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JEFFERSON CITY -- The U.S. Army is making suicide prevention a priority. 

Mo. National Guard State Chaplain, LTC Gary Gilmore says statistics show, "We had more soldiers take their own lives in Iraq than the enemy took." 

That's why the Army has ordered soldiers to take a time out in March to attend a two hour training session. That includes every soldier on active duty, in the reserves and in the guard.
 
Some 1.6 million soldiers worldwide learned from a video produced by a team at Lincoln University. This interactive computer program guides soldiers through a series of choices.

"And how they do that is that they essentially make the choices for the characters as they go along," says Che Wilson, a researcher with LU's Center for Suicide Prevention Research and Studies. "This is similar to something like a chose your own adventure."
 
The aim was to help people see when they need to reach out for help, and to learn how to help others in need.

"It's training on two levels," says Gilmore. "What would I do as an individual when I just say all of these things, I feel like the world is dog piling on me what am I going to do about that?  And the other piece is that OK, you're the buddy who's watching this happen, are you a real friend if you let him make a little secret with you and say don't tell anybody? No, you have to say to him, I am being your friend, I'm not going to let this slide."

In addition to the mandatory training, Gilmore has worked to coordinate a statewide network of mental health providers ready to offer immediate help to soldiers in need.

For more information on the risk factors for suicide among members of the military and the services offered by the Truman Veterans' Hospital, see the links below to Teresa Snow's previous stories.