A platoon sergeant recently recognized a text message as a legitimate threat and took immediate action to prevent a suicide. The platoon sergeant immediately informed the CDR and 1SG, and was en route to the Soldier's house as he also called the police and paramedics. Arriving at the house, the platoon sergeant gained contact with the drunken and mostly incoherent Soldier inside, who threatened those outside the apartment with a loaded weapon. The platoon sergeant then talked down the police, who wanted to breach the apartment, and then talked down the Soldier. The Soldier was taken to the hospital ER where he was treated for Tylenol poisoning. He was administered an antidote with hours to spare. If the platoon sergeant did not intervene, the Soldier would almost certainly be dead, or at the very least have severe enough liver damage to cause an MEB. Instead, the Soldier and his wife are now both receiving the counseling and mental health support they need to make a good recovery.

A Soldier was having domestic troubles. He and his wife decided to separate. Once they separated, the wife moved back to her home town. The Battery Leadership immediately identified the Soldier as "high risk," and provided counseling. They also kept the contact information for the Soldier's spouse. One night the Soldier and his wife had a heated argument. The Soldier told his wife that he felt like he might commit suicide and to call someone. His wife immediately called 911 and then his first line supervisor. An ambulance came and picked up the Soldier at his house, and he was transported to the Hospital. The Chain of Command met the Soldier at the Hospital and assisted him in getting the mental help he needed through both DAMC and the Fort Hood R&R Center. The Soldier was diagnosed with severe depression, previously unknown to him or his Chain of Command. The Soldier's spouse has since returned, and they are continuing to work on their relationship and communications skills through counseling provided by the R&R center. The Soldier has made a full recovery and is now serving as the Battery Commander's driver. The Battery Chain of Command allowed this Soldier to heal mentally through numerous appointments and without the stigma often associated with depression. The Soldier has been cleared for full duty with no profile and is now fully contributing to the great success of his battery.

A Soldier recently informed her squad leader she didn't want to live anymore and was going to drink bleach to commit suicide. The squad leader immediately went to take charge of the Soldier and get her medical attention. Upon examination it was determined she didn't consume any bleach yet but was suffering from extreme depression and emotional trauma. The unit transported the Solder to mental health where she was admitted and spent 72 hours at DAMC for counseling and observations. She had an open CPS investigation because her husband shook their toddler on the last deployment and she was scared of losing the child. The unit arranged for another Soldier to pick up the child from daycare and care for him each night while she was in the hospital. Her husband was kept away by his unit due to sexual assault charges on another individual which further complicated this Soldier's mental state. Her squad leader, 1SG, Co CDR and BN CDR visited her regularly in the hospital. This greatly raised her spirits to the point of being discharged. She is now back to work and functioning normally due to the engaged leadership and care she received during that difficult time.

In June, a PV2 observed someone "huffing" pressurized air in a car in the parking lot of the Warrior Way PX. The person was in and out of consciousness and could barely move. The PV2 immediately went and found help from a CPT at the front of the PX, and then they both returned to the vehicle to help the person. They asked if the person was alright, and he mumbled "yeah, I'm ok," and then rolled the other direction and attempted to inhale more of the pressurized air. The PV2 opened the door, pulled the key from the ignition, and took the can of pressurized air from the person. Six more cans of pressurized air were also removed from the vehicle, and the PV2 stood watch and talked to the person while they waited for the MPs and the ambulance. The person in the vehicle was a Soldier from another unit on post, and the young PV2 had the courage to do the right thing and act as a "Battle Buddy" to another Soldier he didn't even know.

In October, a Soldier visited a platoon mate in the barracks to talk about his marital problems. After discussing the situation with his friend, he asked him to give him a ride to his brother-in-law's home on post, in order to meet with his wife. The soldier and his wife met and spoke for approximately five minutes. After a confrontational meeting, the Soldier then asked his platoon mate for a ride back to his own home. The assisting Soldier felt uncomfortable dropping him off at his house alone due to his unstable emotional state, and continued to talk to the troubled Soldier about his problems as they drove along Tank Destroyer Blvd. after a few minutes the Soldier stated that he was having suicidal ideations, and then proceeded to open the door and jump from the car. The Soldier slowed the car down, but the troubled Soldier jumped out and continued to walk down the road, refusing to get back into the vehicle. The Soldier driving the vehicle continued to follow him in his POV and called 911 to request assistance. The Soldier was transported to Darnall and later on, Metroplex Hospital for extended care and treatment for his depression/mental state. This Soldier's actions exemplify our warrior ethos..."I will never leave a fallen comrade."

