Bragg steps up suicide intervention training

Bragg steps up suicide intervention training

By Kevin Maurer - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 21, 2010 16:49:27 EDT

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Sgt. Mike Quintana was scared every time he was faced with a suicidal soldier. As a chaplain’s assistant, he was trained to help soldiers in crisis but did not know how to stop a soldier from trying to kill himself.

“It was really scary. I was very nervous. This person’s life is in my hands. I didn’t want to be held responsible,” Quintana said.

So, he’d refer soldiers to the chaplain or doctors. But after getting some specialized training, he learned how to talk to a suicidal soldier and stop him from taking his life.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This model helps them get through their temporary problems,” said Quintana, who is now a trainer at Fort Bragg.

Officials met Wednesday to discuss what they are doing to help bring down the number of suicides at the post. So far this year, the base has seen four confirmed suicides, with two other deaths under investigation. The base saw six suicides in 2009, 13 suicides in 2008 and 10 suicides in 2007.
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Bragg steps up suicide intervention training