Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 1

RESERVE AFFAIRS

Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan:

A Toolkit for Commanders
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 i

Command Suicide Response Quick Reference Checklist

 Contact military or local law enforcement/Security Forces, and 911 (situation dependent).

 Notify Chain of Command. Initiate Operational Reporting (OPREP) messages.

 Notify on-call Response Team to prepare for possible postvention.

 Validate with legal and criminal investigator who has jurisdiction over the scene and 

medical investigation. Normally, local medical examiners/coroners have medical incident 

authority in these cases, but some locations may vary.

 Contact Casualty Affairs to notify/assist Next of Kin (NOK) and receive their briefing.

 Consult with on-call Response Team to prepare announcement to unit.

 Make initial announcement to unit at next drill with a balance of ―need to know‖ and 

rumor control. Involve Behavioral Health provider or Chaplain to support potentially 

distraught personnel. Avoid announcing specific details of the suicide. Do not mention 

the method used. Do not announce specific location, who found the body, whether or not 

a note was left, or why the member may have killed himself.

 Avoid memorializing/idolizing the deceased’s death or conveying the suicide is different 

from any other death to protect from ―copycat‖ suicides.

 Consult with Public Affairs regarding public statements about the suicide and refer to the 

Public Affairs Guidance (PAG) for Suicide Prevention. When engaging in public 

discussions of the suicide:

o Express sadness at the military’s loss and acknowledge the grief of the survivors;

o Emphasize the unnecessary nature of suicide since assistance is available;

o Express concern that the member did not recognize that help was available;

o Ensure the audience knows you and the unit want personnel to seek assistance when 

distressed, including those who are currently affected;

o Encourage fellow unit members to be attuned to those who may be grieving or having 

a difficult time following the suicide, especially those close to the deceased; and 

o Provide a brief reminder of the warning signs of suicide and gatekeeper protocols. 

 Follow up with an e-mail to the community affected. Restate the themes noted above.

 Consider increasing the senior leadership presence during drill immediately following the 

announcement of death. Engage informally with personnel, communicate a message of 

support and provide information.

 Consult with the Chaplain regarding the Memorial service. This is an important 

opportunity to foster resilience by helping survivors understand and heal. A Memorial 

service has the potential to either increase or decrease the suicide risk for others. It is 

important to have an appropriate balance between recognizing the member’s military 

service and expressing disappointment about the way they died. Focus on survivors.

Express disappointment in the deceased’s decision and promote help-seeking and the 

concept of looking out for each other.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 ii

Message from Reserve Affairs

When suicide happens everyone is affected. It touches other 

members of our units, our families, and us. Therefore, we must

not only proactively conduct effective communication and 

intercept programs, but be prepared to appropriately respond to 

each tragedy as they occur. Suicide often leaves many questions 

in its wake, and as leaders, we are responsible for comforting 

survivors, assisting families, maintaining unit readiness and 

setting the response tone.

Additionally, myths and facts abound. The purpose of this tool

kit is to help unit leadership respond. It provides insight and 

guidance for supporting your unit, dealing with families, and 

connecting with the community at large. Risk factors as well as potential survivor reactions are 

clearly outlined. Government benefits are discussed, so you can answer family questions that

may arise. There is information on organizing a response team and a memorial service. A 

resource guide gives you extra options for assistance.

It is my hope that this Tool Kit will make you feel more prepared and confident to deal with 

those members of your unit who may die by suicide and with their families. The postvention 

plan also includes information on prevention, so that we can drive down the number of our 

troops we lose to suicide in the future.

I strongly urge you to review this document and keep it ready in the event you should be called 

upon to respond to a suicide. Remember that postvention is prevention. 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 iii

Acknowledgements

The Office of the Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs, prepared this guide with contributions 

and assistance from many individuals and organizations. We are particularly grateful to the 

members of the Reserve Affairs Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Working Group who represent 

the ―Seven Seals‖ of the Reserve Components and our partners across the Personnel and 

Readiness (P&R) enterprise for reviewing the text and providing edits. Our members include:

CDR Linda Beede, Navy; COL Gregg Bliss, Army National Guard; LtCol David Bringhurst, Air 

National Guard; Ms. Brenda Canady, Navy; Ms. Evonne Carawan, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary of the Navy; LCDR, Bonnie Chavez, Navy; Andrea Gonzalez, National Guard Bureau 

(NGB); COL James Griffith, Army National Guard; CAPT Janet Hawkins, Defense Centers of 

Excellence; CAPT Joan Hunter, NGB; Mr. Len Litton, Readiness; LCDR Andrew Martin, 

Marine Corps; Major Michael McCarthy, Air Force; Mr. Walter Morales, Army; Casey Olson, 

Army National Guard; Col Cherie Roberts, RA; LtCol David Ubelor, Air Force Reserve; LTC 

Laura Wheeler, Army National Guard; and Dr. Beth Zeiger, Optimization Consulting 

Incorporated for the Air National Guard. We also recognize the work of Dr. Stephen Axelrad, 

Booz, Allen and Hamilton, whose consultation helped inform this work.

Reserve Affairs would also like to express appreciation for the insights and assistance provided 

by Ms. Kim Ruocco, MSW, LSW, National Director of Suicide Education and Outreach, 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; Ms. Jeanette Mendy, Department of Veterans 

Affairs; and Chaplain (COL) Steven Moon, Executive Director, Armed Forces Chaplain Board. 

Author: 

Jacqueline Garrick, LCSW-C, BCETS, Acting Director, Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 iv

Table of Contents

Command Suicide Response Quick Reference Checklist ............................................................... i

Message from Reserve Affairs........................................................................................................ ii

Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................iii

Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1

Background..................................................................................................................................... 1

Part 1: Unit Level.......................................................................................................................... 3

Risk and Protective Factors......................................................................................................... 4

Potential Survivor Reactions to Suicide...................................................................................... 7

Survivor Stages of Grief after a Suicide...................................................................................... 8

Total Force Fitness.................................................................................................................... 10

Command Consideration........................................................................................................... 11

Five Steps to Suicide Assessment, Evaluation, and Triage Postvention................................... 11

Reserve Component Suicide Response Team (RCSRT) .......................................................... 12

DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER)..................................................................................... 14

Part 2: Family Level ................................................................................................................... 15

Criminal Investigation............................................................................................................... 15

Casualty Affairs Officers (CAOs)............................................................................................. 16

DoD Survivor Benefits.............................................................................................................. 16

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Death and Survivor Benefits .......................... 18

Veterans’ Benefits................................................................................................................. 19

Survivors’ Benefits ............................................................................................................... 19

Other Federal Benefits and Services......................................................................................... 21

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Referral................................................... 22

Funeral and Memorial Services................................................................................................. 23

Stateside Memorial Service....................................................................................................... 24

Memorial Service (Interfaith) Template ................................................................................... 25

In-theater Memorial Services.................................................................................................... 26

Part 3: Community Level........................................................................................................... 26

Media Recommendations.......................................................................................................... 27
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 v

Suicide Nomenclature ............................................................................................................... 27

Suicide Contagion ..................................................................................................................... 27

Role for Employers ................................................................................................................... 28

Role for Funeral Home Directors.............................................................................................. 29

Appendix A: Resource Guide ....................................................................................................... 30

Appendix B: Acronyms ................................................................................................................ 32

Appendix C: Suicide Facts and Appropriate Messaging .............................................................. 34

Appendix D: Sample MOA with TAPS........................................................................................ 36

Appendix E: CDC Uniform Definitions....................................................................................... 39

Appendix F: Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 41

Appendix G: Your Own Notes and Resources............................................................................. 43
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 1

Introduction

he purpose of this document is to give Reserve Component Commanders and other 

leaders a toolkit to develop a postvention plan after a unit member’s suicide. Postvention 

refers to response activities that should be undertaken in the immediate aftermath of a 

suicide that has impacted the unit. Postvention has two purposes: to help survivors cope with 

their grief and to prevent additional suicides. It also may be an opportunity to disseminate 

accurate information about suicide, encourage help-seeking behavior and provide messages of

resilience, hope and healing. There are also unit advantages in that postvention is geared towards 

facilitating unit cohesion, maintaining mission readiness and restoring unit effectiveness in the 

wake of a tragic event. Postvention activities may last a few days to several months, depending 

upon the needs of the unit or the span of a criminal investigation into the death. The toolkit also 

outlines particular roles and responsibilities. 

Background

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is one of the leading causes of 

death worldwide and is a significant public health problem. Among those aged 15 to 44 years, 

self-inflicted injuries are the fourth leading cause of death and the sixth leading cause of illhealth and disability throughout the world (WHO, 2002). Each year, suicide results in more than 

1.6 million deaths internationally, with more than 90 percent occurring in low and middle 

income countries (CDC, 2010). In the United States, suicide has been the 11th leading cause of 

death overall. It is the third cause of death among Americans 15 to 24 years of age, fourth among 

persons 25 to 44 and eighth among those persons 45 to 64 years of age. The suicide rate among 

the military has historically been lower than in the civilian population. According to RAND, the 

―suicide rate in the synthetic civilian population is both fairly constant and substantially higher 

than that in DoD. Of concern, however, is that the gap between DoD and the general population 

is closing. The most pronounced increases in the DoD suicide rate occurred between 2007 and 

2008, so assuming that the national rate remains relatively stable in these years, the gap between 

the rate in DoD and the general population may be even narrower‖ (Ramchand, 2011). This has 

triggered major concern across the Services and the Department of Defense (DoD) to prevent 

and respond to suicide. 

Since there are geographic trends for suicide, unit commanders should be aware of the civilian 

population trends in their area and how that might impact unit members. Over the last few years 

for which data are available, the top five states with the highest average suicide rates within the 

general population have been Montana, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The four

states/territories with the lowest suicide rates have been Washington DC, New Jersey, New 

York, and Massachusetts, with Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Illinois sharing fifth place on the 

list. However, when comparing those numbers to those of the Army National Guard, the highest 

T
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 2

suicide rates were from Minnesota, Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, and California. The lowest were 

Puerto Rico, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Rhode Island, and New Mexico. No suicides were 

reported in DC, Delaware, New Jersey, Nevada, and the Virgin Islands (CDC, 2010).

