NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — This month, 10 On Your Side is giving you a glimpse into life in the Navy through our series “On Deck: The Navy Experience.”
This week we tackle a difficult topic: mental health in the military.
Suicide rates in the military increased slowly between 2011 and 2022, according to the Department of Defense’s 2022 Military Suicide Report. However, the report said the rates in 2022 and 2021 were slightly lower than in 2020.
In April 2022, three sailors connected to the locally based USS George Washington committed suicide.
10 On Your Side’s Marielena Balouris was recently aboard the USS George Washington and spoke with the ship’s leadership about mental health aboard the ship.
“For the ship, this has been a real challenge for us,” said Capt. Brent Gaut, commanding officer of the USS George Washington.
He said his time at the shipyard was tough.
“It’s the same thing, day in and day out,” Gaut said, “and sometimes it’s hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel.”
However, he said being at sea changed everything.
“Once we got out, those first few days were amazing, in May, because the sailors got to see for the first time what it’s like to be at sea,” Gaut told 10 On Your Side while He was on the ship’s bridge. . “Going up on the flight deck and feeling the wind in your hair, feeling the ship rocking a little, and they finally feel like real sailors.”
Even though things have improved, that hasn’t stopped him from focusing on mental health and wellness.
“Even though we’ve destigmatized mental health issues, I think we still have a long way to go,” Gaut said, “and so we’re constantly talking about: It’s okay to come forward, it’s okay – in fact, it’s a problem. sign of strength – to ask for help, not a sign of weakness, right. It’s okay to be vulnerable and say ‘hey, I’m just struggling right now.’
It’s not just about talking. The ship is making modifications, including adding WiFi to the mess deck, to help improve quality of life.
“If we can allow them to communicate with their loved ones back home, even for a few minutes, that’s good,” Gaut said. “This is the icing on the cake. They’re good for the rest of the day – let’s go, let’s go.
As another way to help sailors, the ship recently hosted a pierside mental health resource fair.
Representatives from nonprofit organizations, like The Fallen Outdoors, were there to help.
“We take veterans, active duty military, retirees, all veterans into the outdoors,” said Justin Kloppe, volunteer with The Fallen Outdoors, “whether it’s hunting, fishing, kayaking, disc golf, whatever. It is extremely important to give sailors a way to get away from the ship.
Kloppe’s full-time job is serving in the Marine Corps. He has been working in this field for over 20 years. He has therefore seen the debate on mental health evolve and knows personally how important it is.
“I had a suicide by Marine in Japan, in 2010,” Kloppe said. “It was a tough loss for the unit. We all knew him, we all loved him very much. Nobody knew he had a problem. No one knew he was struggling.
That’s part of why he’s committed to helping other service members.
“Giving the Sailors on board here another outlet to reach out, come together, get off the ship, hang out or whatever, just a community that they can be a part of,” Kloppe said.
It’s not just those aboard the ship who are dedicated to improving the mental health of sailors.
“There is nothing more serious for the Navy than losing one of our own to suicide,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “You are my top priority, so when I hear that a Marine has committed suicide, it’s heartbreaking news.”
Caudle recently spoke about the Navy’s commitment to the mental health of its sailors.
“There is a historical stigma associated with trying to get help for a mental issue that you are facing,” Caudle said. “We are working very hard to lower that threshold, lower that barrier.”
He knows change will take time, but he wants Sailors to know that leaders care and are working to make change.
“We like to say that mental health is health, and it needs to become more than just a topic of discussion,” Caudle added. “It takes time, I admit. We are on a trip.
Aboard the USS George Washington, it is this journey that Gaut continues to guide his sailors on.
“Sometimes hope is more important than happiness, and for the first time in a long time, they had that hope, the hope that things would get better, that there would be more days like this.” , Gaut said.
