Soldiers serving in the U.S. Army will get daily mental health checks to ensure they’re holding up well over the holiday season.
A letter sent to troops from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll this week said that Army leaders will reach out to troops by phone, text or personal visits every day from now through Jan. 15.
“The holidays can be a high-risk period for self-harm,” Driscoll wrote. “We know it’s a problem, it happens every year, so we’ll address it head on.”
Driscoll said the Army lost 260 soldiers to suicide last year and wants to improve on that number. He cited the 11th Airborne in Alaska as an example of how regular inquiries have saved lives by addressing “risk factor root causes.” That group hasn’t lost a troop to suicide in 14 months, Driscoll said.
His statement expressed hope that he’ll be writing fewer consolation letters to military families who’ve lost loved ones to self-harm.
“Soldiers aren’t getting the help they need,” Driscoll stated. “Signing those letters of condolence — and knowing we could have helped — is heartbreaking. I wish we never had to write another one.”
While suicide presents a danger to service members throughout the year, military site Task & Purpose notes the holidays “can often include a unique set of stressors” for personnel who are separated from family and friends or find themselves feeling adrift and far from home.