Center workers step out to reduce stress, raise awareness

U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville
Published Sept. 26, 2014
Carla McNeal, left, leads Huntsville Center employees in a stress relief walk Sept. 24.

Carla McNeal, left, leads Huntsville Center employees in a stress relief walk Sept. 24.

Huntsville Center employees participate in  stress relief walk Sept. 24.

Huntsville Center employees participate in stress relief walk Sept. 24.

“What we need to remember — what everyone needs to remember — is that it only takes one person to ask one question or make one call – and that single act can save a life.”

Coleen O’Keefe, director of Huntsville Center’s Contracting Directorate, shared her feelings during a Stress Relief Walk on Sept. 24 conducted by the U.S. Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, to raise awareness during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

According to data released by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office in July, 479 U.S. troops committed suicide in 2013. That’s an annual rate of 18.7 per 100,000 for active service members; 23.4 per 100,000 for reserves; and 28.9 per 100,000 for National Guard.

Carla McNeal, Resource Management Directorate, also the event organizer, led more than 30 Huntsville Center employees in a 10-minute Stress Relief Walk around the center’s main building. She said she felt it was the least she could do to show her support.

"September is fiscal yearend at Huntsville Center – a very stressful time due to a heavier workload,” McNeal said. “We have to get more work done in a short period of time so things may become overwhelming for some. Studies have proven that taking a 10-minute walk can change your demeanor and produce a positive attitude. We want to raise awareness on how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from this tragic health issue. Taking a walk around the building was easy; getting the message out there is a harder task.”

Many of the employees who participated in the event said they felt a lot better after the walk. They said they were also glad to be part of an event to help raise awareness on suicide prevention.

O’Keefe said having the walk was a great way to raise awareness of the cause. She also encouraged individuals to be open and willing to help those who may be going through tough times. Asking for help when you need it takes courage and strength. What we need to remember — what everyone needs to remember — is that individuals shouldn’t be avoided or stigmatized. They need to be embraced.

“I think raising awareness on suicide prevention is very important because it actually begins long before thought of suicide ever cross one’s mind,” O’Keefe said. “This hits close to home. I had a personal experience with this when one of my brothers was in the military and faced a situation where he needed help. An experienced noncommissioned officer in his chain of command recognized there was issues and got him to Walter Reed Army Hospital to get help. What we need to remember — what everyone needs to remember — is that it only takes one person to ask one question or make one call – and that single act can save a life.”

The Department of Defense is helping raise awareness of Suicide Prevention Month and the ongoing effort in combating the issue within the military. According to data released by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office in July, 479 U.S. troops committed suicide in 2013. That’s an annual rate of 18.7 per 100,000 for active service members, 23.4 per 100,000 for reserves, and 28.9 per 100,000 for National Guard.

Wanda Gilbert, prevention education coordinator with the Army Substance Abuse Prevention Program on Redstone Arsenal, encourages individuals to be open and willing to help those who may be going through tough times. Asking for help when you need it takes courage and strength. Gilbert stressed the importance of the ASAP’s Employee Assistance Program.

Gilbert said the ASAP program provides yearly suicide prevention training for Team Redstone organizations.

“The first thing we all can do is recognize the risks and warning signs,” Gilbert said. “You cannot recognize risks and warning signs if you do not know them. Risk factors are the reasons why employees feel hopelessness, restlessness, distress, stress, etc. Circumstances such as death, loss of job, divorce, financial hardship and medication can be triggers. When an individual feels they cannot get a release from this pain, suicide becomes an option for them. The warning signs may go unnoticed. We see folks in the elevator each day and don’t know their names or their situations. We should care more about people and make them a priority in the workplace. We depend on supervisors to take care of their employee. However, supervisors can’t recognize the warning signs if they don’t know their people.”

Victor Taylor, chief of Huntsville Center’s Safety Office, agrees. His office is responsible for setting up suicide prevention training at the organization. He said he saw firsthand how necessary it is to have this training available to employees.

“We recently had a situation here where a supervisor had to use the suicide prevention training to help an employee,” Taylor said. “This individual followed the steps discussed in the training and called me for help. We found that things are a bit more restrictive with civilians than with military service members - you can’t make a civilian go anywhere to seek help, it has to be voluntary. Things went well and the employee didn't commit suicide.”

Gilbert said the Department of Defense is helping raise awareness of Suicide Prevention Month and the ongoing effort in combating the issue within the military. Everyone can play a part in making this happen.

“What we need to remember is that we all can do something,” Gilbert said. “Risk factors and warning signs don’t always point out that an individual is contemplating suicide. However, it may point out that a person does need help. It only takes one person to intervene. Someone’s life may depend on it.”