Since 2001 and the advent of the Global War on Terror, the United States Armed Forces have

experienced an ever-changing operational tempo that has surpassed that seen in the previous 

generation. An all-volunteer force has carried out an extremely intense, dangerous, and 

consuming mission. This mission has greatly increased military reliance on the Reserve 

Components (RC) who have deployed and engaged in assignments alongside the active duty. A 

decade later, the National Guard and Reserve service has been re-defined, but the understanding 

and ability to support these Service members and their families in their communities has varied 

widely from state to state and by component. DoD has not always had visibility on the issues

faced by Guardsmen and Reservists as they join, deploy, re-deploy or transition from the 

military. The problems that many Americans face are felt throughout the RC and can be 

intensified by the demands of military service. So, conditions such as divorce, substance abuse, 

family violence, financial crisis, criminal/legal problems, unemployment, or illness are 

complicated by deployments, isolation, combat stress, and readjustment. In the worst case 

scenario, the confluence of these circumstances leads to suicide. Between 2007 and 2011, there 

was an increase in the number of suicides among members of the Army National Guard –

including an almost doubling in suicides from 2009 to 2010. Although there was a decline for the 

National Guard in 2011, DoD still finished the year higher than the previous. Regardless of the 

rates or trends regarding suicide, DoD has learned that commands need the ability to activate a 

postvention response plan when a member of their unit has died by suicide.

In July 2010, Reserve Affairs (RA) conducted a gap analysis among the Services and found a 

need for more informed suicide postvention planning that took into consideration the unique 

needs and circumstances of the RC that differ from the active duty (Yellow Ribbon Suicide 

Prevention Task Force, 2010). Additionally in 2010, the Suicide Prevention and Risk Reduction 

Committee (SPARRC) established a Postvention Subcommittee to examine the need for 

consistent postvention policy. After it completed its review, the working group developed 

recommendations for standardize suicide postvention guidelines for all Services (SPARRC 

Postvention Subcommittee, 2011). The SPARRC subcommittee identified those who respond to 

a completed suicide and work with suicide survivors across DoD as including chaplains, law 

enforcement, first responders and casualty officers. However, commanders are expected to lead 

this response. Within National Guard and Reserve units, there are those too who must respond to 

a suicide, often without the same resources and support as those assigned to active duty 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 3

installations or fleets. Months may go by before a unit1is notified of a death, and commands are 

much more reliant on civilian authorities or dispersed families for information and support.

Furthermore, the Services have looked beyond the SPARRC recommendations and have 

embraced their own approaches to postvention to include the use of peer support, trauma 

response teams, and agreements with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). 

Additionally, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has funded several projects, including the 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), which produces information and toolkits. The 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers support 

through the Military Crisis Line (1-800-273-TALK, 

press 1 for military) and produces suicide prevention 

awareness materials. In the private sector, information is 

available from the American Foundation for Suicide 

Prevention and the American Association of 

Suicidology. The purpose of the following guidance is to 

adapt the SPARRC recommendation and other literature 

to encompass the needs of the RC, their families, and 

other survivors. 

This guidance is divided into three functional levels—

unit, family, and community—in order to outline the 

requirements and tasks to be considered in crafting a 

response plan. Since each suicide, as any death, is 

unique, the guidance should be seen as a toolkit to assist

commanders in pre-planning for a crisis, organizing 

options for a suicide response, maintaining organizational stability and effectiveness, and having

readily available referral resources to ensure that postvention is accomplished in a timely 

manner, demonstrates sensitivity to those affected, facilitates cohesion, and disseminates 

appropriate information about the particular suicide and about suicide in general. 

Part 1: Unit Level

Having a unit level coordinated response plan is paramount to ensuring that the organization 

remains stable, individual members are able to voice their concerns without fear of stigma, and 

any suicide contagion2is controlled. A suicide should be treated as any other death in the unit.

 

1

For the purposes of this document, the term ―unit‖ is meant to be nondescript and can apply to any military 

component. 

2 As described by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 

contagion is the process by which one suicide death may contribute to another.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 4

However, sensitivity should also include awareness to not overly simplify or sensationalize the 

death. Unit leaders should avoid glamorizing the death or giving the event undue prominence.

Avoid providing specific details about the suicide, such as the location and means used. 

Messaging to unit members should include identifying the emotional struggles or behavioral

health challenges associated with suicide and the ―snowball effect‖ of co-existing physical, 

emotional, psychological, spiritual and social conditions (components of Total Force Fitness)

and complex circumstances, while protecting the privacy of the members and the family 

involved. All Service members should know how to access available support systems and 

professional referrals when dealing with the suicide of a fellow Service member. Commands 

should be familiar with and able to use their Service-specific suicide prevention materials or 

those made available from DoD. Military OneSource is the DoD failsafe, so rely on the 1-800-

342-9647 line for assistance and referrals. 

Remember that suicide is preventable and postvention is prevention. Talking appropriately about 

what happened and giving facts about suicide is critical to preventing it. Research shows that it is 

a myth that once someone has made up their minds to die by suicide, there is nothing you can do 

about it. Since ambivalence about life and death is a factor, giving someone with suicidal 

ideation the support they need to live is essential (NAMI, 2009). (See Resource Guide in 

Appendix A for additional sources of assistance.)

Risk and Protective Factors

DoD internal and external studies and reports have identified individual risk and protective 

factors that relate to suicidal behavior. A DoD Task Force noted that protective factors stem from 

physical, psychological, spiritual, family, social, financial, vocational, and emotional wellbeing.3

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) specifically 

identified risk factors for PTSD that cause a schism in 

wellness to be associated with combat exposure, military 

sexual assault, homecoming environment, gender, and 

ethnicity.4Since PTSD is highly associated with suicidal

thoughts and/or behaviors, individuals who have potential 

for both conditions should be identified. 

The tables beginning on page 5 identify negative and 

positive factors that can affect an individual’s and organization’s ability to foster resistance, 

build resilience, and maintain readiness. These factors should assist with awareness and help 

commands develop programs and tailor their response plans for the unit and individuals that 

 

3 DoD. The Challenge and the Promise: Strengthening the Force, Preventing Suicide and Saving Lives. August 

2010.

4

Institute of Medicine. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnosis and Assessment. National Academies Press, 

Washington, DC, 2006. p. 59.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 5

might be at risk. Commands should remember to incorporate the Total Force Fitness Model into 

their postvention response in order to encourage resilience and recovery. 

INDIVIDUAL FACTORS

Risk Factors

―Dear John‖ letter/call, divorce, other relationship problems with family or at work

Criminal charges (civilian or military) or other legal problems

Depression, PTSD, TBI, grief

Anger, rage, violence or impulsivity

Guilt, shame, or stigma associated with behavioral health problems, won’t seek help

Physical injury/illness; chronic pain

Deployment & trauma exposure (combat, killing, sexual assault, disaster, etc)

Cumulative stressors or competing stresses between unit & family

History of substance abuse, workaholic, gambling

Drunk driving or driving too fast

Disillusionment with career or leadership, sudden change in work performance, loss of pleasure in 

things previously loved, irritability, isolation

Unsuccessful transition or deactivation: Civilian unemployment/under-employed, education 

barriers, homeless

Genetics, family history of suicide/previous attempts or ideations

Financial stresses & history of poverty

Childhood history of abuse or molestation

Inattentiveness to health & hygiene 

Male, Caucasian, lower rank, younger age

Hopeless/foreshortened sense of future

Previous behavioral health treatment & prescription medication usage

Weapon availability or access to lethal means

Self-harm/mutilation, cutting history (i.e., noticeable razor marks or burns on skin)

Protective Factors/Resilience/Readiness

Supportive command and leadership

Unit cohesion

Family and friends – peer support 

Member of a veterans or civic organization

Spirituality, faith, forgiveness, positive sense of values, beliefs and ethics, 

Sense of purpose & meaning in life 

Participation in relaxation, hobbies, recreation, yoga or sports 

Anonymous 12-step program participation

Taking leave or vacation time

Problem-solving & goal-oriented skills

Resilience program education and training

Psycho-education (i.e., smoking cessation classes) or behavioral health treatment

Transition plan completed prior to leaving the military (i.e., Yellow Ribbon, TAP)
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 6

Clear procedures for self/peer/family suicidal intervention

Exercise regularly

Proper nutrition and meals

Sleeping regularly and soundly

Rank attainment & longer period of military service

Adaptability, flexibility, hopeful for future

Self-esteem, positive personality, intelligence, sense of humor

Work-life balance

Total Force Fitness awareness

In addition to the risk and protective factors that occur on an individual level, there are also those 

institutional elements that can be seen across organizations and contribute to the unit 

environment. These factors are outlined in the two tables below.

ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS

Risk Factors

Decline in leadership

Lack of disciplinary or corrective actions for infractions or criminal activity

Frequency of rotations leads to inability to know troops and identify individual risks

Media connectivity to home while deployed can have +/- depending upon home front situation

Lack of accountability

Ineffective recruiting practices and waivers

Ground combat & increased operational tempo

Poor unit morale

Lack of centralized data/no investigatory repository

Not uniformly drug testing

Institutional racism/sexism and not investigating hate crimes

Tolerating high-risk behavior in the ranks

Unit isolation from a support community

Lack of resources or awareness of how to access them

Insufficient access to behavioral health support from DoD, VA or community

Reduced dwell time and ability to reset

Tolerating hazing and bullying; not sufficiently enforcing or training on policies

Leadership who talks about attempts, suicides, or behavioral health in a derogatory way

Protective Factors/Resilience/Readiness

Standard regulations & uniformity with Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)

Experienced & trained Commanders & Senior NCOs

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program

Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) or Navy Returning Warrior Workshop support and 

encouraged participation with command presence.

Use of surveillance tools (drug testing)

Ensure families or friends are supported and have a crisis number to call
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 7

Community support programs & financial support, grants, loans, etc.

Veteran Treatment Court awareness and participation in advisory councils

Sufficient military support program staff and resources

Appropriate dwell time between deployments or use of shift work

Research availability to program managers

Shared best practices among providers and leaders

Communication between the ranks

Composite view of troops & situation

Unit cohesion, good morale & readiness

Adherence to military values & ethos

Sense of fairness across the force

Good order & discipline

Holistic view of warrior & family and support for Total Force Fitness compliance

Synchronized unit and individual readiness (including family)

Embedded behavioral health providers and Directors of Psychological Health 

Return Service members back to original duty following behavioral health help; have a plan for 

removing and returning weapons

Potential Survivor Reactions to Suicide (Baugher & Jordan, 2009)

Most unit members will not experience complicated grief and will be fine in the long term. 

