MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Beginning next year, a new Navy suicide prevention campaign asks Sailors to "ACT" now to save a life.

ACT is a three-step process designed to help determine if someone is suicidal and to prevent them from hurting themselves. It stands for: Ask- ask the person if they are thinking of hurting themselves, Care- listen and let the person know they are not alone, and Treatment- get your shipmate to help as quickly as possible; such as the duty officer, chaplain, friend, medical personnel, or others who can help.

Suicide is ranked as the 11th leading cause of death nationwide. For the past 10 years, it has also been the second or third leading cause of death among active duty Sailors.

"Frontline supervisors, LPO’s (leading petty officers), chief’s and junior officers know their Sailors best," said Dr. Tony Doran, director of the Navy's Suicide Prevention Program at OPNAV N-135 in Millington, Tenn. "There is no substitute for knowing your people. If you know a shipmate is having legal problems, serious work problems, or relationship problems, that Sailor may need your help. If the Sailor has those problems and has poor coping skills, doesn’t have family in the area, or has no friends, the Sailor definitely needs your help and guidance. If you notice risk factors, don't keep them a secret."

Studies have shown there are about four suicides each month in the Navy. These unnecessary deaths have an impact on the entire armed forces, as suicide can decrease morale and combat readiness of Sailors everywhere. Because of this, it is important that everyone is aware of the signs that someone may be considering taking their own life.

"Every life and every Sailor is important, and the Navy leadership views the loss of one Sailor as a serious loss," Doran said. "...anyone in the Navy can save lives, whether you are a junior-level Sailor, a captain, active duty or Reserve, you can help people before it's too late."

While there are no absolute signs that signal someone is contemplating suicide, most people have a hard time hiding the fact that they are having personal struggles. Here are some of the things to look for:
• Does the person act out impulsively or out-of-character unexplainably?
• Are they experiencing difficulty managing friendships?
• Do they seek to isolate themselves from friends and family?
• Are they in financial trouble?
• Is their performance in routine tasks suffering?
• Do they exhibit difficulty getting out of bed and getting through daily tasks?
• Are they constantly tired or sluggish?
• Do they abuse alcohol and/or drugs?
• Do they exhibit intense feelings of guilt?

According to Doran, Sailors should learn to recognize these signs. If someone suspects that a shipmate may be on the verge of suicide, it is important to get help. Most of the time Sailors who commit suicide do so while they are away from base on leave or during liberty, so it is important to reach out to them when someone notices any suicidal behavior or actions.

OPNAVINST 1720.4 requires that all commands conduct regular suicide prevention training. There are also other resources available to both assist Sailors at risk and help train people to recognize the signs of possible suicidal tendencies, most of which are as close as the Fleet and Family Support Center. The centers have experienced mental health professionals, substance abuse programs, and base chaplains available to help. Other resources include chaplains, health care workers, and counselors.

"It is important to familiarize yourself with the resources in your local area. Know the procedure for referring someone in crisis to emergency mental health care and who the points of contact are in your local area for such a referral. Also different locations may have many different services to assist those experiencing depression, anxiety, or PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), for example," Doran said.

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