2007 Military Suicide Prevention Conference

1. ON AVERAGE, WE LOSE TWO MARINES TO DEATH BY
SUICIDE EVERY MONTH; MANY MORE ATTEMPT SUICIDE OR HAVE THOUGHTS
OF KILLING THEMSELVES. SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR REDUCES OUR READINESS
FOR BATTLE. ALL MARINES MUST RESPOND TO SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND
ASSIST FELLOW MARINES WHO ARE SUFFERING. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM
UNIQUE TO THE MARINE CORPS. OUR FELLOW SAILORS, AIRMEN, AND
SOLDIERS ALSO WORK HARD TO PREVENT SUICIDE. EACH YEAR THE
SERVICES COME TOGETHER TO SHARE STRATEGIES ON SUICIDE PREVENTION
IN THE MILITARY. THE THEME OF THE 2007 MILITARY SUICIDE
PREVENTION CONFERENCE REFLECTS THE BENEFIT WE GAIN BY WORKING
TOGETHER: "THE FORCE OF CARING: PROMOTING COLLABORATION AND
INTEGRATION IN SUICIDE PREVENTION."
2. ON 5-8 MAR 07, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WILL HOST THE FIFTH
ANNUAL MILITARY SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE AT THE SEMINOLE
HARD ROCK HOTEL IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA. MARINES AND THOSE
CARING FOR MARINES WILL LEARN ABOUT CUTTING EDGE STRATEGIES FROM
EACH BRANCH OF SERVICE AND CIVILIAN EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF
SUICIDE PREVENTION. THE CONFERENCE WILL OFFER MULTIPLE
WORKSHOPS GEARED TOWARD FRONTLINE SUPERVISORS, CLINICIANS, AND
PROGRAM MANAGERS. 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. NEW TO THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, ATTENDEES WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR POSTERS OR PRESENTATIONS
THAT PRESENT LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS, A PROGRAM'S BEST PRACTICE,
OR UNIQUE TECHNIQUES IN SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, OR
POSTVENTION. INFORMATION ON PROPOSAL SUBMISSION IS AVAILABLE ON
THE WEBSITE LISTED BELOW.
4. THE CONFERENCE IS SPECIFICALLY FOR UNIT LEADERSHIP, UNIT
SUICIDE PREVENTION CHAMPIONS, COUNSELORS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS,
CHAPLAINS, SUICIDE PREVENTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND HEALTH
PROMOTION COORDINATORS.
5. PLEASE MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS PRIOR TO 2 FEB 07 TO RECEIVE
THE PER DIEM RATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE,
INCLUDING REGISTRATION, AGENDA, AND LODGING, PLEASE VISIT
WWW.USMC-MCCS.ORG/SUICIDEPREVENT.