However, in dealing with survivors, whether fellow unit members, family, or community 

colleagues, it is important to understand the spectrum of reactions that might be demonstrated or 

underlying behavior, which may be related to the nature of the relationship between surviving 

unit members and the deceased (for example, unit members also may be related, neighbors, coworkers, or part of the same church, lodge or other community group) or other life circumstances 

survivors were also dealing with at the time of the suicide. Depending upon these factors there 

are some identifiable reactions to suicide that may include:

Shock, disbelief and feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances

Stigma associated with suicide, which can lead to embarrassment and shame. This may 

alienate family, friends, and fellow unit members from their traditional support systems,

such as their civic or faith-based community

Difficulty concentrating or remembering, which can lead to impaired judgment

Denial about the true nature of the circumstances; blame others. May even refuse to 

believe it was a suicide

Grief, depression and loss 

Fear and mistrust

Helplessness, hopeless, challenges to faith

Anger at the person over the suicide

Guilt or a sense of responsibility, the ―if-only‖ questions, guilt that comes with a sense of 

relief after a long struggle 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 8

Rejection or abandonment issues

Driven by a need for more information on the events leading to the suicide and the 

criminal investigation afterwards

Physical reactions – loss of appetite, difficulty falling or staying asleep (nightmares), 

fatigue, restlessness, stomach problems, headaches, chest pains, loss of interest in 

previously pleasurable activities

Unit members and families may exhibit anger, blame and resentment toward one another

Suicidal thoughts of their own (Note: If you become aware of someone in your family or 

another unit member expressing thoughts of suicide, you must provide immediate care.) 

Survivor Stages of Grief after a Suicide (Jackson, 2004)

Survivor reactions may be seen in stages and will change as a funeral and/or memorial are 

completed, a criminal investigation closes, anniversary dates come and go, and the unit 

composition changes. However, there are no set boundaries for these responses and a survivor 

may move back and forth between stages or may not experience the full range of reactions. 

Suicide is a tragic and shocking event, no matter the circumstances leading up to it. Family 

members, friends, and peers of those who die by suicide will react differently depending on 

various factors. Many survivors have an initial response of shock and may seem ―out of it‖ or 

detached from the situation. Some will immediately ask 

questions about the circumstances of the death, in an attempt to 

integrate this information. In the coming days, weeks, and 

months, survivors may struggle with a complex set of emotions 

that may change moment to moment. The survivor’s stages of 

grief may occur all at once, separately, or sequentially. 

Survivors should be reassured that whatever they are feeling is 

ok, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and that what they 

are experiencing is normal for someone who has been exposed 

to such a trauma. The command should then reassure the survivors that they are not alone, that 

there is help available for them, and that the command will make sure that survivors are 

connected with the appropriate resources, such as TAPS.

The postvention plan initiated by commanders can assist survivors’ transition from stage to stage 

in a healthy manner and can reduce the complications of grief that can lead to blaming, actingout behavior, unit cohesion disintegration, and suicide contagion. While most unit members will 

not experience complicated grief after a suicide and will adjust appropriately, a select few may 

need to be monitored in the short term, which can be seen in the following stages immediately 

after a suicide and can last a few months. Unit members who are identified as having severe grief 

or acute stress reactions may need to be referred to behavioral health experts. Commands may 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 9

also want to be mindful of anniversary dates that may stir up memories and reactions a year or so 

after a tragic event. 

The stages to monitor for are as follows:

1. Shock – It is common to feel dazed in the wake of any tragedy. Suicide usually comes as 

unanticipated news to survivors. Emotional numbness allows survivors to ―wrap their 

minds around‖ the death. Unit members most touched by the tragedy may appear 

disengaged or distracted for a few weeks. Shock can be accompanied by a physical state 

of physiological collapse, marked by a weak pulse, coldness, sweating, and irregular 

breathing. Medical care may be needed depending upon the intensity of this state.

2. Denial – Hand in hand with shock is the inability to fully grasp the situation and how it 

could have happened. Rationalizations and alternate explanations to the suicide prevail.

―Government cover up‖ conspiracy theories may surface, so transparency and facts are 

key response elements.

3. Guilt/Blame – Survivors blame themselves or try to assign responsibility to military 

leaders who they believe were neglectful for things that they should have known, but did

not or could not have foreseen. Regret predominates this stage, which can turn into anger.

Guilt is sometimes generated by a sense of relief if the person had been suffering or

acting out, or 

was creating 

problems and 

hardships for 

others.

Regardless of 

the source of 

the guilt, attempts should be made to assuage it. No one can predict a suicide and there is 

no ―if only‖ crystal ball for what could have been done differently. 

4. Sadness – As acceptance takes hold, so does the basic sense of loss that accompanies a 

death. Sadness unresolved can turn into clinical depression. Special occasions and 

anniversary dates may trigger memories that generate sadness. Recognize those times and 

encourage life-affirming events/activities. 

5. Anger - Feeling abandoned or betrayed by the person who took their own life is a 

common reaction among survivors. Furthermore, it is common to see anger between

family members or unit friends for ―not seeing it,‖ ―not doing anything about it‖ or 

―causing it.‖ There may be anger directed towards the military in general, the unit, or the 

command by family or fellow Service members who need a scapegoat. 

6. Acceptance – Although a suicide is tragic, survivors enter a stage where they can move 

on with their lives and find joy and fulfillment in relationships, work, and other activities 

again. Acceptance is derived from the realization that no one is to blame, there is nothing 

SHOCK DENIAL GUILT/BLAME SADNESS ANGER ACCEPTANCE

Figure 1: Stages of Grief Some May Face Following Another's Suicide
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 10

that could have been done differently, events are beyond control, and the person lost 

made a regrettable choice based on their own pain, but it was ultimately their choice. Life 

is changed, but it does go on. This does not mean a family or unit members have ―gotten 

over it,‖ but they have figured out how to ―live with it.‖ Commands should use their

Reserve Component Suicide Response Team (RCSRT) members (as described on page 

12) to assist in venting and validating unit members’ emotional reactions and responses

to the death.

Total Force Fitness 

Postvention and prevention go hand in hand. The Total Force Fitness framework developed by 

the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a ―methodology for understanding, assessing and 

maintaining Service members’ well-being and sustaining their ability to carry out missions.‖

(CJCSI 3405.01, 2011)

Total Force Fitness 

comprises eight domains,

as illustrated at right. The 

domains—Physical, 

Environmental, 

Medical/Dental,

Nutritional, Spiritual, 

Psychological, Behavioral 

and Social—are meant to 

instill resilience, hardiness,

and wellness in our troops

in an environment of 

repetitive deployments and 

combat operations.

Although research has not 

been conducted on this 

framework and suicide 

postvention, these domains are a means for instilling and monitoring the general well-being of 

the unit and identifying anyone who might be suseptible to suicide contagion.

A unit that has conducted on-going Total Force Fitness training and maintained such an 

environment well in advance of a crisis will help mitigate the negative impacts and enhance 

individual, family and organizational coping and recovery. This perspective should help 

commands be mindful of factors to monitor after a unit experiences a tragic loss.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 11

The Total Force Fitness chart should help leaders know when to intervene, seek creative ideas 

and possibilities, and create an environment that supports behaviors needed to achieve individual 

healthy lifestyles, optimize safety, and create 

positive working conditions that support and 

maintain unit readiness. Total Force Fitness 

can be viewed along with the protective 

factors outlined previously. Resilience is the 

overall long-term goal for every unit member who may have been impacted by a tragedy, such as 

the suicide by a buddy. Most unit members will bounce back after the initial shock and sadness 

of a fellow unit member’s death because their protective factors are strong and their unit 

environment encourages it.

Command Consideration

Since members of the National Guard and Reserves are not usually in daily contact with their 

commands, the death of a member may not come to the attention of the unit until well after the 

fact. Therefore, commanders may not immediately have information about a member’s death, 

but should make attempts to confirm as much about the death as possible to avoid speculation 

and rumors among the troops. In many cases involving suicide, a law enforcement investigation 

will be on-going. Commanders can obtain information from next of kin, investigators or medical 

examiners. A communication plan should be developed in consultation with the family to be sure 

what information can or cannot be disclosed to the unit. If there is an investigation underway, 

law enforcement should also be involved in deciding what to discuss with other unit members.

However, commanders will need to provide as much information and remain as transparent as 

possible to keep unit members who were close to the deceased feeling informed and involved.

Otherwise, anger, mistrust and frustration complicate the natural grieving process that coworkers and peers will experience. It is a tough balance between transparency and not disclosing 

where and by what means the individual died. Commanders may want to consider prefacing 

comments by acknowledging that there are a lot of questions and for various reasons, including 

those concerning privacy, some information that fellow unit members might see as key will not 

be released. 

Five Steps to Suicide Assessment, Evaluation, and Triage Postvention

1. Identify Risk Factors - Use the risk factor list provided earlier to identify unit members 

who might be at risk for self-directed violence.

2. Identify Protective Factors – Use the community resources available to the unit and 

match them to the member’s needs. See the Resource Guide in Appendix A.

3. Conduct Suicide Inquiry - Do not be afraid to ask any fellow unit member questions 

about suicidal thoughts or plans.

“Resilience is the overall long-term goal 

for every unit member who may have 

been impacted by a tragedy, such as the 

suicide by a buddy.”
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 12

People Who Care, Ask:

 Do you feel as if you could harm yourself? 

 How often are you having those kinds of thoughts? 

 Do you have a plan to harm yourself? 

 Do you have access to lethal means? If so, how can we secure those items?

 Have you made any preparations to carry out your plan? 

 Have you made any previous attempts to harm yourself? 

 What can you do to protect yourself? How can I help?

4. Determine Risk Level - If imminent risk is identified, call 911. If risk is contemplative, 

refer to the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (press 1 for military). If risk is 

identified in person, escort to medical care. Involve RCSRT members or chaplains to 

assist in getting the Service member to medical care. 

5. Document – Keep track of all conversations with a member who expresses any indication 

that they could harm themselves or are experiencing unique or intense stressors. Know 

their safety plan and discuss the removal of weapons or other harmful means as a 

precaution. Follow up on referrals.

Reserve Component Suicide Response Team (RCSRT) 

The role of the RCSRT is to support and advise the commander. The RCSRT can be a member 

of the Traumatic Event Management (TEM)5 who is specifically trained to respond to any 

tragedy. This model follows the response teams that the Services have that are installation-based 

for the active duty, which are described by RAND (Ramchand, 2011). Incidents include combat, 

disasters, or the sudden death of a unit member, as would be the case with a suicide. Response 

teams are usually comprised of about 5 to 10 members (a social worker, psychologist, chaplain, 

senior NCO, etc.) who implement the response effort following a completed suicide, depending 

upon the branch of service and command structure. The team lead is responsible for coordinating 

the response during the crisis under the leadership of the commander (AFSP & SPRC, 2011).

