Page 16 - QARANC Vol 14 No 6 2013

14 QARANC THE GAZETTE
NATO Research Task Group (RTG)-218
- Suicide Prevention
When I commissioned into the QARANC I wanted to take on all opportunities that arose. Within the Mental Health Cadre there was the prospect to participate in activities worldwide with our colleagues from NATO. In 2011, I applied to attend the NATO Research Task Group (RTG)-218 on Suicide Prevention representing Defence Consultant Advisor in Psychiatry. This RTG aims to gain a better understanding of suicide prevention activities across NATO. I was successful in this application having a background in suicide prevention prior to commissioning having worked in Prisons across the Midlands.
In January 2012 with some trepidation of what to expect, I attended my first meeting in Oberammergau, Germany. This gave me the chance to meet with other members of the RTG and gain an understanding of the work that would be required. Over the three days there were discussions on how to collate information to look at the differences in Suicide prevention efforts and some of the similarities of suicide prevention. This will be sent out to all NATO counties in the form of a survey and be used to form a report at the end of the RTG. White papers are also produced as part of the working group; these are NATO papers one page in length summarising best practice in suicide prevention. I agreed to write a paper on the Role of leadership in
suicide prevention and a paper on the practical recommendations for suicide prevention and interventions. We also had a working evening event in a local restaurant, which gave us the opportunity to speak more informally.
The next meeting was organised to combine the US Suicide Prevention Conference and the RTG. Prior to the conference I was invited by the US/UK Task Force Working Group 2 (Mental Health) US Co- Chair, Dr Antoinette Zeiss, along with other UK representatives to provide presentations on UK Armed Forces mental health issues. The UK representatives were Professor Simon Wessely, Surgeon Captain John Sharpley and I. On arrival we were hosted by, Veterans Health Administration colleagues Janet Kemp RN PhD, National Director Suicide Prevention Program and Krista Stevenson (RN). Having the opportunity to network with key personnel in US Veterans Affairs and Department Of Defence and to gain appreciation of US initiatives and progress in the area of suicide prevention. This achieved an overall aim of sharing information to aid each nation in adopting best practice in suicide prevention. Key to all the arrangements was Colonel Katherine Richardson, British Liaison Officer (Medical), as being located in Washington she had the ability to liaise with various parties for the arrangements for the visits.
At the Conference Professor Wessely gave a keynote presentation on the work of King Centre Military Health Research in mental health. Surgeon Captain Sharpley gave a breakout presentation on Mental Healthcare in the Armed Forces and I gave a presentation on the British Army’s Suicide Vulnerability Risk Management policy. My presentation was also streamed live over the internet and I understand was watched by many of my American colleagues. It was interesting to participate with a large audience and some of the questions that were asked, were about how we provide Mental Health Aftercare for our Veterans and what was it like to be a Military nurse in the British Army. The conference was attended by 1200 people, from healthcare and executive areas of both DOD and VA. Secretary of Defense, The Hon. Leon E Panetta addressed the conference, as did Jonathan Woodson M.D., the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Hon. Eric K Shinseki, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Hon Robert Petzel M.D., the Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health.
Finally at the end of a very hectic week I attended the NATO RTG- during this meeting we refined and