This guest piece in Tom Ricks’ Best Defence Blog caught my attention today.
The author`s proposal, that the Department of Defence actively monitor its members’ social media activity and intervene when there are posts, comments, or google searches suggesting suicidal ideation, may dismay some.
I`m not sure how that would even work in other countries’ militaries such as my own.
In one sense I agree with the author. Whatever the reasons for military suicide, be it prior deployments, the young adult demographic, or pre-existing mental health concerns, watching our comrades, whether in garrison or online as their FB friends, is the key. If you see something, you need to intervene, whether as a friend, as an NCO, or as an officer. That`s your responsibility.
MP+