Suicide Prevention is Every Person's Job

This is what Gatz has to say:

Mike Moldeven spent the better part of 30 years delveloping suicide prevention programs for the U.S. Military. He manned a suicide prevention hot line many times and still to this day writes on several websites. Here are some of his recent ideas:


ITEM 1 SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE

During the 'Open Government Dialogue In June 2009 I submitted an item,
'Suicide Prevention in All Federal Departments', (url and text as
follows)

http://opengov.ideascale.com/a/dtd/4360-4049

Department of Defense components have created 'suicide prevention'
programs and trained their military and civilian personnel to be alert
and responsive to the needs of their organizations and circumstances.
The DOD programs lend themselves to being adapted throughout all
Federal Departments and Agencies. When the Federal Government (as an
employer) adopts 'suicide prevention' as an essential element in the
health and well-being of its employees then similar concepts and
practices will have a better chance in the private sector.

I suggest a top down policy to all federal departments that will
encourage suicide prevention 'gatekeeper' training for federal
employees in supervisory positions, who hear and investigate employee
complaints, interact with survivors of suicide (military and
civilian), and others that have duties in law enforcement, security,
mental health, supervising conduct of prisoners, and otherwise
relevant positions.

Why Is This Idea Important?

'The nation is experiencing extraordinary stresses that adversely
influence people in all walks of life. The number of calls to suicide
prevention 'hotlines' has increased. Employers have a role in dealing
with suicidal conduct, ideation, and attempts. Police officers and
hospital staff often see successful suicides. Understanding the
phenomenon and how to interact with a suicidal person, including
getting him or her to professional help ASAP is vital. Suicide
prevention is everybody's business.'

The 'dialogue' invited comments from the public, and included a
graphic to vote the idea 'up' or 'down.' The idea that I
submitted was rejected; generally, the public comments were off-topic, to
put it mildly.

IMO, the 'idea' that I submitted a year ago is as valid today as it
was when I first wrote it. The rate of suicides and attempted suicides
among both the military and civilian populations of the United States
has not abated, generally; to the contrary.

Searching the Internet, I came across the following item. It's for and
about all of us. How can it be built upon --- constructively?