Suicide Prevention Aboard Camp Lejeune

When you hear about the death of a marine you may think it involved combat. However, it may surprise you to hear that suicide is the third leading cause of death in the US Marine Corps. Today the Marine Corps Community Services and Camp Lejeune marines are taking a stand against suicide in hopes of preventing it. Nine On Your Sides Laura Vesco shows us how a silent march and a former NFL football player for the Detroit Lions are helping to make this happen.

As these marines march on they look tough, almost unbreakable but they are all humans who deal with life’s stressors. Which is why they’re hoping their silent march will bring awareness to suicide.

Lance Corporal Edward Adams says, “My father killed himself when I was eight so it’s nice to see people trying to be proactive about it.“

Former NFL player, Eric Hipple says depression is nothing to be ashamed of and that even he faced suicide issues himself. Hipple told the marines how he once tried to take his own life and later his 15-year-old son did commit suicide. He also urged marines to really pay attention to their friends’ attitudes and their own mind frame.

Craig Reed with MCCS says, “It’s been a stigma not only in the Marine Corps but in all the branches of service it’s been a stigma to ask for help.“

“It takes more of a man to talk about your problems than to bottle them up inside,“ says Adams.