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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNavy confirms 4 sailor deaths in Norfolk from apparent suicide
NORFOLK, Va. Four sailors based in Norfolk have died from apparent suicides in the last month, the U.S. Navy confirmed Friday.
A spokesperson for the Navy said the sailors were assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC). Local police departments and the Navy are working together to investigate their deaths.
A spokesperson added that the incidents are separate and are considered to be apparent suicides. The timeline of the investigation is unknown.
This is not specific to this command, were talking about people. Will you ever eliminate suicide in the Navy? No. Because humans struggle with existential crisis, depression, and anxiety. I dont believe its the Navys job to fix everybodys mental health, but it is their job to provide the ample resources," said Kayla Arestivo.
Arestivo, a licensed counselor out of Chesapeake who runs the non-profit Trails of Purpose, said she was invited to Naval Station Norfolk this November to participate in a Suicide Prevention Stand-Down session.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/national/military-news/navy-confirms-4th-sailor-death-norfolk-apparent-suicide/291-25e58755-7243-4bd5-a0d4-5f9e87a65170
Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)Igel
(35,199 posts)"Breaking news, CDC confirms 45,222 shootings deaths ... story to follow."
That's firearms deaths for 2020. From all causes.
1. There's a suicide rate.
2. Enlisting =/= inoculation against suicide.
3. Random events are, well, random.
One stats prof said that he had this demonstration early in teaching probability. To demonstrate randomness, he had his large lecture group break up into groups. Some--I forget the criterion used--would make up numbers based on what "random" meant to them. Others, TA supervised, would flip actual coins and have data. He'd leave the room for so many minutes; during that time each group should flip a coin 100 times and record heads or tails. He'd re-enter room and ask some groups to write their results, HTTHH ... whatever ... on the whiteboard.
He'd then point out the made-up results. Why? Flip a coin 100 times and you'll get strings of HHHH or TTTT, or even HHHHH or TTTTT Ask people to make up data, and they'll avoid strings of improbable results. It's the "you're in a room of 30 people, what are the odds that two will have the same birthday?" question. Can't happen. But, oh, it's less unlikely than you think. More than 50-50. (https://theconversation.com/the-birthday-problem-what-are-the-odds-of-sharing-b-days-16709 and an infinitude of others, many in print, some in Latin, and more than a few in heiratic and cuneiform ... some in Sumerian. And some in Elamite or "Mahenjo Daro" if we kenned them.)
70sEraVet
(3,430 posts)This "I dont believe its the Navys job to fix everybodys mental health" is just a way to place the blame on the victims.
The MARMC should not be allowed to run their own investigation, and I have little confidence in the local law enforcement of a city whose financial existence is dependent on the federal dollars that come with the largest Naval base on the East coast.
This screams for a Congressional investigation.
There is a deep problem with that Command, that is leading to the deaths of those sailors.
mountain grammy
(26,573 posts)BOSSHOG
(36,862 posts)I spent decades proudly serving in the canoe club. Damn proud of my service.
I was in boot camp 1972 RTC San Diego. Our company commander told us how to kill our selves successfully if we had the urge. That there was a right and wrong way to slit your wrist. He also said if you chose to, get up at 2 in the morning, go into the shower and place your wrist over the drain so as not to make too big of a mess for your shipmates to clean up. Ha ha.
We also heard weekly rumors that someone had committed suicide in another barracks.
One incredibly isolated example (I think) of a half a century ago. But more then 50 years later, almost to the day, I remember it well.
I had awesome shipmates, some Im still in touch with. We took care of each other and our Sailors. I was lucky. But the head shed is responsible for command climate. The vast number of commanding officers handled (in my day) that responsibility admirably.
Ive rambled and said nothing. Thks for your time.
housecat
(3,121 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)Response to BOSSHOG (Reply #7)
GoodRaisin This message was self-deleted by its author.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)While true that mental health challenges are everywhere, and across all military branches (duh), there still needs to be someone looking into the MARMC Command.
If nothing else, to rule out any problems.
A bad Command structure can put undue pressure on those under that Command. It can get real bad.
70sEraVet
(3,430 posts)And, it gets personal, with photos and info of some of the sailors.
In a statement, the Defense Department said it would continue working toward implementation by the end of the calendar year.
Named after Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta, 21, who died by suicide in 2018, the Brandon Act not only expedites mental health evaluations, but also provides a confidential channel for service members to self-report mental health issues.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/4-navy-sailors-assigned-facility-die-apparent-suicide-weeks-growing-co-rcna59266
I was Navy too.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)My idiot is retired Army. I could tell some tales.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)First and only child to a preventable medical mistake he went to his CO to get some help for us because we were both drowning in despair. The CO said that it would cause us to be classified as a "burden" on the command. Whatever that meant, it wasn't helpful.
We ended up separated and going our separate ways eventually. We really loved each other and I believe that had we had the help we needed we also would have had the ice hockey team or baseball team of boys we fantasized about.
We both wanted a big family and I wanted to be a boys mom for forever. But none of that happened because of that one word. It was the happiest and the saddest time of our lives.
❤️pants
70sEraVet
(3,430 posts)There are officers in all branches of the military, who are only concerned with their next promotion. And they are willing to sacrifice anyone under their command to get that promotion.
It sounds like you and your ex were victims of that mentality. I'm sorry for that.
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I appreciate your kind words and your explanation puts a spin on the ordeal that never crossed my mind. I'm not that ruthless but it makes lots of sense. I definitely helps me understand a little more. ❤️
Permanut
(5,439 posts)Served on a tin can out of Norfolk in the '60's. Can't speak for shore duty, but suicide wasn't an issue on the ship. We were all drafted, and there was a sense that every body was needed to make sure we did the job we were assigned.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Went missing on the Taiwanese Navy ship. It was assumed to be a suicide because they found his shoes, and he hated being in the Navy which was mandatory there. He also had a lot of mental health issues. He was only 20 or so as I recall.