#BeThere_Marine: September's Most Important Hashtag

Did you know that September is Suicide Prevention Month? Although efforts to address the issue occur year-round, the Marine Corps takes this month to highlight prevention efforts, promote resources and support services, and engage Marines and families in an awareness campaign that will promote community connectedness and belonging. This year, the Headquarters Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program (MCSSP) created the hashtag and graphic, “#BeThere_Marine,” in support of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office “BeThere” campaign theme.

#BeThere_Marine represents a call to action to all Marines, their families, and our civilian workforce to encourage peer-to-peer support and bystander intervention when you see someone in distress.

Take action! The smallest actions can help save a life. One person can begin to create a community of support that can encourage people in crisis to get the help they deserve.

• If someone you know shows any warning signs for suicide, be direct.
• Learn how to ask the hard questions: How can I help you?  Are you thinking about killing yourself? (for more information on how to have these conversations, check out “Having the Hard Conversations.”
• Applying R.A.C.E. (Recognize, Ask, Care, and Escort) empowers Marines and their families to take action when someone’s in distress, and to know what to do in the situation.
• Get them help: The DSTRESS and Military Crisis Lines are always available to support friends and loved ones.
• Get to know the resources available on and off installation.

Spread the word! Many of you work to prevent suicide every day.  Please join us for September’s Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2017.  Support the Marine Corps’ efforts to bring attention to preventing suicide by using the #BeThere_Marine to spread the word.  Here’s how you can help:

• Use the hashtag when talking about suicide prevention on social media.
• Post the above graphic on your social media page and/or use it as your temporary profile pic. 
• Look for our new public service announcement (PSA) online, which will be coming Soon!
• Social media posts will be placed on all official USMC social media sites once per week in the month of September. Please share from these sites.

For more information about Suicide Prevention Month, contact your unit’s Suicide Prevention Program Officer.