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u.s. news Diamars 11 OctOber 2022

As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental health

WASHINGTON (AP) ing Tournament in Seward,
— After finishing a tour Alaska, was formed to “get
in Afghanistan in 2013, the kids out of the barracks,
Dionne Williamson felt get them off the base for the
emotionally numb. More day and get them out of their
warning signs appeared heads,” said co-founder Keith
during several years of Manternach.
subsequent overseas post-
ings. The tournament, which was
begun in 2007 and now in-
“It’s like I lost me some- volves more than 300 service
where,” said Williamson, a members, includes a day of
Navy lieutenant commander deep-water fishing followed
who experienced disorien- by a celebratory banquet with
tation, depression, memory prizes for the largest catch,
loss and chronic exhaustion. smallest catch and the person
“I went to my captain and who gets the sickest.
said, ‘Sir, I need help. Some-
thing’s wrong.’” Despite the on-base pres-
ence of “tons of briefings
As the Pentagon seeks to con- and brochures on suicide
front spiraling suicide rates and PTSD,” Williamson said
in the military ranks, Wil- she found herself fighting
liamson’s experiences shine a for years to get time off and
light on the realities for ser- therapy.
vice members seeking mental
health help. For most, simply Eventually, she entered a
acknowledging their difficul- monthlong in-patient pro-
ties can be intimidating. And gram in Arizona. When she
what comes next can be frus- returned, a therapist rec-
trating and dispiriting. ommended equine-assisted
A 2021 study by the Cost of ing a Defense Suicide Pre- insecurity in military fami- therapy, which proved to be a
In March, Defense Secretary War Project concluded that vention Office established in lies, a network of military- breakthrough.
Lloyd Austin announced the since 9/11, four times as 2011 — have proven insuffi- adjacent charitable organiza-
creation of an independent many service members and cient. tions has tried to fill the gaps Now Williamson is a regu-
committee to review the veterans have died by suicide with a variety of programs lar at the Cloverleaf Equine
military’s mental health and as have perished in combat. Last year the Army issued and outreach efforts. Center in Clifton, Virginia,
suicide prevention programs. The study detailed stress fac- fresh guidelines to its com- where riding sessions can be
tors particular to military life: manders on how to handle Some are purely recreation- combined with a variety of
According to Defense De- “high exposure to trauma — mental health issues in the al, such as an annual fishing therapeutic practices and ex-
partment data, suicides mental, physical, moral, and ranks, complete with briefing tournament in Alaska de- ercises. Working with horses
among active-duty service sexual — stress and burnout, slides and a script. But daunt- signed to provide fresh air has long been used as a form
members increased by more the influence of the mili- ing long-term challenges re- and socialization for service for therapy for people with
than 40% between 2015 and tary’s hegemonic masculine main. Many soldiers fear the members. Others are more physical or mental disabilities
2020. The numbers jumped culture, continued access to stigma of admitting to men- focused on self-care, like an and children diagnosed with
by 15% in 2020 alone. In guns, and the difficulty of re- tal health issues within the Armed Services YMCA pro- autism. But in recent years, it
longtime suicide hotspot integrating into civilian life.” internal military culture of gram that offers free child- has been embraced for help-
postings such as Alaska – ser- self-sufficiency. And those care so that military parents ing service members with
vice members and their fami- The Pentagon did not re- who seek help often find that can attend therapy sessions. anxiety and PTSD.
lies contend with extreme spond to repeated requests stigma is not only real, but
isolation and a harsh climate for comment. But Austin has compounded by bureaucratic The situation in Alaska is par- Military clients, Morrison
– the rate has doubled. publicly acknowledged that obstacles. ticularly dire. In January, after said, come with “a lot of anxi-
the Pentagon’s current men- a string of suicides, Com- ety, depression, PTSD. … We
tal health offerings — includ- Much like the issue of food mand Sgt. Maj. Phil Blais- use the horse to get them out
dell addressed his soldiers of their triggers.”
in an emotional Instagram
post. “When did suicide be- For Williamson, the regular
come the answer,” he asked. riding sessions have helped
“Please send me a DM if you stabilize her. She still strug-
need something. Please …” gles, and she said her long
campaign for treatment has
The stresses of an Alaska damaged her relationship
posting are compounded by with multiple superior offi-
a shortage of on-the-ground cers. She’s currently on limit-
therapists. During a visit to ed duty and isn’t sure if she’ll
Joint Base Elmendorf-Rich- retire when she hits her 20-
ardson in Alaska earlier this year anniversary in March.
year, Army Secretary Chris-
tine Wormuth heard from Nevertheless, she says, the
base health care workers who equine therapy has helped
say they are understaffed, her feel optimistic for the
burned out and can’t see pa- first time in recent memory.
tients on a timely basis. If a
soldier seeks help, they often “Now even if I can’t get out
have to wait weeks for an ap- of bed, I make sure to come
pointment. here,” she said. “If I didn’t
come here, I don’t know
The annual Combat Fish- where I would even be.”