    - Navy Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcement Winners
    - Suicide Prevention MCPON and Fleet
    - Look Out for Warning Signs of Suicide (1)
    - Look Out for Warning Signs of Suicide (2)
    - NMTSC Suicide Prevention Campaign
    - NMTSC Suicide Prevention Smile
    - Chief Kelsy
    - CSADD PSA
    - Navy Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training
    - Army Media Player Shoulder to Shoulder Video
    - HA Suicide PSAs
    - Side by Side Veterans Administration PSA
    - Gary Sinise

Brochures and Resources >>
- Suicide Awareness and Prevention
- Taking Action Saving Lives Brochure
- Preventing Suicide Trifold
- Lifeguards Brochure
- Navy Suicide Prevention Brochure
- Veterans Administration Brochure
- Veterans Crisis Line Suicide Prevention Toolkit
- DoD Wallet Card
- National Suicide Prevention Card
- USMC Wallet Card
- Preventing Suicide A Toolkit for High Schools
- Posters >>
  - Do you know the Warning Signs?
  - Lethal Means Safety 1
  - Lethal Means Safety 2
  - Every Sailor, Every Day Poster Series (NMCPHC HPW) (+)
    - Every Sailor, Every Day 1
    - Every Sailor, Every Day 2
  - All It Takes Is One
  - Medical Personnel and Corpsmen Poster Series (+)
    - Docs Helping Docs No One Stands Alone
    - Docs Helping Docs No One Stands Alone - Insert Command Information
    - Corpsmen Oath1
    - Corpsmen Oath1 - Insert Command Information
    - Corpsmen Oath2
    - Corpsmen - Insert Command Information
  - Aviation Personnel Poster Series (+)
    - Aviation No One Stands Alone
    - Aviation No One Stands Alone - Insert Command Information
  - In Transition Poster Series (+)
    - In Transition 1
    - In Transition 1 - Insert Command Information
    - In Transition 2
    - In Transition 2 - Insert Command Information
    - In Transition 3
    - In Transition 3 - Insert Command Information
    - In Transition 4
    - In Transition 4 - Insert Command Information
  - Change Isn't Always Easy Poster Series (+)
    - Change Not Easy 1
    - Change Not Easy 1 - Insert Command Information
    - Change Not Easy 2
    - Change Not Easy 2 - Insert Command Information
    - Change Not Easy 3
    - Change Not Easy 3 - Insert Command Information
    - Change Not Easy 4
    - Change Not Easy 4 - Insert Command Information
  - It Takes All of Us Poster Series (+)
    - It Takes All of Us - Submarine
    - It Takes All of Us - Ship
    - It Takes All of Us to Prevent Suicide - Carrier
    - It Takes All of Us to Prevent Suicide - Seabees
    - It Takes All of Us - Sailors
  - No Sailor Stands Alone Poster Series (+)
    - No Sailor is Alone ACT
    - No One Stands Alone
    - No One Stands Alone - Carrier
    - No One Stands Alone - Medical
    - No Sailor Stands Alone - Ship
    - No Sailor Stands Alone - Carrier
    - No Sailor Stands Alone - Chiefs
    - No Sailor or Marine Stands Alone
  - Navy Poster Series (+)
    - Got Big Problems?
    - We're All in this Together
    - 2009 Suicide Prevention Poster
  - Lifeline Poster Series (+)
    - Lifeline 1
  - Never Leave a Marine Behind
  - Shipmates Can Prevent Suicide
  - What is Killing our Sailors?
  - SG Okay to Get Help
  - Shipmates Caring for Shipmates
  - Worried About Shipmates
  - It is good to ask for help
  - Infographics American Association Suicidology
  - Presentations >>
    - We Are First Responders!
    - Suicide Myths
    - Preventing Suicide
    - Test Your Suicide Knowledge
    - Suicide Intervention and Prevention
    - Suicide Awareness Briefing
    - Taking Action - Saving Lives
    - Presenter Training - Suicide Prevention
    - Supporting Military Families in Crisis

Contact Information

For more information or questions regarding our suicide prevention resources, contact us at:

(757) 953-0959
Email: pew@nmcphc.med.navy.mil

If you or someone you know is at risk for suicide, seek help from the following resources:

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Key Products and Topic Areas

Web Resources

Clinicians

Clinical guidance, including recognition, management and clinical isolation guidance are generally covered by CDC: CDC Clinical Overview

Clinical management for Fleet medical personnel can be found in the NMCFHPC Fleet Mpox Medical Guidance

Clinical guidance for MTFs can be found in the DHA Mpox Guidance Update_5Sept2024

Currently, neither mpox testing nor treatment are readily available in a forward deployed operational setting. Units should identify suspected cases, isolate them, and move them for care at an MTF when operationally feasible.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
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This is a Department of Defense (DoD) Internet computer system.

General Navy Medical Inquiries (to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery): usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.bumed---pao@health.mil