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Good afternoon, everyone.
And thank you for being here today to recognize the incredible efforts underway—around the world—to prevent suicide and support the health and wellbeing of service members and their families.
Over the last four years, I've had the opportunity to travel across the country—from Fairbanks to South Florida, with many stops in between—and overseas to check in with our service members.
During those visits, they've told me about the joys they've experienced during their career...
About what motivates them from day to day and the most fulfilling aspects of their job...
And about their families and their plans for the future.
And they've also shared with me the challenges they're facing in achieving the success they're striving for—now and in the years ahead.
Through these stories, I have gained so much insight about their readiness and resilience. About their triumphs and struggles—and how those highs and lows affect their ability to serve.
As Deputy Secretary, and having myself grown up in a military family, I'm invested in ensuring that our Total Force can achieve the future that they and their families have dreamed of.
From the very beginning, Secretary Austin has made it abundantly clear, through his words and actions, that, "mental health is health. Period."
So when the Secretary made "taking care of our people" a top Department priority, addressing mental health was part of the package.
But suicide prevention isn't just about mental health care.
There is no single cause that leads to suicide. And there is no single solution that will eliminate or reduce these tragedies.
Suicide is a public health challenge, and the Department is taking a comprehensive, integrated approach to decreasing suicide risk. Our efforts aim to meet service members, dependents, and civilians where they are in their personal and professional lives—whether that's by increasing financial security, building healthy relationships, offering support amidst transitions, or improving mental health.
This issue is multi-faceted, and that's why the Department continues to take a multi-faceted approach to address it, employing a range of prevention methods, and treatment options.
We've taken steps to address the stresses that can contribute to a crisis—from investing in better barracks... to increasing the availability of counseling services... to expanding internet access to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
But this multi-faceted approach also requires an all-hands on-deck effort from all of you, including the Coast Guard, who for the first time is here, as we recognize one of their installations for their exemplary suicide prevention efforts.
Today's ceremony highlights all of your contributions. The teams being honored reflect the wide-reaching and cutting-edge approaches that the Department is taking to save lives and address root causes.
It's been heartening to hear your teams echoing the importance of suicide prevention, and inspiring to hear your stories of all the ways in which you're taking care of each other.
For example, accounts of the efforts you're making to promote a safe workplace...
- Efforts like that of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, which distributed over 300 gun locks to promote lethal means safety.
- And of the Air Force Reserve Command at Joint Base San Antonio, which hosted a podcast series covering topics like spiritual resilience, forgiveness, and sobriety.
The spaces you've created show how much you value your teammates and what they have to say...
- Spaces like Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 5k event, organized to encourage conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.
- And those organized by the Guam Army National Guard. This past year, service members there held their fourth annual Combat the Holiday Blues campaign.
You've implemented innovative tools and approaches to overcome barriers to seeking care...
- Toolkits like those created by Coast Guard Base Kodiak to teach leaders how to reduce stigma around suicidal ideation.
- Self-assessment tools like those implemented at MacDill Air Force Base, which utilize virtual reality technology.
- And creative approaches like those taken by the Army Reserve Deployment Support Command, which connects community partners with soldiers to offer educational, employment, medical, and mental health resources.
Then there's the programs you've put into place as touchpoints to affirm how your teammates are doing and feeling...
- Prevention programs like that launched by Space Systems Command, designed to address seasonal depression.
- And resiliency trainings like that of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Eighteen, which is meeting the unique needs of service members returning home from multiple waves of deployment.
And finally, you've established initiatives to combat isolation and promote community...
- Initiatives like that of the USS Makin Island team, which provided monthly, expanded operational stress control training and a weekly meditation hour to Sailors and Marines during a seven-month deployment.
- And of the Air National Guard, Maryland 175th Air Wing, which developed a video that normalizes difficult feelings and highlights the importance of supporting each other through hard times.
All of these programs and initiatives are making an impact, and they're reaching people before they are at a point of crisis.
Last Friday, Secretary Austin announced a new set of taking care of our people initiatives—his fourth in a series over the same number of years. And as he has in each of the years before, he made mental health and suicide prevention key features of his plan to ensure the success and wellbeing of our service members.
Among our latest people-centered initiatives are expanding access to free wireless internet in unaccompanied housing... strengthening family support... decreasing cost burdens associated with the demands of service... and improving living conditions—particularly those in remote and isolated installations.
So we remain squarely focused on suicide prevention—from the Secretary of Defense to our division and squadron leaders. And from the E-Ring here in the Pentagon to every post beyond—on land and at sea. Suicide prevention needs the attention of every leader, at every level, throughout the Department.
We're committed to getting it right, and we're open to solutions generated by installation teams like we're recognizing here.
I'm confident in you—the people who planned and run these programs. And I thank each of you and your teams for all that you do and the leadership you've so aptly modeled for the rest of the Department.
Please join me now in applauding all of today's Suicide Prevention Recognition recipients.
Thank you.
