TACOMA, Wash. –The Army hopes a personal touch will help lower the suicide rate at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Part of the training for noncommissioned officers this week includes Yoga and wine-tasting classes. The retreat teaches sergeants how they can model healthy habits and help soldiers dealing with depression, addiction or post-traumatic stress disorder.
About 80 officers took part in the retreat as part of a personal approach to suicide prevention, in contrast to Army PowerPoint presentations, briefings or TV commercials.
Thirteen soldiers killed themselves last year at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and nine deaths at the base this year are under review as possible suicides.