The team should be trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) basic core competencies (Everly, 

2011) that include:

 

5

TEM is the term utilized by the U.S. Army referencing interventions and support activities in response to 

potentially traumatizing events (PTE) that occur individually or organizationally. It is a flexible set of interventions 

specifically focused on stress management for units and individual Soldiers. TEM is one of the nine functional areas 

of Combat and Operational Stress Control. The goal of TEM is to enhance Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), which 

describes an adaptive process resulting from exposure to PTEs that include improved relationships, renewed hope 

for life, an improved appreciation of life, an enhanced sense of personal strength, and spiritual development. 

http://www.behavioralhealth.army.mil/provider/traumatic.html
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 13

Stabilization – Capable of using an intervention technique that de-escalates reactions,

discourages unit member impulsivity and instills calm.

Assessment – Able to determine the psychological and behavioral health status of unit 

members and the need for intervention.

Empathic Communications – Possesses skills that entail respect, compassion, and 

concern for all people regardless of military affiliation, gender, race, creed, or color.

Acute Interventions – Designed to mitigate acute distress and foster hope.

Triage – Understand criteria for determining the need for referral to on-going care.

Facilitation – Network with a care continuum for referral and advocacy purposes to 

military, TRICARE, VA, or community-based supportive services.

Self Care – Ensure RCSRT responders are practicing their own stress management and 

have a forum to process the event.

PFA is a generic template that requires teams to be trained and prepared to respond to a crisis, 

such as in the case of a unit member’s death. PFA management constitutes a framework that 

incorporates elements of a traumatic event – in this case a suicide – and its psychological aspects 

and analyzes and coordinates ―an integrated multi-component continuum of ... intervention 

services.‖ (Everly, 2011) This team should also be able to assess the 

risks for suicide contagion among individual unit members and make 

recommendation or referrals for additional professional interventions or 

experts. Activities could include offering response guidance to unit 

commanders, networking with Casualty Assistance Calls Officers 

(CACO) on behalf of the family, defusing or de-briefings, providing 

emotional support, and offering referrals to community resources for

unit members.

In addition to an organized RCSRT response, there are other resources 

and tools available from the Services that foster resilience in the wake 

of a tragedy and assist in preventing additional suicidal behavior. 

Reliance on the Total Force Fitness framework and ensuring those goals are being met by unit 

members is a way to foster healthy habits and reduces risky behavior and suicide contagion.

Each of the Services, which incorporate the RC, has a different response path:

Army - For Army-specific guidance on suicide prevention and its materials, the Shoulder-toShoulder program; Home Front; Ask, Care, Escort (ACE); and other videos and information, see 

resources at www.preventsuicide.army.mil.

Navy - Navy Reserve Psychological Health Outreach Program (PHOP) and Returning Warrior 

Workshops (RWW) provide postvention support and resources for suicide prevention. Materials 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 14

for sailors include Combat and Operational Stress Control First Aid (COSCFA) and Ask, Care,

Treat (ACT), which can be found at www.suicide.navy.mil.

Air Force - The Wingman Project is the suicide prevention program designed to assist Airmen 

through outreach, media and training opportunities. Materials are available at 

www.afrc.wingmantoolkit.org.

The Airman’s Guide for Assisting Personnel in Distress Guide is also available at:

http://bit.ly/ISWHSO

Air National Guard – The Wingman Project is also a tool used for the Air Guard population 

www.wingmanproject.org.

Marine Corps - Never Leave a Marine Behind focuses on changing behavior related to suicide. 

Materials can be found at www.usmc-mccs.org/suicideprevent/index.cfm?sid=ml. The Marine 

Corps DSTRESS Line provides 24/7, anonymous phone and chat counseling with a ―By MarineFor-Marine‖ approach. The call center is staffed with veteran Marines, former Fleet Marine 

Force (FMF) Corpsmen and licensed clinicians with specific training in Marine Corps culture.

The target audience is Marines, attached sailors, and families. The DSTRESS Line expanded

Corps-wide on 23 March 2012. For assistance call 1-877-476-7734. 

Coast Guard – The Office of Work-Life programs handles suicide prevention. Information, 

instructions, and resources are available at www.uscg.mil/hr/cg111/suicide_prevention.asp.

DoD/VA – Additional information on suicide prevention and resources for military and veterans 

can be accessed at www.suicideoutreach.org. It also has the links for all of the Service-specific 

programs plus VA information.

DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER)

Since 2008, the DoDSER (National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), 2011) has been

a collaborative effort within the Defense Department. It standardizes suicide surveillance across 

the Services with the ultimate goal of suicide prevention. The DoDSER includes activated 

National Guard and Reserve members. In addition, the Armed Forced Medical Examiner System 

(AFMES) compiles suicide data from rosters provided by the Services’ Suicide Prevention 

Program Managers on inactive Guard and Reserve members. The Services first began collecting 

data on inactive RC suicides in 2009.

When a death is ruled a suicide by the AFMES a designated professional, usually a Behavioral 

Health Officer from the Service, conducts a psychological autopsy by reviewing the records, 

conducts interviews with commanders, unit members, families, and other community contacts as

appropriate, and responds to questions via a secured web-based application

(https://dodser.t2.health.mil).
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 15

On January 1, 2010, the Services began to collect additional information on suicide attempts,

with some of the Services collecting information on non-fatal self-harm (risk-taking behaviors) 

and suicidal ideation. DoD requires DoDSERs be completed within 15 working days of an 

incident for all deaths for which suicide has not been ruled out as the cause.

Part 2: Family Level

Incorporating the family and demonstrating respect for their wishes (within reason) is vital to the 

health of the unit since many Guardsmen and Reservists are in units with other family members, 

neighbors and friends, or co-workers from their civilian employment, which the active duty 

might not experience since they are more removed from their families of origin or hometowns. 

Therefore, the impressions and perspectives of the family will influence how members of the 

unit feel about the response and postvention performed by their commands.

Criminal Investigation 

A primary concern for family and possibly fellow unit members immediately after the death will 

be the investigation that will take place. An investigation will be conducted by civilian or 

military law enforcement authorities, including medical examiners or coroners, depending upon 

the circumstances and location of a death (on or off a military installation). Unnatural deaths are 

investigated to ensure that they are not homicides, which can be staged to look like suicides.

Investigations will include searching for evidence of additional criminal activity, such as illegal 

drug trade, robbery, or rape. The police may want to speak with family or unit members during 

the investigation, so they will need to be prepared for this interview. Investigations can last days 

or weeks. Police may hold personal property as evidence, but family members and friends have a 

right to know where those possessions are being stored and how to retrieve them once the 

investigation has concluded (Baugher & Jordan, 2009). Sensitivity toward the family or other 

unit members who may be questioned can reduce emotional distress and facilitate the 

investigation. If there are military-related 

issues or a military weapon involved, 

commanders should ensure proper 

cooperation and seek Uniform Code of 

Military Justice (UCMJ) advice. 

Family members can wait up to a year to receive the contents of the investigation. Families can 

become anxious while waiting for the results. They may look to the unit for information and 

support during this time. Regular communication regarding the status of the investigation will 

decrease anxiety among the survivors. Families may also receive the results of the investigation 

and/or personal belongings without notice. Maintaining a connection with the family throughout 

the investigation and offering to look at the investigation materials with them can provide 

“Maintaining a connection with the family 

throughout the investigation and offering 

to look at the investigation materials with 

them can provide comfort to the family 

and the other unit members involved.”
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 16

comfort to the family and the other unit members involved. It allows the family to know that the 

unit continues to care for the family and allows Service members to do something for the family 

of the deceased. This can offer healing and closure for both.

Casualty Affairs Officers (CAOs) 

Each branch of the Service has its own representatives who handle casualty and memorial affairs 

for families of those who have died during active military service. Titles may vary, but the 

functions remain about the same. The CAO should be trained to professionally deal with families 

experiencing deep grief, recognize vulnerabilities, and set boundaries between assisting families 

and maintaining military decorum and avoiding personal relationships. Although a traditional 

CAO might not be assigned to inactive Guard or Reserve NOK, there is still a SGLI (as 

described below) beneficiary so someone must work with the family on this and also collect 

government property, stop any pay, and provide any veteran burial benefits if due. They will 

assist in ascertaining and obtaining the appropriate survivor benefits from DoD, VA, and/or

Social Security and ensuring that each family’s unique needs are met. They can handle such 

issues as changes to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), Survivor 

Benefit Plan (SBP) payments and other services. CAOs can disseminate available resources to

families and should have copies of the DoD Guide for Financial Decision-making, which can 

assist the RC-identified next of kin with preparation and submission of claims for benefits.

As described in this section, the CAO can answer questions related to programs offering: DoD 

Survivor Benefits; Veteran Death and Survivor Benefits; and Other Federal Benefits and 

Services.

DoD Survivor Benefits

Service Members Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI is a program of low-cost group life insurance for Service members on 

active duty, ready reservists, members of the National Guard, members of 

the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen of 

the four service academies, and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. SGLI coverage 

is available in $50,000 increments up to the maximum of $400,000.

Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RC-SBP)

SBP is the DoD insurance program, which provides an annuity to the survivor upon the 

member’s death. RC-SBP is designed to give retirement eligible RC members an opportunity to 

insure their families. RC members who have 20 years of creditable service for retired pay at age 

60, or earlier if eligible, may elect RC-SBP coverage for their survivors if they die prior to 

receiving retired pay. Survivor annuities can be as much as 55 percent of the retired pay. Cost 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 17

and coverage varies. SBP payments are offset by Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

paid by VA.

Death Gratuity 

The Services provide a $100,000 tax-exempt payment to the survivors or other individuals 

identified by the Service member prior to his or her death while on active duty, active duty for 

training, and inactive duty for training.

A Service member may designate one or more persons to receive all or a portion of the death 

gratuity payment. Any amount not designated by the member will be paid to the living survivors 

of the member in accordance with existing law and regulation.

Burial Benefits

DoD will care for, transport and inter the remains of the deceased Service member who died 

while serving on active duty. The surviving spouse, children and siblings of the decedent, and the 

parents of both the Service member and surviving spouse are authorized to receive travel 

entitlements. If the spouse, children or parents choose not to travel to the funeral, the Person 

Authorized to Direct Disposition of Human Remains and two close relatives may use this 

benefit.

Travel entitlements include round-trip transportation and two days per diem upon arrival at the 

interment site. It is advisable to delay making any travel plans until after speaking with your 

casualty assistance officer or mortuary officer. This will ensure that transportation and arrival 

times are coordinated for maximum support and that no unauthorized expenses are incurred with 

the expectation of reimbursement. 

TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) 

Qualified RC members (and their families) who are in the Selected Reserve can enroll and 

receive comprehensive healthcare services under TRICARE Standard and Extra programs. There 

is a fee-based option that requires the member to pay monthly premiums. If a member is covered 

on the day of his/her death, eligible surviving family members may purchase or continue TRS 

coverage for an additional six months from the date of the member’s death. DEERS will 

automatically convert covered TRS members to Survivor Coverage. If only the member is 

covered by TRS at the time of death, the family has 60 days to purchase Survivor Coverage and 

pay monthly premiums.

Survivor Outreach Services (SOS)

The Army operates several centers that connect families of all fallen Service members, 

Reservists and Guardsmen with support and services. Support coordinators, financial counselors 

and benefits coordinators who can provide expertise on local, state, and federal benefits are 

available. SOS Offices can be found at several posts. The SOS office works with CAOs to 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 18

maximize family support and enhance coping. Additional information can be found at 

www.Armyonesource.com. 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Death and Survivor Benefits

VA administers a variety of veterans’ benefits and services that may also be 

applicable to those who die while activated and their survivors. Additionally, 

many National Guard or Reservists may also be veterans based on previous 

periods of activation and deployment. Survivors may be entitled to a variety 

of VA supportive services and benefits. Entitlements and eligibility will vary 

depending upon the service history of the member and the status of the family 

member(s). Survivors should be encouraged to contact VA at www.va.gov for additional 

information and to locate the nearest VA facilities. Military Casualty Affairs Officers should be 

able to assist in making this connection for the Next of Kin (NOK). VA benefits are not paid 

automatically upon the death of the Service member and a claim must be adjudicated by a VA 

representative, so all VA benefits require application. 

VA has special considerations it must apply when a death has occurred by suicide. It does 

consider factors for service connection6for mental unsoundness in suicide. In order for suicide to 

constitute willful misconduct, the act of self-destruction must be intentional. A person of 

unsound mind is incapable of forming intent, which is an essential element of crime or willful 

misconduct. VA requires that in order for benefits to be awarded the precipitating mental

unsoundness must be service connected.

Whether a person at the time of suicide was so 

unsound mentally that he or she did not realize 

the consequence of such an act, or was unable 

to resist such impulse, is a question to be 

determined in each individual case, based on all available lay and medical evidence pertaining to 

his or her mental condition at the time of the suicide. The act of suicide or a bona fide attempt is 

considered to be evidence of mental unsoundness. Therefore, where no reasonable adequate 

motive for suicide is shown by the evidence, the act will be considered to have resulted from 

behavioral unsoundness. A reasonable adequate motive for suicide may be established by 

affirmative evidence showing circumstances that could lead a rational person to self-destruction.

Affirmative evidence is necessary to justify reversal of military findings of mental unsoundness 

where VA criteria do not otherwise warrant contrary findings. In all instances any reasonable 

doubt should be resolved favorably to support a finding of service connection.

 

6 VA adjudicates a condition to be ―service connected‖ if there is a documented nexus between the condition and a 

period of active military service.

“Where no reasonable adequate motive 

for suicide is shown by evidence, the act 

will be considered to have resulted from 

behavioral unsoundness.”
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 19

Veterans’ Benefits

Burial and Memorial Benefits

VA operates the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), with additional information located 

at www.cem.va.gov. Burial benefits available through NCA for eligible individuals who 

performed active military duty and who qualified as veterans include: a gravesite in any of 131 

national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a 

government headstone, medallions or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial 

Certificate at no cost to the family. Some Service members may also be eligible for burial 

allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner 

and with the same honors as casketed remains. Burial benefits available for spouses and 

dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the 

spouse or dependent’s name and date of birth and death inscribed on the veteran’s headstone, at 

no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the 

veteran.

Burial benefits available for Service members buried in a private cemetery include a government 

headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, at no cost to the 

family. Some Service members may also be eligible for burial allowances. There are no benefits 

available for spouses or other dependents buried in private cemeteries.

VA does not make funeral arrangements or perform cremations. Families should make these 

arrangements with a funeral provider or cremation office directly. Any items or services obtained 

from a funeral home or cremation office will be at the families’ expense.

Survivors’ Benefits

Office of Survivors Assistance

This office is the primary advisor to VA on all matters related to policy, legislation, and other 

initiatives affecting survivors. The office can help survivors navigate the VA system, understand 

eligibility criteria, and find necessary resources. 

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA) 

Under CHAMPVA certain survivors can receive reimbursement for most medical expenses, such 

as outpatient care, hospitalization and pharmacy. Surviving spouses and children of those who 

died while on active duty or were in the line of duty at the time of their death are not eligible for 

CHAMPVA if they are already eligible for TRICARE. However, the National Guard and 

Reserve may have periods of inactive service or be part of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). 

For additional eligibility information, the CHAMPVA office can be contacted at 1-800-733-

8387.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 20

Vet Centers 

VA Vet Centers offer bereavement counseling to all eligible spouses, children, parents and 

siblings of those who have died on active duty. This includes families of federally-activated 

members of the National Guard and Reserve. There are 300 Vet Centers nationwide, and an 

online locator at www.vetcenter.va.gov can assist with identifying a nearby location. Vet Center 

bereavement services for surviving family members of service members may be accessed by 

calling (202) 461-6530.

Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC) 

Survivors are eligible if the Service member died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated

while on active duty, in the line of duty, or on inactive duty for training or a service-connected 

disability or condition directly related to a service-connected disability. There is a basic rate for 

DIC, which is augmented if there are dependent children. There is also an income-based DIC 

paid to parents of Service members who died on active duty. Benefit rates and allowable income 

levels will change annually. Survivors must apply for DIC so that VA can adjudicate these 

claims in order for benefits to be awarded. DIC is not automatically paid. 

Death Pension

VA provides pensions to low-income surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased 

veterans with wartime service. Families of Reserve Component members who had a previous 

period of active military service during wartime might be eligible.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program

This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible spouses or children of 

Service members who have died on active duty or died of a service-connected disability or died 

while such a disability existed. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These 

benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, and on-the-job 

training. The period of eligibility for spouses of Service members who died on active duty 

expires 20 years from the date of death. 

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

Children of those who have died in the line of duty since September 11, 2001, are potentially 

eligible to use Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits and a work-study program. VA may also provide 

vocational counseling to help participants reach their employment objectives.

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Death Benefits

VA will pay a special MGIB death benefit to a designated survivor in the event of the Service 

member’s service-connected death while on active duty or within one year after discharge. The 

member must either have been entitled to MGIB educational assistance or have been a 

participant in the program but for the high school diploma or length of service requirement. The 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 21

amount paid will be equal to the member’s actual military pay reduction, less any education 

benefits already paid.

VA Home Loan Guaranty

An un-remarried surviving spouse of a Service member who died as a result of a serviceconnected disability may be eligible for a VA Loan Guaranty to buy a home.

Other Federal Benefits and Services

In addition to the aforementioned DoD and VA benefits and services, there are other federal and 

state benefits that can help survivors cope with the death of their loved one. 

Military Personnel Records Center 

In some cases, family members may want to seek additional information about their loved one’s 

military service as they try to come to grips with the death. The National Personnel Records 

Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR), is the repository of millions of military 

personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans. Record information 

is made available upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law. 

Most military and medical records are on file at NPRC (MPR), including the DD 214 or a Report 

of Separation (or equivalent). The NOK of a deceased veteran has the same rights to full access 

to the record. NOK is defined as the un-remarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or 

mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran. NOK must provide proof of death for the 

Service member, such as a copy of the death certificate, funeral home letter, or published 

obituary.

Social Security Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays a death benefit to survivors. Social Security 

helps by providing income for the families of workers who have died, including military 

members. SSA notes that 98 of every 100 children could get benefits if a working parent dies. 

Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program. However, this 

benefit will vary by the income previously made by the deceased and the number of quarters 

worked. SSA can be contact at 1-800-772-1213 or online at www.ssa.gov. 

Service Branch-Specific Survivor Benefits and Information

For Service-specific information, see the links that follow:

Air Force: www.afpc.af.mil/ 

Army: www.hrc.army.mil/site/Active/TAGD/CMAOC/cmaoc.htm

Army Emergency Relief Survivor Assistance http://www.aerhq.org/dnn563/

AER is available to help surviving spouses get through the initial period of adjustment following 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 22

the death of a spouse while waiting for their benefits such as SBP, DIC and social security to 

start.

Navy: www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/casualty/Pages/default2.aspx

Marine Corps: 

www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page/portal/M_RA_HOME/MR_OLD/PERSONNEL/Casualty

Coast Guard: http://www.uscg.mil/isc/isc_new.asp

State Benefits Information

An information packet provided to the NOK by the CAO should include RC-specific information 

not only on federal, but also on state benefits and support services available from the state. Each 

state has its own Office of Veterans Affairs or a Veterans Commission, which provide an array 

of benefits and services to surviving family members. These offices can be contacted directly for 

assistance. A directory of state veterans’ offices is located at: http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm.

Casualty Affairs Follow-up 

RC CAOs or a command designee should follow up monthly and then quarterly with the NOK

until the first anniversary of the death. Further follow-up should be performed annually or as the 

family requests. Commanders may also want to check in with surviving families to ensure their 

well-being since families may stay in contact with other unit members and command 

communication can mitigate further risk and assist in managing unit morale. It might also be 

advisable to invite surviving family members to certain unit events and commemorations. 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Referral

TAPS is a peer support program that was established to assist survivors of military deaths in 

dealing with their grief and the complicated issues surrounding a military death. Additionally, 

TAPS has incorporated a specific focus area and designated staff to support survivors of suicide.

TAPS offers telephonic and online peer support 24/7. TAPS provides a yearly Survivor of 

Suicide Seminar that offers comfort and healing for adults, as well as a ―Good Grief Camp‖ for 

children. It also hosts regional Survivor Seminars across the country and an annual meeting in 

Washington, DC, over Memorial Day weekend with special sessions for suicide survivors. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the benefits of self-help support and 

encourages the establishment and utilization of such groups for suicide survivors. These groups 

can provide a sense of community, empathy and normality under difficult circumstances, 

anniversary commemoration, coping mechanisms, and education surrounding fears, grief and 

hopelessness (WHO, 2008). TAPS is strongly aligned with the WHO description of a survivor’s 

support group, and use of TAPS was recommended (DoD Task Force on the Prevention of 

Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces, 2010).
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 23

In order to work with TAPS and share information, it is recommended that there be a 

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between TAPS and the branch of service, as well as a 

release of information form to be signed by the family. The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force 

have MOAs in place with TAPS already. The MOA and a signed release form allow the unit to 

immediately connect the family with peer-based care, as well as extensive, individualized 

bereavement resources and referrals. It is recommended that the CACO introduce this benefit to 

the family and obtain a signature as soon as possible. TAPS will then be in contact with the 

surviving family members beginning two weeks from the date of death. TAPS will provide the 

command with follow-up information on the status of the family, including services and 

resources provided, and address ongoing needs of the family. For additional information on 

MOA development, contact the TAPS office at 202-588-TAPS. However, an MOA is not 

required for survivors to be assisted by TAPS. Anyone can call 800-959-TAPS to reach a peer 

support counselor. A sample MOA for TAPS is provided in Appendix D for unit commands not 

already covered by the Services.

