September is suicide prevention month, and Fort Gordon will host “Share the Load” Ruck/Walk on Saturday, Sep. 24, as part of the installation’s suicide prevention and awareness observances.
The event will feature teams of 11 members each who will walk or run two miles with a 22 pound rucksack strapped to their backs before passing their designated number to a teammate who will continue the cycle until 22 miles have been completed.
Saturday’s event kicks off at 9 a.m. and can be accessed by the public through Gate 6 off Gordon Highway.
According to a press release, the symbolism of the number 22 is a nod to a study conducted by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013 which stated approximately 22 veterans were dying each day by suicide, or one every 65 minutes.
A more recent study by the United Service Organizations found that since the Sept.11, 2001, more than 30,170 active duty service personnel have died by their own hands.
In comparison, the study notes that during the same 20 year period, 7,057 soldiers have been killed in combat, meaning the military loses four times more soldiers to suicide than to the battlefield.
The military only began tracking and compiling data on military suicides after the 9/11 attacks.
Unlike the old days, when soldiers were described as suffering from “shell shock” and basically advised to “walk it off,” the military and the Veterans Administration now takes the matter seriously and is actively attempting to combat the problem, according to Anne Bowman, deputy public affairs officer for Fort Gordon.
Bowman says that soldiers receive annual mental health screenings, but many attempt to cloak their problems out of fear they may lose security clearances, promotions or be discharged from the military altogether.
This aspect is where the military chaplains have joined the front lines. Soldiers can speak with a chaplain without fear of their mental health issues being exposed.
“Chaplains are a truly confidential resource for them and can help put them on the path to recovery,” Bowman said.
The Veterans Administration has also created a new three digit suicide prevention hotline. Those thinking of harming themselves can call 988 and then press the numeral 1 to get a confidential counselor on the line. The suicide prevention hotline is active 24 hours a day seven days a week.
According to the Veterans Administration, seven out of ten military suicides are committed using firearms.
Executive Director for VA Augusta Health Care System Robin Jackson says that along with the hotline, the military offers free gun locks to soldiers as further prevention.
“We’re focusing on two things. First, making it simple to ask for help by spreading the word about the new, user-friendly Veterans Crisis Line, and second, encouraging veterans to practice smart gun storage, to put “space” between thought and trigger,” Jackson said.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
