Defense Suicide Prevention Office

DSPO Quarterly Connection Newsletter: Spring 2023 Edition

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DSPO Quarterly Connection Newsletter: Spring 2023 Edition

Learn about DSPO’s partnerships with DoDEA, how to change stigmatizing language, and Dr. Clark’s thoughts on spring and the Month of the Military Child in the Quarterly Connection.

View Quarterly Connection: Spring 2023 Edition

Relationship Resources Infographic

Learn about the numerous relationship programs, tools, and non-crisis counseling available through Military OneSource. Free, confidential, and helpful resources are open to the military community and family members.

View Relationships Resources Infographic

A.C.T Activity Worksheet for Young Children

The Acknowledge, Care, Tell Coloring Page/Word Search was created to help younger children identify and acknowledge their emotions and those of their friends. The “Parent’s Corner” was designed to guide parents on how to help.

View A.C.T. Activity Worksheet for Young Children here

The Department of Defense (DoD) Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR) is now available.

Access the CY 2022 Q4 Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR)

Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military: Recommendations from the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee

“In this report, the SPRIRC emphasized that effectively preventing and responding to suicide will require a multifactorial approach, as deaths by suicide among service members are complex; thus, simple or singular strategies will not work.”

Click here to review report

DSPO Quarterly Connection Newsletter: Winter 2022-2023 Edition

Learn about the programs, training, and resources at the Defense Suicide Prevention Office through the inaugural edition of the Quarterly Connection.

View Quarterly Connection: Winter 2022-2023 Edition

Your Words Matter: Choosing Words that Support
Words hold power and using supportive terms can create connection and encourage individuals to seek support when they need it.

View Your Words Matter Factsheet

The Department of Defense Appoints Dr. Liz Clark as New Director, Defense Suicide Prevention Office

Liz Clark, Ed.D., has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service as the Director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), a component of the DoD Defense Human Resources Activity, aligned to the Office of Force Resiliency for policy direction.

View the press release here.

   Small Steps Save Lives: The Power of Lethal Means Safety in Suicide Prevention

   Learn more about how small steps save lives with Brett Mass.

   Watch the video

Department of Defense Releases the Annual Report on Suicide in the Military: Calendar Year 2021

"In 2021, we took concrete steps to support Service members and their families especially by fostering a supportive environment and quality of life, addressing stigma as a barrier to help-seeking, and promoting a culture of lethal means safety. We are continuing to expand those efforts in 2022." - Elizabeth Foster, Executive Director, Office of Force Resiliency

View press release

The Annual Report on Suicide in the Military CY 2021 (includes CY 2021 DoDSER)

This report presents recent available suicide data for Service members (through 2021) and their families (through 2020), and describes current efforts to address suicide across the Department of Defense. This year the report includes the CY 2021 DoDSER System data summary.

View the Annual Report on Suicide in the Military

Talking to Children About a Military Death By Suicide

When a loved one dies, it can be incredibly difficult to know how to support children. But there are strategies and steps you can take to create a space to share, grieve, and celebrate that loved one

View the Overview of Resources

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 Q3 Quarterly Suicide Report (QSR)

"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.