USS Enterprise has just completed the half-way mark of her current deployment and ship's company is also celebrating her 50th anniversary. A tired and outdated, but proud, warrior. In addition to the normal support of Iraq and Afghanistan, they have been a part of the current efforts in both Egypt and Libya and have also bagged a few pirates. On a more somber note, there have been two suicides and several more attempts. The new commanding officer has deemed the situation so critical that he has brought aboard a team of psychiatrists and chaplains to help ascertain and correct the problem. Am I the only one curious as to whether these events would have happened and this action be necessary had Capt Honors remained skipper?
USS Enterprise Update
- Thread starter Mongo
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No. I don't think it would have mattered either way.
Suicides and suicide attempts, unfortunately, are a common occurrence on many deployed ships on a daily basis. It normally isn't a result of a specific person, more of the OPTEMPO, family concerns, don't see a way out of a problem, etc.
Suicides and suicide attempts, unfortunately, are a common occurrence on many deployed ships on a daily basis. It normally isn't a result of a specific person, more of the OPTEMPO, family concerns, don't see a way out of a problem, etc.
Just_A_Mom
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Yes, you proabaly are. Our Navy is comprised of professionals. Professionals adapt to personnel changes and a new boss.
I applaud the commanding officer for doing his part in bringing a team of mental health professionals and chaplains aboard. This action is part of the overall recognition by the military that our armed forces at times, need and deserve quality mental health assistance. Early care and preventative care is critical.
I think more likely the reason for an increase (if there is one) in suicides and attempts is this:
"For Navy, time to say 'no'?"
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/05/defense-harvey-navy-response-to-demand-051011/
Luigi59
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Probably.
Those who are mentally ill enough to kill themselves probably didn't give any thought to who their CO was.
What an absurd hypothesis.
Wrong, there had been one individual in my unit who was considering suicide because of his CO until an intervention.
It is absurb for you to say such!
scoutpilot
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This is why I always cringe when those who have never served make bold statements about life in the services is like.
Luigi59
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As I cringe when those with no psychiatric training make uninformed psychiatric diagnoses about the causes of suicide.
Can you give an example? Regardless, some type of "Corrective Action" should take place to prevent suicides.
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A ship the size of the Enterprise has staff that do tend to the needs of the large community on board.
People who are suicidal often don't present symptoms very noticably, so preventative measures beyond the normal making sure the crew knows what is available are hard to implement.
Clusters of suicides are actually quite common in small communities (schools would be one example) and the way it is handled typically is to bring in a team of help (counselors) and spend extra time with the whole community explaining how help is available and that it is OK to get help.
I would agree that the leadership onboard has nothing to do with the suicide situation starting.
Sorry, I saw and gave a clear example in my previous post about a CO that did bring an individual to the brink.
Again, "Corrective Action" is needed to help prevent-all hands are required to attend mandatory suicide training to keep an eye out for this stuff-otherwise why have the training...