Funeral and Memorial Services 

Regardless of school, workplace, or community organization, which includes the military, those 

who knew the deceased may want to pay respects - especially if attending a formal funeral or if 

burial is not an option based on the costs and geographic dispersion from the unit and the 

location of the funeral/burial. Therefore, makeshift memorials, candlelight vigils or 

commemorations can be planned, so that spontaneous tributes (though well-intended) are not

disruptive to the components’ primary mission. Care should be taken to avoid glorifying or 

romanticizing the manner of death. Planning for memorializations allows for a balance between 

mission and individual coping. RC guidance for planning memorial services should involve the 

unit, commemorate the service of the member (not the death) and involve the identified next of 

kin. Commands should have a consistent policy that treats all deaths equally regardless of cause. 

Public Memorials/Displays

Best practices (AFSP & SPRC, 2011) dictate not to glorify how a person died, but rather to focus 

on how they lived and served. There does not need to be an exceptional or distinguishing 

memorial for that person, but he or she should not be excluded from any public memorials, such 

as plaques, flagpoles and benches, in honor of all unit members who have died. Excluding them 

would only enhance focus on the manner of death. However, most of the concern over 

memorializations is regarding youth and ―suicide contagion‖ (SPRC, 2004). Given that the 

National Guard or Reserve member is usually older and more established, there is less likelihood 

of ―copycat‖ suicides, but the age of the unit members could be a consideration. According to the 

DoDSER, 47 percent of all decedents were primarily under age 25, and 25 percent were between 

25 and 29 years old (T2, 2011). There appears to be cause for concern since Service members 

primarily fall into this age range and contagion has been noted in the general population.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 24

Therefore, careful planning and discussion should take place prior to these events, and they 

should be seen as an opportunity to transmit and disseminate a prevention message to those in 

vulnerable age groups.

Commemorations can be used to honor the life of 

the unit member in the same way as other deaths.

Factors to be considered should be the timing after 

the death, the type of memorial or display, and the 

wishes of the family. Some families have been 

very distraught over their loved ones not being 

included in a unit level memorial while others

would prefer donations be made to a favorite 

charity. So to ensure stability and harmony between the unit and its neighbors, work with the 

family to develop an appropriate commemoration that meets and fits with the unit’s traditions.

Discontented families can impact perceptions of other unit members and their families and lead 

to degradation of unit morale beyond the grief already being felt.

Unit members may want to do something special for the family and should be allowed to do so 

regardless of the circumstances surrounding the death. They may want to take up a collection for 

a widow, start a scholarship fund for children, or send flowers to parents. Different from the 

active duty, RCs, especially among the Guard, will remain neighbors with the deceased’s 

families since this is the community in which they all permanently live. Other family members—

e.g., siblings, parents and cousins—might be unit members as well or may also serve in the 

Guard or Reserve. Coordinating with employers may also be useful since families may be 

stretched to accommodate two sets of commemorations and would appreciate having to just 

coordinate one event. Commemorations should be allowed to take place as long as they remain 

appropriate to the unit, do not interfere with the mission, and respect the family. 

Stateside Memorial Service 

Generally, the memorial service structure will remain the same, no matter the cause of death. 

However, in the event of a particularly tragic death, such as suicide, involving your Director of 

Psychological Health, Crisis Response Team leader or TAPS Mentor for on-hand support during 

the memorial service along with the Chaplain can help facilitate grieving and can convey 

messages of recovery and hope. 

There is guidance from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) regarding religious 

services and public memorials. The goals of the memorial service should be to: 

Comfort the mourners who may be experiencing extreme emotional pain and shock
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 25

Assist in dealing with any sense of guilt or responsibility for the death and ruminations 

for what might have been done differently

Be prepared to deal with anger at the military, the commander, other unit members, and 

the deceased for his/her actions

Reduce stigma by discussing factual risk factors (physical and emotional pain, 

relationship problems, financial/legal troubles, hopelessness, substance abuse, etc.) in 

general and do not attribute weakness, selfish, cowardice, poor character or bad parenting 

to the death

Speak with sensitivity by not associating suicide with a crime or a sin. Say, ―died by 

suicide‖ rather than ―committed suicide.‖ 

Monitor for suicide contagion (see below) by avoiding phrases like ―at peace‖ so as not 

to give the appearance to others that life’s problems can be overcome by a peaceful 

afterlife. Balance this notion with theology or religious doctrine. Seek the advice of the 

chaplain.

If not conducted properly, a memorial service may lead to adulation of the suicide event 

and thus potentially trigger ―copycat‖ events among unidentified/unstable personnel. 

Therefore, memorial services should avoid idolizing/eulogizing the manner of death. 

Commanders should avoid commenting on circumstances surrounding the suicide and 

focus on the unit and express concern for survivors. 

If there are younger, more vulnerable unit members or families in attendance, ensure that 

they get the support they need from the unit or community groups (SPRC, 2004). 

Continue to reinforce the goals of Total Force Fitness among the unit.

Memorial Service (Interfaith) Template

The following is a guideline that has been adapted from the SPRC (SPRC, 2004) and the Armed 

Forces Chaplains Board (The Armed Forces Chaplains Board, 1998) for use by any unit or 

community chaplain:

Welcome (chaplain) 

Posting of Colors (Honor Guard) 

National Anthem

Invocation - Opening Prayer (chaplain)

Hymn (optional depending on desires and involvement of the family)

Sacred Readings, Special Poems, or Music (unit members)

 Utilize sacred texts of the faith represented by the departed, if applicable

Brief remarks of remembrance by unit members (optional) or civilian friends/co-workers

Brief remarks of remembrance by the commander and/or employer

Brief remarks by a state representative (optional) 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 26

Message (chaplain)

 Focus on hope/healing rather than theological or personal beliefs about suicide 

Prayer of Commemoration for the Departed (optional) (chaplain)

 If utilized, use prayers representing the faith of the deceased

Closing Hymn (suggest Service-appropriate Hymn)

Postlude - Closing Remarks 

 Include a reminder that ―we need to take care of ourselves and each other. If you are 

struggling with feelings of suicide, or you know someone who is, seek help immediately. 

There is help, help works and you don’t have to suffer.‖ Give crisis #1-800-273-TALK or

any other relevant local number.

Retiring of Colors (Honor Guard)

Taps (Honor Guard)

Benediction (chaplain)

In-theater Memorial Services

When a National Guardsman or Reservist is in theater or on a deployment, any unit recognition 

of those who have died there should also include members who have died by suicide. This gives 

other unit members time to grieve, cope with emotions or numbness, express any sense of guilt 

or responsibility over the death, and be identified for further follow up, especially if they 

witnessed the death or knew of the suicide plan. Commands should provide the opportunity and 

forum for peers to discuss reactions to the death. Involve the chaplain, psychological health 

support, or a RCSRT approach to monitor for suicide contagion or recklessness among unit 

survivors. 

Part 3: Community Level

Since members of the National Guard and the Reserve live, work, worship, volunteer and do 

business within the communities in which they live, those community organizations become 

crucial support points when loss occurs. The Total Force Fitness model recognizes the 

importance of the social support network. These support systems may be involved when a 

suicide occurs since media, civilian employers, neighbors and friends will all be touched.

Commands should be prepared to respond to media inquiries and feel comfortable involving 

other community members in handling postvention.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 27

Media Recommendations

Since military deaths and suicides are sometimes seen as newsworthy, the media may contact 

commands, unit members, or families looking for an interview. However, keep in mind that 

survivors are not experts and should not be put upon to comment. Survivors are often in shock 

and overwhelmed with emotions 

immediately following a death 

by suicide. Therefore, individual

statements at this time should be 

discouraged in order to prevent 

regrets in the future.

RC public information officers or unit leaders who respond to the media should be trained on the 

media guidelines developed and endorsed by the WHO, CDC, and the Annenberg Public Policy 

Center (as identified by the SPARRC) to reduce the potential for contagion and encourage 

responsible reporting of suicides. Messages also should foster help-seeking behavior and reduce 

stigma. The media can assist in honoring a member’s service, but not the manner in which they 

died. Care should be taken not to glamorize or romanticize suicide. (See Appendix C for Media 

Messaging.)

Give fact sheets to the media that help foster an understanding of suicidal ideation, suicidal 

behavior and how to cope with a suicide. The official responder to the media should also prepare 

unit members and families who might be contacted by the media on what to expect and be given 

resources for messages, such as information from DoD’s website www.suicideoutreach.org or 

www.realwarriors.net. 

Suicide Nomenclature

In communicating with the community, RC leadership should use the suicide nomenclature, 

including definitions of suicide, suicide attempt, suicide survivor, and postvention developed by 

the SPARRC. The DoD/VA working group has recommended the adoption of the CDC’s SelfDirected Violence Classification nomenclature for suicides (National Center for Injury 

Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention, 2011). On October 11, 2011, the 

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness, issued a memorandum 

directing the use of the CDC classifications. Definitions and nomenclature from CDC are 

provided in Appendix E.

Suicide Contagion 

A primary concern with the messaging surrounding suicide is the potential for one suicide to lead 

to another. Individuals who were related to or were close to someone who died by suicide are at 

a greater risk for suicide themselves. Suicide-related data does show that there is a low 

“Survivors are often in shock and overwhelmed with 

emotions immediately following a death by suicide. 

Therefore, individual statements at this time should be 

discouraged in order to prevent regrets in the future.”
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 28

suggestibility – about 1 to 5 percent annually (AFSP & SPRC, 2011) – of suicide contagion.

However, it is important to note that younger individuals are more likely to be influenced by the 

actions of their peers. This is a concern raised mostly in school-based response plans, but 

commanders should note that those who are younger enlisted, are closest to the deceased, 

witnessed the death, attempted suicide themselves or are experiencing their own life stressors

might be more susceptible and influenced by their peers (AFSP & SPRC, 2011) than more 

mature and established unit members. Thus, commanders should be more mindful of how a 

suicide might affect this more susceptible group and monitor their risk behaviors more closely.

