Midtour Final

CH (CPT) Keith J. AndrewsCH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews1-101 AVN REGT1-101 AVN REGT

““EXPECT NO MERCY”EXPECT NO MERCY”

CHAPLAIN’S CHAPLAIN’S MIDTOUR BRIEFMIDTOUR BRIEF

MIDTOUR MIDTOUR BRIEFBRIEFGoing Home On MidtourGoing Home On Midtour

Suicide Brief Suicide Brief

At Home On MidtourAt Home On Midtour

Going Home On Going Home On MidtourMidtour

CH (CPT) Keith J. AndrewsCH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews1-101 AVN REGT1-101 AVN REGT

““EXPECT NO MERCY”EXPECT NO MERCY”

Midtour RealityMidtour Reality

• Change Has OccurredChange Has Occurred• Reunion is a processReunion is a process• Anxiety is normalAnxiety is normal

Obstacles To Obstacles To SuccessSuccess

• AlcoholAlcohol• CriticismsCriticisms• Avoid the “Who Had It Avoid the “Who Had It

Worse” Game Worse” Game • Unresolved IssuesUnresolved Issues• Unrealistic ExpectationsUnrealistic Expectations

Understanding Understanding YourselfYourself

During the deployment you have During the deployment you have been:been:

• Focused on the mission Focused on the mission • Developed lasting friendships Developed lasting friendships • Experienced varying levels of stressExperienced varying levels of stress• Felt concerned and disconnected from Felt concerned and disconnected from

your familyyour family

Understanding Understanding YourselfYourself

Upon Returning Home, You May: Upon Returning Home, You May:

• Find your whole family routine is changedFind your whole family routine is changed• Be stand-offish from those you care aboutBe stand-offish from those you care about• Not want to talk about your deploymentNot want to talk about your deployment• Anxious about intimacy Anxious about intimacy • Feel hurt when your children are afraid of Feel hurt when your children are afraid of

youyou

Understanding Your Understanding Your SpouseSpouse

During deployment, your spouse may During deployment, your spouse may have:have:

• Experienced changesExperienced changes• Felt stressed or overwhelmedFelt stressed or overwhelmed• Assumed added responsibilitiesAssumed added responsibilities• Experienced a temporary relocationExperienced a temporary relocation• Become involved in different activities or Become involved in different activities or

made new friendsmade new friends

Understanding Your Understanding Your SpouseSpouse

During reunion, your spouse may:During reunion, your spouse may:• Have idealistic expectationsHave idealistic expectations• Immediately hand over the “honey do” Immediately hand over the “honey do”

listlist• Wonder if accomplishments will be Wonder if accomplishments will be

appreciated appreciated • Feel concern that their Soldier has Feel concern that their Soldier has

changedchanged• Want you to talk about combat Want you to talk about combat

experiencesexperiences

Reuniting With Your Reuniting With Your SpouseSpouse

• Take time to become reacquaintedTake time to become reacquainted• Talk with each other about your Talk with each other about your

experiencesexperiences• Support your spouse and what he/she Support your spouse and what he/she

has donehas done• Remember that intimate relationships Remember that intimate relationships

may be awkward at firstmay be awkward at first• Talk about expectations prior to Talk about expectations prior to

arrivalarrival

Reuniting With Your Reuniting With Your ChildrenChildren

•Let the child be the first to Let the child be the first to renew the bondrenew the bond

•Focus on successes; limit Focus on successes; limit criticismcriticism

•Take personal time with each Take personal time with each childchild

Two Key Two Key StatementsStatementsfor Reunionfor Reunion

• Communicate Communicate ExpectationsExpectations

• Go SlowGo Slow

SuicideSuicide

CH (CPT) Keith J. AndrewsCH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews1-101 AVN REGT1-101 AVN REGT

““EXPECT NO MERCY”EXPECT NO MERCY”

AR 600-63:AR 600-63:

““Suicide prevention is the concern of Suicide prevention is the concern of every leader, commander, every leader, commander, supervisor, soldier, and Army supervisor, soldier, and Army civilian” civilian” Para 2-Para 2-8.a8.a

Who Commits Who Commits Suicide?Suicide?

