Army Suicide Prevention and Response Program (SPR) aligns policies, practices, and programs that promote positive behavioral changes, strengthen personal and collective bonds, and build readiness and resilience through collaborative partnerships and evidence-based programs that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. The SPR supports activities and services intended to improve the quality of life across the Department of the Army for Soldiers, their Families, and Army Communities. By developing and strengthening support options and services, concerns can be addressed before they become challenges, preventing challenges from escalating into crises where high risk behavior requires institutional intervention.

SPR aims to prevent suicides and enhance readiness by building a culture of resilience, supporting stigma reduction, normalizing help-seeking, fostering supportive environments, and proactive activities, including financial literacy, secure storage of lethal means and skill building before the point of crises.  Increasing Commanders’ and Leaders’ visibility of risk factors and stressors improves leader engagement and instils a culture of trust to ensure successful service. Leaders’ understanding of the complex factors influencing Soldier suicides is critical to early identification, prevention, and intervention.

The VETERANS/MILITARY CRISIS LINE is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Dial 988 and press #1

Suicide or self-harm behaviors are a result of a complex interaction of many factors which include environmental, psychological, physical, and social elements. Because there is not one single solution; this challenge requires a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention efforts for communities and organizations. 

Top Stressors Involved in Army Suicides:

• Financial Issues/Debt
• Relationship/Family Conflict
• Mental/Behavioral Health
• Substance Abuse
• Administrative/Legal Problems

The Pillars and Processes of Suicide Prevention

 Suicide prevention is dependent upon the existence of a culture that fosters trust, caring, and engaged individuals focused on early intervention as opposed to crisis management. It requires a strong collaborative team. 

Suicide prevention includes:

1. Enhance life skills including coping and problem-solving to build resiliency
2. Promote leader assessment tools to identify and assist individuals at risk, i.e., Commanders Risk Reduction Toolkit (CRRT) provides leaders with over 40 risk factors.
3. Ensure access to effective mental health care and treatment.
4. Support command integration of resources that mitigate risk factors and high-risk behaviors to minimize gaps in information and services, i.e., Command and Installation governance forums like the Command Ready and Resilient Council (CR2C).
5. Improve communication, counseling and Soldier to Soldier connection (bystander intervention).
6. Encourage help-seeking behavior to reduce stigma and fear of career impact.
7. Encourage Secure Storage and disposal to reduce lethal means risk (to include medications, weapons, etc.).
8. Supporting immediate response and postvention support following a suicide loss.

Note: The Army Suicide Prevention and Response Office is NOT a crisis center and does not provide counseling services. If you are feeling distressed or hopeless, thinking about death or wanting to die, or, if you are concerned about someone who may be suicidal, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 and press 1 for the Military Crisis Line or text 838255.

Retired Service members are not eligible for the Army Suicide Prevention and Response Program. However, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can assist you in finding civilian services in your community.

Army Suicide Prevention and Response Program (SPR):
https://www.armyresilience.army.mil/Army-Suicide-Prevention-Program

Army Ready and Resilient Program (R2):
https://www.armyresilience.army.mil/Programs/J-Z/Ready-Resilient/About-R2/

Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6490.16, Defense Suicide Prevention Program:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649016p.pdf?ver=2020-09-11-122632-850