R 191550Z FEB 10 ZUI ASN-AM1050000050 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N01734//
ALCOAST 083/10
COMDTNOTE 1734
SUBJ: SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM
A. SUICIDE PREVENTION, COMDTINST 1734.1
B. SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM, COMDTINST 1734.1 (SERIES)
C. UNIT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, COMDTINST M5351.5 (SERIES)
D. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM), COMDTINST 1754.3
(SERIES)
1. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES A MAJOR REVISION TO REF A. SUICIDE
PREVENTION PROGRAM, COMDTINST 1734.1 IS HEREBY CANCELLED. REF B WAS
APPROVED ON 7 DEC 2009, AND HAS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO COMMAND,
MEDICAL AND INDIVIDUAL SERVICE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES.
2. NO PAPER DISTRIBUTION WILL BE MADE OF THIS INSTRUCTION. OFFICIAL
DISTRIBUTION WILL BE VIA THE COAST GUARD DIRECTIVES SYSTEM INTERNET
WEB SITE AT HTTP://CGWEB2.COMDT.USCG.MIL/CGDIRECTIVES/WELCOME.HTM
AND THE WWW WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/DIRECTIVES/CI.ASP
3. THE REVISED INSTRUCTION PROVIDES POLICY AND PROCEDURES AND
ASSIGNS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE CG SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM. THE
GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO:
 A. MINIMIZE SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG ALL CG EMPLOYEES AND THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS BY EMPOWERING ALL CG PERSONNEL TO RECOGNIZE PERSONS
IN DISTRESS AND TO TAKE SUPPORTIVE ACTION TO HELP THEM,
 B. ENCOURAGE HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR BY REDUCING THE STIGMA
HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND
 C. PROTECT THOSE WHO RESPONSIBLY SEEK MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FROM
UNFAIR ACTIONS RESULTING FROM SEEKING HELP.
4. THE REVISED PROGRAM HAS 7 COMPONENTS:
 A. COMMAND CLIMATE. REINFORCES EXISTING CADRE ASSESSMENT AND
FOLLOW-UP ACTION PLAN REQUIREMENTS UNDER REF C. EMPHASIZES
SUPPORTIVE COMMAND RESPONSE TO ALL INCIDENTS OF SUICIDAL
COMMUNICATIONS AND BEHAVIORS.
 B. CRISIS RESPONSE. CLARIFIES THE TYPICAL WARNING SIGNS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS. PROVIDES
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SPEAK TO PERSONS WHO MAY BE SUICIDAL AND WHAT
CAN BE DONE TO HELP THEM. REQUIRES EACH COMMAND TO ESTABLISH A
PROTOCOL FOR RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS. PROVIDES A SAMPLE COMMAND
PROTOCOL. PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR OBTAINING EVALUATIONS AND
CLARIFIES LIMITATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. REQUIRES 18 MEDICAL TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT STANDARDS BE
IMPLEMENTED FOR ALL CASES OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND SUICIDAL
COMMUNICATION.
 C. LIMIT ON COMMAND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION.
DEFINES CONDITIONS WHEN COMMANDS MUST BE INFORMED ABOUT MEMBERS
RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND WHAT INFORMATION IS TO BE
RELEASED. REQUIRES ADHERENCE TO POLICY EVEN WHEN COMMAND IS THE
MEDICAL RECORDS CUSTODIAN.
 D. NOTIFICATION AND HAND-OFF IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
IDENTIFIES CG INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE (CGIS) AS THE SOLE AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR NOTIFYING PERSONNEL WHEN THEY ARE UNDER
INVESTIGATION. REQUIRES CGIS INVESTIGATORS TO ADDRESS SUPPORT NEEDS
OF SUBJECTS UPON NOTIFICATION OF, AND THROUGHOUT, THE
INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING A "HAND OFF" TO A RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO
CAN ASSIST THE SUBJECT WHEN HE/SHE IS IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SUPPORT.
 E. POSTVENTION.  REINFORCES EXISTING EFFORTS TO HELP SHIPMATES AND
FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER A SUICIDE OR SERIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPT PER REF
D.
 F. REPORTING. CLARIFIES DEFINITIONS OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS AND
COMMUNICATIONS. REQUIRES ALL PERSONNEL TO REPORT SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR
AND COMMUNICATIONS UP THE CHAIN-OF-COMMAND FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION.
REQUIRES THAT ALL INCIDENTS INVOLVING INJURY BE REPORTED BY CG
MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO COMDT (CG-1112), USING CG FORM 1734. THIS NEW
REPORT FORM WILL FACILITATE COLLECTION OF DATA NEEDED IN TREATMENT.
FORM IS AVAILABLE AT -
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/FORMS/CG/CG(UNDERSCORE)1734.PDF
 G. TRAINING. CLARIFIES REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION MANDATED TRAINING. ENCOURAGES
ALL COMMANDS TO SEND PERSONNEL TO THE 2-DAY APPLIED SUICIDE
INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING WHEN OFFERED BY THEIR REGIONAL HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND WORK LIFE FIELD OFFICES.
5. COMDT (CG-1112) POC IS MR. JOHN REIBLING, 202 475-5161, EMAIL:
JOHN.S.REIBLING(AT)USCG.MIL.
6. RELEASED BY RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, USPHS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH,
SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
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