Defense Suicide Prevention Office

Suicide Prevention Month Outreach Toolkit

View 2022 Suicide Prevention Month Resources

Highlights

The Defense Department is now offering two online courses that provide support and guidance for those affected by suicide. “The course covers communication techniques, ways to connect or stay connected to a support system, and reminders for how to maintain physical and mental health during this difficult time.

Online Courses Provide Aid to Those Affected by Suicide

The Department of Defense (DoD) Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR) summarizes suicide counts and annual rates for the Active Component, Reserves, and National Guard. The purpose of the QSR is to communicate DoD suicide data to stakeholders external to DoD on a routine and frequent basis.

Access the CY 2022 Q2 Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR)

September is Suicide Prevention Month (SPM). The Department of Defense (DoD) marks SPM with a variety of activities, tools, and initiatives. To support DoD’s efforts, the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) created the 2022 SPM Outreach Toolkit that offers materials and suggestions to help you execute your outreach initiatives during the month and throughout the year. As DoD acknowledges suicide prevention is a year-round effort, the tools in the toolkit can be adapted for use during September and year-round.

Access the 2022 Suicide Prevention Month Outreach Toolkit

"Connect to Protect: Support is Within Reach 2022-23 Campaign Kick-off and Suicide Prevention Month" Observance Memo

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. announces the kick-off to the 2022 Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month Observance and Kick-off to the 2022-2023 annual campaign: Connect to Protect: Support is Within Reach. Access the Suicide Prevention Month and Awareness and Observance Memorandum here.

Access the 2022-23 Connect to Protect Campaign Memo from Hon. Gilbert H. Cisneros

We’re here today to focus on prevention and how every day heroes are making a difference in suicide prevention across the department. It’s core part of our everlasting commitment to taking care of our people across the total force, our service members, family members, civilians and contractor. After all, mental health is health, and we’re committed to making sure our entire community is healthy and well.

Access Deputy Secretary, Kathleen Hicks’s Remarks at the 2022 Suicide Prevention Recognition Ceremony

Chaplains are among the first places our Service members turn when facing difficult times in their lives. That’s why we want you to be well-equipped with needed intervention practices and care skills when they do. Take the course here.

Take the Chaplains Care Training Course

Military leaders take on the duty of protecting their own, both on and off the battlefield. But when it comes to creating an environment that is safe, inclusive, and supportive in order to prevent suicide, knowing what to do or say can be challenging. It is our hope that leaders take advantage of the Leaders Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guide, a resource to help you navigate your role as a leader and a communicator in the fight against suicide. Learn the facts and how to address misconceptions about suicide; learn the dos and don’ts in communicating about suicide, understand how to lead with caring and effective language; discover outreach and engagement opportunities to mobilize your community. View and download the guide here.

The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) has developed a suite of evidence-informed lethal means safety tools focused on decreasing suicide risk in the DoD community. The Lethal Means Safety Suite of Tools (LMS Suite) promotes safe storage of firearms and medications, while educating Service members, their families, and community partners about suicide prevention, lethal means safety, and helpful resources.

Access the Suite of DSPO Lethal Means Safety Tools

/Portals/113/D ocuments/PostventionToolkit.pdfHYP

The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), in partnership with the Office of People Analytics, has developed a toolkit to guide Department postvention services for unit members and next of kin who survive military suicide loss.

Access the Postvention Toolkit for a Military Suicide Loss

Veteran/Military Crisis Line

The Defense Suicide Prevention Office does not provide crisis services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Veteran/Military Crisis Line for immediate assistance.