An NCO received a late night phone call from his Soldier. The Soldier seemed drunk on the phone and was not making much sense. The Soldier did not mention any Suicide Ideations while speaking with his NCO. The sergeant realized that something was not right about the way his Soldier was acting. Based on his personal knowledge of some of his Soldier's stressors (Divorce, custody dispute, ongoing domestic incidents), the NCO went to the Soldiers house to physically check on him. The Soldier was found sitting in the dark in the middle of his living room with and empty bottle of Ambien. The sergeant quickly assessed the situation and transported the Soldier to DAMC where he was treated for an Ambien overdose. The Soldier stopped breathing several times throughout the night while at DAMC. Eventually the effects of the drug wore off and the Soldier made a full recovery. If the NCO had not been aware of his Soldier's stressors and history, or if he had merely written the late night phone call off as drunken antics, the Soldier would not be alive today.

A Soldier notified his first line supervisor that his wife of ten years had left him and that she had taken the children with her. He was extremely down and depressed. His supervisor assured him that he would be with him and support him throughout the hardship. After a few days the Soldier failed to show up on time to formations. His supervisor asked him if he still felt depressed and what progress had he made in getting his life in order. The Soldier did not directly reply. He simply nodded. His supervisor, sensing a deeper mental health issue, asked him directly if he needed further help or had thoughts of suicide. The Soldier had responded that suicide had crossed his mind a few times. The supervisor assured him that he would receive all help and support available, while talking him through the mental health evaluation process. The supervisor then inquired into the status of any weapons located at the Soldier's home. When the Soldier replied in the affirmative, the supervisor asked if he could send someone to take temporary possession of those items. The Soldier agreed, and all weapons were turned in into the unit. The Soldier received mental health counseling, and in time, put his life back to normal. It was the actions of the first line supervisor that allowed the Soldier to move from a depressed time to a state of hope. In addition, the first line supervisor recognized the danger signs and was very direct with his Soldier.

A Specialist called his estranged spouse in New Jersey and expressed suicidal ideations. She called his First Sergeant at Fort Hood and relayed the Soldier's intentions. The chain of command conducted a local search to no avail. Since the unit knew the Soldier well (his friends and hangouts), they searched for him in San Antonio where he was found in a hotel. Upon learning that he had ingested a large quantity of sleeping pills, he was immediately taken to a local hospital. The Soldier is receiving continuing treatment with a good prognosis for recovery.

A Private First Class received a text message from his friends in another company within the Battalion. The text stated that his friend wanted to commit suicide by cutting his wrists once he returned from the field that night. The PFC received permission from his friend to enter his room before he returned from the field. When he entered the room he took all the harmful items he found and delivered them directly to his Platoon Sergeant. The Platoon Sergeant then contacted his own First Sergeant and informed him of the situation. The PFC's First Sergeant confirmed the suicidal ideation text that his Soldier received from his friends and contacted that Soldier's First Sergeant. The Soldier's suicidal ideations were confirmed by his First Sergeant, who then contacted the Chaplain. The Chaplain arrived to the unit's area within thirty minutes. The Chaplain spoke to the Soldier and received permission from him to discuss the issue with the Company Commander in order to make recommendations. The Chaplain spoke to the Company Commander and they both agreed that a Command referral to the hospital, in order to conduct a mental health evaluation, was the proper response. Approximately ten minutes later, the First Sergeant escorted the Soldier to the emergency room and remained with him until he was admitted. The Soldier was admitted and received the necessary treatment. The quick thinking of the Soldier's friend and his willingness to involve the Chain of Command assured that he received proper mental health support.

A Soldier contacted his mother via phone in another state, and stated to her that he had nothing to live for and that life was not for him. He expressed frustration, anger and anxiety. The mother immediately obtained the Chaplain's phone number from her son and contacted him. She told him everything that her son was experiencing and what he had said to her. The Chaplain immediately made contact with the Soldier via phone and kept talking to him until he arrived at the barracks where the Soldier was located. Once the Chaplain arrived, he continued to counsel him and the Soldier agreed to receive help. The Chaplain contacted the Company Commander and requested that a supervisor meet the Chaplain at the hospital with the Soldier. The Company Commander immediately sent an NCO, who arrived at the hospital within minutes. The Soldier was then admitted to the hospital and received proper treatment. The mother's quick thinking, the rapid response of the Chaplain and the unit assured that the Soldier received the proper mental health support.

A young Private and his wife had a critically injured child. Another Soldier and his wife stayed with the family in the hospital and provided around the clock support and assistance. Tragically, the child died. The supporting family continued to provide grief comfort to the Family. They never left their side. They even opened their home to the grieving Family and their relatives by providing lodging, meals, and heartfelt compassion over a two week period.

A 19-year old dependent sent a text message to a Soldier that she briefly dated. She stated she wanted to end her life. When he received the text the Soldier was serving as a Brigade Staff Duty Runner. He did not remember the sponsor's exact name or unit; however, he immediately informed his staff duty NCO and the Brigade Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA). The FRSA quickly called the Battalion FRSAs and the sponsor's unit was determined. Phone calls were made to the dependent's sponsor, mother, and to the police before any actions were taken by the girl. She was immediately taken to see mental health professionals.