2006 Military Suicide Prevention Conference

1. LAST YEAR WE LOST 31 MARINES TO SUICIDE. MANY
MORE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OR HAD THOUGHTS OF KILLING THEMSELVES. ALL
SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR REDUCES BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL MARINE'S AND THE
UNIT'S READINESS FOR BATTLE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL MARINES
RESPOND TO SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND ASSIST THEIR FELLOW MARINES WHO ARE
SUFFERING. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO THE MARINE CORPS AND OUR
FELLOW SAILORS, AIRMEN AND SOLDIERS ARE ALSO WORKING TO PREVENT
SUICIDE. WORKING TOGETHER WILL HELP US ALL REDUCE THIS TRAGEDY.
2. ON 6-9 FEBRUARY 2006, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WILL HOST THE
FOURTH ANNUAL MILITARY SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE AT THE SEMINOLE
HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. MARINES AND THOSE
CARING FOR MARINES WILL LEARN ABOUT CUTTING EDGE STRATEGIES FROM
EACH BRANCH OF SERVICE AND CIVILAIN EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF SUICIDE
PREVENTION. THE MARINE CORPS IS SPONSORING A BREAK OUT SESSION TO
DISCUSS SUICIDE INITIATIVES UNIQUE TO THE CORPS. ATTENDEES WILL
RETURN TO THEIR INSTALLATIONS PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT, MANAGE AND
SUPPORT REQUIRED SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
3. ALL MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND WITH SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON UNIT LEADERSHIP, UNIT SUICIDE PREVENTION OFFICERS,
COUNSELORS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, CHAPLAINS, SUICIDE PREVENTION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND HEALTH PROMOTION COORDINATORS.
4. PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS PRIOR TO 5 JANUARY 2006, THE HOTEL
WILL NO LONGER HONOR THE PER DIEM RATE AFTER THIS DATE. FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE INCLUDING REGISTRATION, AGENDA AND
LODGING PLEASE VISIT WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SUICIDEPREVENT.