To manage potential suicide contagion, inform Directors of Psychological Health or the response 

team leader of any unit members who might be of concern because they:

Are grieving another death, or are experiencing post-deployment stress, PTSD or TBI

Are dealing with other stressors, such as civilian unemployment, divorce, parenting 

issues, foreclosure, or illness

Were a witness to the death or were in recent communication with the deceased

Were close friends or related to the unit member who died

Are expressing extreme guilt, remorse, depression, or anger over the death 

Are younger, single members with limited support and are isolated from family or 

community

Are acting out, are impulsive or are exhibiting risky behavior – e.g., recent car accidents, 

traffic violations, fights and increased use of substances or gambling

Role for Employers

When a unit member has died by suicide, keep in mind that as a Reservist or Guardsman, they 

were also an employee of another entity, which might want to participate in ceremonies or 

memorials. Employers also offer survivor benefits, insurance, medical coverage, and other 

assistance that would be helpful to have paired up with any military or VA benefits the next of 

kin will receive. A courtesy phone call to a deceased Service member’s employer may also yield 

added support to the family and 

better coordination for all mourners

involved. For example, a large 

business or factory in a small town 

might also employ other unit or 

family members who knew the deceased, so consulting with those executives could improve 

support and services for everyone involved. 

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is designed to facilitate the 

relationship between the RC member and his/her employer. There are almost 5,000 ESGR 

“A courtesy phone call to a deceased Service 

member’s employer may yield added support to the 

family and better coordination for all mourners.”
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 29

volunteers nationwide who can assist in communicating with civilian 

supervisors (2010 Reserve Forces Almanac, 2011). ESGR can be 

reached at 1-800-336-4590 or online at www.ESGR.mil. 

Role for Funeral Home Directors

The funeral home director is another asset in dealing with the immediate aftermath of a death. 

They will be able to assist the family in making decisions that reflect how their loved one lived 

as opposed to how they died. A family member may 

seek the assistance and support of other unit members 

and their families to select a funeral home or chaplain, 

or involve them in the selection of a cemetery and a 

casket. The CAO should be able to work with the 

family and the funeral home director to answer 

questions about a flag-draped casket, burial in uniform

and military protocols. Seek out and encourage the 

funeral home director’s counsel on these and other 

related issues prior to a burial. You may also be able to help inform on any unit-specific 

traditions, customs or history that might be pertinent to the unit member’s remembrance. 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 30

Appendix A: Resource Guide

Military Services’ Suicide Prevention

Air Force – www.af.mil/suicideprevention.asp

Army – www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp

Coast Guard – www.uscg.mil/worklife/suicide_prevention.asp

Marine Corps – www.usmc-mccs.org/suicideprevent/index.cfm

Navy – http://www.public.navy.mil/bupersnpc/support/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspx 

National Guard – http://www.ng.mil/features/resiliency/default.aspx

Community Suicide Prevention

DoD Websites

After Deployment – www.afterdeployment.org 

Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury 

www.dcoe.health.mil/SuicidePreventionWarriors.aspx 866-966-1020

Military OneSource – www.militaryonesource.com 800-342-9647

Real Warriors – www.realwarriors.net 866-966-1020

Suicide Prevention and Risk Reduction Committee (SPARRC) –

www.suicideoutreach.org

TRICARE Behavioral Health Resource Center –

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/GettingHelp

VA Websites

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/

Military Crisis Line – http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ActiveDuty.aspx,1-800-273-

TALK, press 1 for military/veterans, 

o online chat at 

http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx?account=Veterans%

20Chat and text at 838255

o In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 31

Other Federal Websites

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) –

www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/index.html 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)

Non-Federal Websites

American Association of Suicidology – www.suicidology.org 202-237-2280

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention/SPAN USA – www.afsp.org 888-333-

AFSP (2377)

Blue Star Families – www.bluestarfam.org

Compassionate Friends – www.compassionatefriends.org 877-969-0010

Military Pathways – www.mentalhealthscreening.org/programs/military/

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – www.sprc.org 

The Link’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare –

www.thelink.org 404-256-2919

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – www.taps.org 800-959-TAPS

Vets4Warriors – http://www.vets4warriors.com/ 1-855-838-8255 or 1-855-VET-TALK

World Health Organization (WHO) – http://www.who.int/topics/suicide/en/
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 32

Appendix B: Acronyms

AAS – American Association of Suicidology

ACE – Ask, Care, Escort

ACT – Ask, Care, Treat

AER – Army Emergency Relief

AFMES – Armed Forces Medical Examiner System 

AFSP – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

CACO – Casualty Assistance Calls Officer 

CAO – Casualty Assistance Officer

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CHAMPVA – Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA

CISD – Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

CISM – Critical Incident Stress Management 

COSCFA - Combat and Operational Stress Control First Aid 

DCoE – Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

DEERS – Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

DIC – Dependents’ Indemnity Compensation 

DoDI – Department of Defense Instruction 

DoDSER – Department of Defense Suicide Event Report

ESGR – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

HHS – Department of Health and Human Services

IOM – Institute of Medicine 

MGIB – Montgomery GI Bill

MOA – Memorandum of Agreement

NAMI – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

NCA – National Cemetery Administration

NGB – National Guard Bureau

NIMH – National Institute of Mental Health

NPRC-MPR – National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records 

OSG – Office of the Surgeon General

PFA – Psychological First Aid

PTE – Potentially Traumatizing Events
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 33

PTSD – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

RA – Reserve Affairs

RC – Reserve Component

RCSRT – Reserve Component Suicide Response Team 

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SDV – Self-Directed Violence

SBP – Survivor Benefit Plan 

SOS – Survivor Outreach Services

SPARRC – Suicide Prevention and Risk Reduction Committee

SPRC – Suicide Prevention Resource Center

SSA – Social Security Administration

TAP – Transition Assistance Program

TAPS – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury

TEM – Traumatic Event Management 

TRS – TRICARE Reserve Select

UCMJ – Uniform Code of Military Justice

VA – Department of Veterans Affairs

VTC – Veterans Treatment Court

VSO – Veterans Service Organization

WHO – World Health Organization

YRRP – Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 34

Appendix C: Suicide Facts and Appropriate Messaging

The following recommendations for the media on reporting suicide are those endorsed by the 

SPARRC. (CDC, NIMH, OSG, SAMHSA, AFSP, AAS, Annenberg Public Policy Center)

General suicide information:

“Since we are talking about suicide, this is an opportunity to give you accurate information 

about suicide prevention and ways to get help for yourself or someone you may know who is 

feeling depressed, stressed, or suicidal.”

In regard to families:

“The family has requested that information about the cause of death not be shared at this time.”

Suicide facts: 

More than 90 percent of suicide victims have a significant psychiatric illness at the time 

of their death. These are often undiagnosed, untreated, or both. Mood disorders and 

substance abuse are the two most common.

When both mood disorders and substance abuse are present, the risk for suicide is much 

greater, particularly for adolescents and young adults.

Research has shown that when open aggression, anxiety or agitation is present in

individuals who are depressed, the risk for suicide increases significantly.

The cause of an individual suicide is invariably more complicated than a recent painful

event such as the break-up of a relationship or the loss of a job. An individual suicide

cannot be adequately explained as the response to an individual’s stressful occupation, or 

an individual’s membership in a group encountering discrimination. Social conditions 

alone do not explain a suicide.

Key message point:

Effective treatments for most of these behavioral health conditions are available (but

underutilized) and may encourage those with such problems to seek help. Acknowledging 

the deceased person’s problems and struggles, as well as the positive aspects of his/her 

life or character, contributes to a more balanced picture.

Research shows that, during the period immediately after a death by suicide, grieving

family members or friends have difficulty understanding what happened. Responses may

be extreme, problems may be minimized, and motives may be complicated.

Studies of suicide based on in-depth interviews with those close to the victim indicate

that, in their first, shocked reaction, friends and family members may find a loved one’s

death by suicide inexplicable or they may deny that there were warning signs.

Thorough investigation generally reveals underlying problems unrecognized even by 

close friends and family members. Most victims do, however, give some warning signs of 

their risk for suicide. These investigations almost always find multiple causes for suicide 

and fail to corroborate a simple attribution of responsibility.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 35

Referring to a ―rise‖ in suicide rates is usually more accurate than calling such a rise an

―epidemic,‖ which implies a more dramatic and sudden increase than what we generally

find in suicide rates.

Research has shown that the use in headlines of the word ―suicide‖ or referring to the 

cause of death as ―self-inflicted‖ increases the likelihood of contagion.

Whenever possible, it is preferable to avoid referring to suicide in the headline. Unless 

the suicide death took place in public, the cause of death should be reported in the body 

of the story and not in the headline. Consideration of how the individual died could be 

reported in the body of the article, and one should describe the deceased as ―having died

by suicide,‖ rather than as ―a suicide,‖ or having ―committed suicide.‖ The latter two 

expressions reduce the person to the mode of death, or connote criminal or sinful 

behavior.

Avoid detailed descriptions regarding the circumstances or information about the location 

and means used to complete a suicide.

Contrasting ―suicide deaths‖ with ―non-fatal attempts‖ is preferable to using terms such 

as ―successful,‖ ―unsuccessful‖ or ―failed.‖

In covering murder-suicides be aware that the tragedy of the homicide can mask the 

suicidal aspect of the act. Feelings of depression and hopelessness present before a

homicide or suicide are often the impetus for both.

Suicide pacts are mutual arrangements between two people who kill themselves at the 

same time, and are rare. They do not simply constitute the act of loving individuals who 

do not wish to be separated. Research shows that most pacts involve an individual who is 

coercive and another who is extremely dependent.

Topics to include in a media release:

Identify adjusted trends in suicide rates—both military and civilian 

Note recent treatment advances and peer support successes

Offer individual stories of how treatment or other intervention was life-saving

Tell the stories of Service members and other people who overcame despair without 

attempting suicide

Engage in myth-busting about suicide; include the facts

List ways to enhance protective factors from stress, depression and suicide 

List warning signs of suicide and self-harming behavior

Recommend actions that can be taken to prevent suicide by both you and others
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 36

Appendix D: Sample MOA with TAPS

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

[Insert : Military Unit]

AND

TRADEGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS

1. Purpose. This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is between the 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (hereinafter referred to as 

“TAPS”) and the [unit] (hereafter military unit) Its purpose is to 

set forth the terms of an agreement by which TAPS will enter into a 

Cooperative Agreement to provide peer facilitated suicide bereavement 

services/counseling to surviving family members of deceased service 

members. 

