1. EVERY LIFE MATTERS to god
A New paradigm of care for military personnel
at risk of suicide – antonio w. campbell, d. min.

2. Purpose of research
Look at current suicide prevention programs across the department of defense (air force, navy and army)
Identify and explain deficiencies in the planning and implementation of current suicide prevention programs from the perspective of military chaplains
Present a new paradigm of care for military personnel which includes military chaplains and civilian clergy

3. weakness of current suicide prevention programs
Department of defense units (army, air force and navy) employed several types of suicide prevention training
Despite programming efforts suicide rates have increased steadily since 2001
Suicide prevention training is facilitated by senior non-commissioned officers, command staff and chaplains with limited follow-up because of training schedule

4. Limited role of chaplains
Chaplains have limited role of facilitator in the presentation of suicide prevention training
Chaplains used as referral mechanisms for mental health professionals
Chaplains not utilized as care professionals in therapeutic interventions with military personnel at risk
Very small amount of time for counseling because of training obligations during drill weekends

5. A senior chaplain’s perspective
“we (chaplains) are nice to have around but we are not necessary to have around.”
Seems to be distrust or lack of comfort between clinical therapists and military chaplains

6. THEOLOGICAL foundation FOR THE RESEARCH
PROVERBS 20:5 - “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTING AS THE PRIMARY COUNSELOR – JOHN 14:16; JOHN 14:26; JOHN 15:26
CHAPLAIN ACTS IN COOPERATION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING HOPE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDE IDEATION

7. Review of literature
Identified twenty-two (22) initial articles on military efforts on suicide prevention
Presented sixteen (16) biblical verses supporting the theological foundation of pastoral counseling and ow they holy spirit can work through local pastors and military chaplains to provide spiritual support for our service members and/or veterans

8. principal research
Each department of military has developed suicide prevention programs – army (ASPP), air force (ACE) and navy (ASIST).
Suicide prevention implementation more problematic for national guard (army and air force) and reserve (navy) personnel because of lack of time during monthly drills
Rapid deployment cycles and lack of adequate reorientation has magnified weaknesses in the implementation and retention suicide prevention training
Loss of unit cohesion and strong personal relationships help to cause depression and loneliness

9. current chaplain role
Limited roles for chaplains in the implementation of training
Chaplains expected to serve only as gatekeepers for service members to get to mental health professionals
Chaplains are excluded from participating as a colleague in therapeutic care
Chaplains are limited in their times with service members because of training requirements mandated by command staff

10. Sobering numbers
Report of usaf suicide prevention program to house armed services committee showed a suicide rate of 14 suicides per 100,000 airmen
Latest data from us navy showed a suicide rate of 13.2 per 100,000 active duty sailors and in 2014 and 2015 recorded 15 and 14 reserve component suicides respectively
In 2009, two researchers from the air force academy discovered the army lost more soldiers to suicide than the force lost to automobile fatalities
In 2014, according to the medical surveillance monthly report from the pentagon, suicide surpassed active engagement in conflict as military’s leading cause of death

11. Rand corporation white paper (2015)
Survey of over 800 chaplains and 400 chaplain assistants
Chaplains not fulfilled in current referral role in army suicide prevention program
Assessment that the Army is still not sure how to best utilize chaplain corps
Less than ½ of chaplains received any training regarding behavioral health
Recommendation: Chaplains should be trained to provide acute care for service members at risk

12. Positive outcome of creating new paradigm of care
“Pastors, family, and friends may not realize how easily counselors can be overwhelmed when dealing with a person contemplating suicide. The church is important, and even when the pastors refer a suicidal person elsewhere, the person will often come back to church” – from Christianity today
Creating strong, continuing relationships of faith is crucial to helping service members and veterans to be hopeful of a better tomorrow

13. surveyS
Approved and distributed by the joint forces chaplains office of the Maryland national guard (air and army national guard chaplains), liberty university irb and thesis mentor
30 respondents
No identifiable information was received from any respondents from the surveys
Asked military chaplains and civilian clergy members about their seminary education history, ministry experience and military training as a chaplain
Asked about any suicide prevention training they received during their career in ministry
Asked if they would be willing to be a part of a community based suicide prevention program

14. chaplain survey responses
Eleven questions covering topics including experience, formal seminary education, ministerial on-the- job learning and suicide prevention training – responses of three questions are highlighted below:
number of referrals of service members to mental health professionals – 11 out of 15 (73%) referred eight (8) or more service members
self assessment in identifying and counseling service members with possible suicide ideation – 11 out of 15 (73%) felt they were not adequately trained in this important work from their formal seminary education
perceived effectiveness of suicide prevention programs – 10 out of 15 (66%) gave a neutral or negative assessment of effectiveness of current department of defense suicide prevention programs

15. civilian clergy survey responses
Eleven questions covering topics including experience, formal seminary education in pastoral counseling techniques, ministerial on-the-job learning, suicide prevention training and interest in participating in this proposed new paradigm of care – responses of five questions are highlighted below:
level of experience of civilian clergy in suicide prevention – 8 of 16 (50%) indicated they provided counseling for 4 or more people in their community
self assessment of seminary training in pastoral counseling techniques – only 5 of 16 (31.25%) gave a positive assessment of their formal coursework in pastoral counseling

16. civilian clergy survey responses (continued)
self assessment of formal seminary education in suicide prevention – only 3 of 16 (18.75%) had a positive response while the other 13 or 81.25% gave either a neutral or negative assessment of their preparedness due to lack of formal training in seminary
ascertain level of comfort of local pastors to work with service members and or/veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) symptoms – 8 of 16 (50%) did not feel they had adequate training in ptsd counseling techniques
ascertain level of interest in participating in this new community based paradigm of care – 9 out 0f 16 (56%) stated they had a strong or moderate interest in participating while only 1 clergy member stated they had no interest

17. review and recommendations
recommendations include: more detailed training on suicide prevention counseling techniques for military chaplains during chaplains officers basic and other training opportunities at the armed forces chaplaincy center at ft. Jackson, sc.
Civilian clergy members should be afforded training opportunities through the veterans administration and/or online courses through liberty university or other institutions of seminary education

18. review and recommendations (continued)
Increased role for pastoral care professionals in suicide prevention because:
Deficit of effective soul care, and over reliance or psychological and medicinal treatments, have heled to cause the current crisis
70% of chaplains answered they had significant experience in referring service members to mental health professionals
Continued rise of suicide rates in civilian population demands a new way of addressing why people are at risk

19. conclusion
Pastoral care providers are uniquely positioned in larger society to bring hope and peace to the lives of these struggling individuals. With the budget cuts that are already occurring, and will continue to occur because of the current budget crisis (sequestration), local pastoral care providers will be needed to work in a collaborative effort to help counsel people at risk.
Thank you!!