{"id":7310,"date":"2011-12-30T15:44:16","date_gmt":"2011-12-30T21:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcitement.com\/?p=7310"},"modified":"2011-12-30T15:44:18","modified_gmt":"2011-12-30T21:44:18","slug":"the-tennessee-national-guard-urges-you-to-guard-your-buddy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techcitement.com\/software\/the-tennessee-national-guard-urges-you-to-guard-your-buddy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tennessee National Guard Urges You To “Guard Your Buddy”"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>On December 8, 2011, the Tennessee National Guard, The Jason Foundation<\/a>, Inc, and E4 Health<\/a> launched Guard Your Buddy<\/a>, a charter anti-suicide app aimed at helping struggling soldiers contemplating suicide, as well as their families, friends, and fellow guardsmen. In addition to the app, the collaborative group launched a website<\/a>, complete with the same contact and communication information and resources offered by the app. The Tennessee National Guard is the first branch of the National Guard to collaborate on and launch this type of suicide prevention and awareness program.<\/p>\n The launch of the Guard Your Buddy app follows a significant increase in the number of reservists and guardsmen who committed suicide; this number nearly doubled from 2009 to 2010. This increase in suicides amongst guardsmen contrasts with a decrease in active duty suicides, perhaps as a result of an increase in face-to-face post-deployment behavioral health screenings and related services. According to the Army Times<\/a>, because guardsmen see their commanders much less than their active duty counterparts, as little as once a month, it’s more difficult to inform them about suicide prevention programs and resources. Aside from this, the National Guard is having a difficult time identifying any prominent cause of these suicides.<\/p>\n In collaborating with The Jason Foundation and E4 Health, the Tennessee National Guard draws on the skills of two organizations experienced in suicide prevention and emotional and behavioral assistance. In 1997, Clark Flatt, now president and CEO of The Jason Foundation, established the non-profit after his 16-year-old son Jason committed suicide. The Jason Foundation provides educational curriculum and training programs for students, youth workers, educators, and families to build awareness of youth suicide and aid in its prevention. The Jason Foundation seeks to provide individuals and organizations with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth. E4 Health is a contracted health services provider that uses Employee Assistance Programs to provide resources to help employees make positive behavioral choices to improve health and well-being.<\/p>\n