2. Background.

a. Providing emotional peer support, and grief education and trauma 

resources, which promotes resilience and hope for the surviving unit 

and family members of suicide. Research shows that peer support 

after a tragedy offers survivors a sense of community, empathy and 

normality under difficult circumstances and fosters resilience and 

hope.

b. TAPS is a 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for anyone who has 

suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the 

relationship to the deceased or the circumstances of the death. TAPS 

was founded in 1994 and has established itself as the front line 

resource to the families and friends of our military men and women. 

The services provided by TAPS are free. TAPS connects survivors with 

like circumstances of loss; a very key point for survivors. It also 

offers educational opportunities and healing events. All the Service

branches advertize for and promote the use of TAPS by surviving 

family members or friends; however, it is up to these individuals to 

establish contact with TAPS. Furthermore, TAPS has developed a 

specialization in suicide education and outreach and can provide 

practical experience and insights into postvention activities. 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 37

c. DoD is responsible for the development and implementation of 

casualty policy, postvention plans and procedures. These 

responsibilities include military branch personnel contact with the 

primary next of kin of all deceased Service member approximately 60 

days from the date of loss. The focus of the DoD is to establish a 

continuing point of contact at headquarters for any follow-on 

questions or concerns and to identify those next of kin that may be 

in need of emotional/bereavement support. Survivors are asked if 

they utilized the services of TAPS and if not, the military

representative offers to facilitate the connection. The efforts of 

TAPS and the Defense Department are well coordinated. The services 

provided by TAPS would be most beneficial if they were provided 

closer to the date of loss, and done proactively. 

3. Scope. This MOA applies to family members and friends of 

deceased Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve who authorize the 

release of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and as provided 

by unit personnel to TAPS.

4. Agreement and Responsibilities.

a. Pursuant to this agreement, the military unit agrees to:

(1) Provide TAPS with a completed Authorization for Disclosure of 

Information form that provides accurate next of kin contact 

information (address, telephone). This form will be provided 

electronically for all cases where the department desires TAPS 

intervention. The form must be initialed and signed by the family 

member or friend indicating their consent to the disclosure of their 

PII.

(2) Provide TAPS a copy of the Casualty Information Release Form that 

provides information pertinent to the military component and the 

casualty incident.

(3) Provide the funeral date or an optional date that TAPS will 

utilize as their date to initiate contact with the family or other 

survivors. The goal of DoD is to have the family contacted within a 

day or two following the burial/memorial service. When the funeral 

is delayed more than ten days from the date of loss, TAPS initial 

contact will begin on the date provided by DoD. To assist TAPS in 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 38

planning for the contact, DoD will provide this information as soon 

as it is obtained from the family.

(4) Ensure the Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) informs the 

family of the pending call from TAPS. 

b. Pursuant to this agreement, TAPS agrees to:

(1) Initiate contact to the families as requested by the 

military department. Contact with the families will be initiated on 

or about the date requested by the department. The requested date 

will be provided on the bottom of the Authorization for Disclosure of 

Information form.

(2) Provide world-class emotional help, hope, and healing 

to family members who are grieving the loss of a military member.

(3) Provide DoD a synopsis of the contact with the family 

including the name and contact information of the TAPS 

representative, the name of the family member that was contacted, and 

a brief write-up of any concerns/plans for the family. TAPS agrees 

to provide the synopsis via email to: (insert address). The goal of 

the synopsis is to ensure DoD can contact the TAPS representative 

when/if needed, and to ensure future communications with the family 

are considered/viewed seamless by the family.

(4) TAPS will not release any family member PII to any 

third party. The family member PII is provided only for the use of 

TAPS.

5. Effective Date. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is effective upon 

signature by both organizations. Termination of this MOA is upon 

written request of either organization. 

___________________ ___________________

TAPS Branch of Service

 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 39

Appendix E: CDC Uniform Definitions

Self-directed violence (analogous to self-injurious behavior)

Self-directed violence is behavior that is self-directed and deliberately results in injury or the 

potential for injury to oneself. This does not include behaviors such as parachuting, gambling, 

substance abuse, tobacco use or other risk-taking activities, such as excessive speeding in motor 

vehicles. These are complex behaviors, some of which are risk factors for SDV but are defined 

as behavior that, while likely to be life-threatening, is not recognized by the individual as 

behavior intended to destroy or injure the self.

7

These behaviors may have a high probability of 

injury or death as an outcome, but the injury or death is usually considered unintentional.8

Non-suicidal self-directed violence: Behavior that is self-directed and deliberately results in 

injury or the potential for injury to oneself. There is no evidence, whether implicit or explicit, of 

suicidal intent. Suicidal self-directed violence: Behavior that is self-directed and deliberately 

results in injury or the potential for injury to oneself. There is evidence, whether implicit or 

explicit, of suicidal intent. 

Undetermined self-directed violence: Behavior that is self-directed and deliberately results in 

injury or the potential for injury to oneself. Suicidal intent is unclear based on the available 

evidence. 

Suicide attempt: A non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with any intent to die 

as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt may or may not result in injury. 

Interrupted self-directed violence – by other or by self: By other - A person takes steps to injure 

self, but is stopped by another person prior to fatal injury. The interruption can occur at any point 

during the act, such as after the initial thought or after onset of behavior. By self (in other 

documents this may be termed ―aborted‖ suicidal behavior) - A person takes steps to injure self 

but is stopped by self prior to fatal injury.

Other suicidal behavior including preparatory acts: Acts or preparation towards making a 

suicide attempt, but before potential for harm has begun. This can include anything beyond a 

verbalization or thought, such as assembling a method (i.e., buying a gun or rope, collecting 

pills, excessive drinking) or preparing for one’s death by suicide (e.g., writing a suicide note or

giving things away). 

 

7

Farberow, N. L. (Ed.) (1980). The Many Faces of Suicide. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company

8

Hanzlick R, Hunsaker JC, Davis GJ. Guide for Manner of Death Classification. National Association of Medical 

Examiners. Available at: http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB03/2002NAMEmannerofdeath.pdf. Accessed 

September 1, 2009. 
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 40

Suicide: Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the 

behavior. 

Unacceptable Terms 

The CDC panel felt the following terms are unacceptable for describing self-directed violence: 

Completed suicide - This terminology implies achieving a desired outcome, whereas those 

involved in the mission of ―reducing disease, premature death, and discomfort and disability‖9

would view this event as undesirable. Alternate term: suicide.

Failed attempt - This terminology gives a negative impression of the person’s action, implying 

an unsuccessful effort aimed at achieving death. Alternate terms: suicide attempt or suicidal selfdirected violence. 

Nonfatal suicide – This terminology portrays a contradiction. ―Suicide‖ indicates a death while 

―nonfatal‖ indicates that no death occurred. Alternate term: suicide attempt.

Parasuicide – Formally used to refer to a person’s self-directed violence whether or not the 

individual had intended to die. However, the WHO is now favoring the term suicide attempt. 

Alternate terms: non-suicidal self-directed violence or suicidal self-directed violence. 

Successful suicide – This term implies achieving a desired outcome whereas those involved in 

the mission of ―reducing disease, premature death, and discomfort and disability‖ would view 

this event as undesirable. Alternate term: suicide. 

Suicidality - This terminology is often used to refer simultaneously to suicidal thoughts and 

suicidal behavior. These phenomena are vastly different in occurrence, associated factors, 

consequences and interventions so should be addressed separately. Alternate terms: suicidal 

thoughts and suicidal behavior. 

Suicide gesture, Manipulative act, and Suicide threat – Each of these terms gives a value 

judgment with a pejorative or negative impression of the person’s intent. They are usually used 

to describe an episode of nonfatal, self-directed violence. A more objective description of the 

event is preferable such as non-suicidal, self-directed violence or suicidal, self-directed violence.

 

9

J. Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 1988
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 41

Appendix F: Bibliography

2010 Reserve Forces Almanac. (2011). Falls Church: Uniformed Services Almanac Inc.

AFSP & SPRC. (2011). After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools. Newton, MA: Education 

Development Center.

Baugher, B., & Jordan, J. (2009). After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief. Newcastle, WA.

CDC. ( 2010, January 13). Global Violence Prevention.

CDC. (2010). U.S> Suicide Statistics. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC, NIMH, OSG, SAMHSA, AFSP, AAS, Annenberg Public Policy Center. Reporting on 

Suicide: Recommendations for the Media.

CJCSI 3405.01. (2011). Chairman's Total Force Fitness Framework. J-7.

DoD Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces. (2010). The 

Challenge and the Promise: Strengthening the Force, Preventing Suicide and Saving Lives.

Washington, DC: Department of Defense.

Everly, G. (2011). Fostering Human Resilience in Crisis. Ellicott City, MD: Chevron.

Jackson, J. (2004). SOS: A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide. Washington, DC: American 

Association of Suicidology.

NAMI. (2009). Postvention: Community Response to Suicide. National Alliance on Mental

Illness NH.

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention. (2011). 

Self-Directed Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements.

Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control.

National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2). (2011). DoDSER Calendar Year 2010 

Annual Report. Washington, DC: Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and 

Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE).

Ramchand, R. A. (2011). The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S. Military. Santa 

Monica: RAND Corporation.

SPARRC Postvention Subcommittee. (2011). Military Suicide Prevention Analysis Paper.

Washington, DC: DCoE.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 42

SPRC. (2004). After a suicide: Recommendations for Religious Services & Other Public 

Memorial Observances. Newton, MA: Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

T2. (2011). DoD Suicide Event Report. Joint Base Lewis-McChord: National Center for 

Telehealth & Technology.

The Armed Forces Chaplains Board. (1998). Book of Worship for United States Forces. Mt. 

Morris: Hammond Publishing Company.

WHO. (2008). Preventing Suicide:How to Start a Survivor's Group. Geneva: World Health 

Organization.

WHO. (2002). Self-directed violence (suicide) Fact Sheet.

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Task Force. (2010). Washington, DC: Yellow Ribbon 

Reintegration Program Office.
Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan May 2012 43

Appendix G: Your Own Notes and Resources

 

 

 

 

 
The Reserve Component Suicide Postvention Plan is 

published by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. 

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for

Reserve Affairs prepared the guide. 

For more information about this report, please contact:

Defense Suicide Prevention Office

1700 N. Moore St., #1425, Arlington, VA 22209

Tel: (703) 588-0501 Email: DSPO@osd.mil

This report is online at: www.yellowribbon.mil

Booklet

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