Monterey military school continues to combat suicides among staff.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about what some of us consider a silent killer: suicide. 

It’s not the type of greeting many of us would expect on a Saturday morning, but neither is it when we learn someone we know died by suicide.

In this week’s edition of the Weekly, Pam Marino wrote about the wave of suicides among staff at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, despite efforts they’ve undertaken to prevent it.

Marino’s story took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I learned about the death of DLI’s resilience coordinator, who died by suicide, as well as what DLI is doing to prevent it—including a resiliency program and mandatory suicide prevention training for servicemembers.

Marino also provides data about the number of students who are experiencing suicidal ideation, attempts and deaths. 

A DLI report showed stress and family issues were among the contributors for some incidents, and while both look like behaviors we could spot, most of the time they are far more complex. 

Marino’s story focuses on the microcosm of a military school in Monterey, but it affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Mental health issues have increased over time, especially during the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.

If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health challenges, help is available 24/7 by dialing 988 or at 988lifeline.org.

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