JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Navy announced Monday that a pilot program to prevent suicide is now available to all sailors.
SAIL, which stands for Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life, is designed to provide rapid assistance, on-going risk assessment and support for sailors who have exhibited suicide-related behavior. It is aimed at supplementing existing mental health treatment by providing continual support through the first 90 days after suicide-related behavior.
Recommended Videos
"We are excited that we are able to bring this important program to the fleet ahead of schedule," said Capt. Michael Fisher, Director, Navy Suicide Prevention Branch. "Having SAIL available across the Navy is a great addition to the ongoing work that commands are doing to promote help-seeking behavior, self-care, and support for our Sailors who reach out for assistance. Instilling hope is the hallmark of SAIL and we believe those Sailors who take advantage of this terrific program will see its benefit."
SAIL was first launched over the summer as a pilot program only available in the Pacific Northwest. It is now available at all Fleet and Family Support Center locations. The Chief of Naval Personnel's Suicide Prevention Branch is partnering with the Navy's Bureau of Medicine, CNIC, and SAIL case managers -- who are serving as FFSC counselors to run this new program.
The Navy says SAIL is not designed to replace clinical treatment for any suicide related behavior. However, upon receiving information from commands about a sailor who has demonstrated suicide-related behavior, Suicide Prevention Coordinators will work with CNIC, and in turn an FFSC case manager, whose responsibility will be to reach out to the individual Sailor to see if they would volunteer to participate in the SAIL program. Case managers will contact sailors in the 90 days following suicide-related behavior.
The Military Crisis Line offers confidential support for active duty and reserve service members and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255.