Leaders Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guide : Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Leaders Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guide : Defense Suicide Prevention Office
From the document: “The purpose of the Leaders Safe Messaging Guide is to better equip leaders with the tools and resources necessary to safely and effectively communicate about suicide with Service members, units, and military communities. Careful communication can influence perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. More importantly, how and what you communicate about suicide can positively or negatively shape the way Service members and their families view seeking help. Safe messaging includes stories about hope and resilience, information about risks and protective factors for suicide, resources for support (e.g., crisis lines), and avoids sensational language, which has been shown to reduce the risk of suicide within the military community. Data also illustrates the need for proactive communications about suicide prevention and help-seeking behavior. Specifically, DoD data indicates the top reasons Service members do not get help are concerns about privacy/confidentiality, fear of being perceived as “broken,” fear of a negative impact to their career, and not knowing who to turn to. This guide will help you create an environment that promotes connectedness and openness and will help you understand how to best communicate about suicide using the Department of Defense’s (DoD) public health approach.”
Related Resources
