On the recordSeptember 19, 2012
I rise today during Suicide Prevention Month to recognize the Army's Suicide Stand Down Day, which will take place later this month on September 27, 2012. The stand down is an opportunity for the Army to take a hard look at current efforts to address the issue of suicide among soldiers and focus on ways to improve these efforts. It will emphasize eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health injuries, which too often prevents our service men and women from getting the help they need. This could not come at a more critical time. The incidence of suicide among our troops has skyrocketed to alarming levels due, in part, to over 10 years of repeated and protracted deployments to combat zones around the world. In fact, the Army experienced a record-high 38 Active-Duty suicides in July and is on track to surpass last year's total. This is absolutely tragic and requires urgent and sustained action. The central theme of the stand down is ``Shoulder to Shoulder: We Stand up for Life.'' This is such a critical message--our servicemembers should never have to suffer alone. Our military men and women make tremendous sacrifices each and every day in service to our Nation, and we have a sacred obligation to take care of them in return. This means ensuring they feel comfortable seeking the care that they need without fear or repercussion or being stigmatized. This also means improving access to mental health care and providing support for our military families.…
