Swanner aid these measures build on an active suicide prevention program that the Army first introduced 18 years ago.
In February, the Army announced plans to speed up its suicide awareness plans, including introducing a toll-free crisis hotline, to help curb suicides among soldiers during high-stress periods.
The hotline, called Army One Source, enables soldiers to talk with a trained professional with assurance of confidentiality. The number for stateside troops is (800) 464-8107; overseas, it is (800) 464-81077.
In 2000, the Army launched its "Soldiers, Leaders and Communities Saving Lives" suicide prevention campaign. The program aimed to teach soldiers how to recognize early signs of suicidal behavior and how to respond.
About three years ago, the Army introduced a training workshop called "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training." The purpose was to give anyone who might come in contact with a person at risk of committing suicide the tools to intervene.
"The Army is committed to taking care of its soldiers," Peake said. "We have an aggressive program and the commitment of a leadership that understands the stresses of combat."
