Health promotion program focuses on suicide prevention

Throughout the month of May, Camp Pendleton’s Health Promotions Department is focusing its Mental Health Month campaign on the prevention and awareness of an important topic to the military: suicide.

In 2009, the Marine Corps reported the highest suicide rate throughout the military with 24 suicides per 100,000, according to the Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program.

Suicide and depression can affect any Marine, regardless of age, rank, race, sex, economic status or deployment history, said Sabrina Gibson, health promotion educator, Semper Fit Division, Marine Corps Community Services.

“Feel...