AnyoneAnyone

The Suicide Risk is The Suicide Risk is Higher in a Person Higher in a Person Who:Who:•Has problems with family, Has problems with family, relationship, job, Army, financesrelationship, job, Army, finances

•Has experienced a recent suicide of Has experienced a recent suicide of a friend or relativea friend or relative

•Has made previous suicide Has made previous suicide attemptsattempts

•Threatens suicideThreatens suicide

What Causes What Causes Suicide?Suicide?

Suicidal Feelings are Suicidal Feelings are most often the result of most often the result of stress and depression.stress and depression.

Stress is the body’s Stress is the body’s response to the response to the

changes in our lives changes in our lives and to the threats to and to the threats to

our safety and our self-our safety and our self-esteem.esteem.

StressStress

Some Stressful SituationsSome Stressful Situationsthat can trigger suicidal that can trigger suicidal feelings:feelings:

•Low Self-EsteemLow Self-Esteem•Sudden Change of Sudden Change of BehaviorBehavior•Financial ProblemsFinancial Problems•Inability to SleepInability to Sleep•Job PerformanceJob Performance•Interpersonal Interpersonal RelationshipsRelationships

DepressionDepression

Depression, an abnormal Depression, an abnormal emotional state, is a emotional state, is a

profound sadness which is profound sadness which is present nearly everyday present nearly everyday for at least two weeks. for at least two weeks.

Some Depressive SituationsSome Depressive SituationsThat can trigger suicidal feelingsThat can trigger suicidal feelings

• DisappointmentDisappointment

• RejectionRejection

• IllnessIllness

• Loss of relationshipLoss of relationship

Warning SignsWarning Signs

VerbalVerbal

Direct StatementsDirect Statements “ “I want to die.”I want to die.”““I don’t want to live I don’t want to live

anymore.”anymore.”

Indirect StatementsIndirect Statements““I want to go to sleep and I want to go to sleep and

never wake up.”never wake up.”““Soon this pain will be Soon this pain will be

over.”over.”

BehavioralBehavioral

• Sadness and cryingSadness and crying• Withdrawal Withdrawal • Change in sleeping Change in sleeping

patternpattern• Drug & alcohol abuse Drug & alcohol abuse • Neglecting hygieneNeglecting hygiene• Final arrangementsFinal arrangements

What To DoWhat To Do

• Take threats seriouslyTake threats seriously• Tell them you careTell them you care• Get helpGet help• Be Safe Rather Than SorryBe Safe Rather Than Sorry

What Not To What Not To DoDo Don’t keep it a secretDon’t keep it a secret Don’t leave Soldier alone Don’t leave Soldier alone Don’t discount the soldier’s Don’t discount the soldier’s

feelingsfeelings Don’t over React. Keep Calm.Don’t over React. Keep Calm. Don’t forget to follow up.Don’t forget to follow up.

•Chain of CommandChain of Command

•ChaplainChaplain

•Unit Sick CallUnit Sick Call

Call For Help...Call For Help...

At Home On At Home On MidtourMidtour

CH (CPT) Keith J. AndrewsCH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews1-101 AVN REGT1-101 AVN REGT

““EXPECT NO MERCY”EXPECT NO MERCY”

SafetySafety• Go Easy on AlcoholGo Easy on Alcohol• Drive Slower and More CautiousDrive Slower and More Cautious• Remain Situationally AwareRemain Situationally Aware• Be Careful With Large Sums of Be Careful With Large Sums of

MoneyMoney• Watch What You SpendWatch What You Spend• Don’t try to Make up for Lost Don’t try to Make up for Lost

TimeTime

Take A BreakTake A Break• RestRest• Spend Time in QuietSpend Time in Quiet• Avoid the News Avoid the News • Spend Time With Friends and Spend Time With Friends and

FamilyFamily• Resume a Hobby that You’ve Resume a Hobby that You’ve

NeglectedNeglected

In Case Of In Case Of Emergency:Emergency:

• Chain of CommandChain of Command

• Installation Chaplain’s Installation Chaplain’s OfficeOffice

• Blanchfield Army Blanchfield Army Community HospitalCommunity Hospital

Enjoy Your Enjoy Your Midtour!Midtour!

CH (CPT) Keith J. AndrewsCH (CPT) Keith J. Andrews1-101 AVN REGT1-101 AVN REGT

““EXPECT NO MERCY”EXPECT NO MERCY”