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Suicide prevention app could help soldiers

By | December 18, 2011, 3:42 PM PST

Guard Your Buddy

Guard Your Buddy

On Tuesday, the Tennessee National Guard unveiled a new suicide prevention strategy: a smartphone application aimed at suicidal soldiers. The app is intended to address a rise in the suicide rate of U.S. soldiers, which reached a high of almost three decades during the Iraq War.

The “Guard Your Buddy” app provides soldiers with an immediate support network in times of need through a variety of strategies. It allows members of the Tennessee National Guard to connect with others in their community, and also offers professional psychological counseling 24 hours a day.

This app was co-sponsored by the Tennessee National Guard and The Jason Foundation, a suicide prevention group. Beginning January 1, all members of the Tennessee National Guard will be required to carry a card with the web site and app information whenever they are on duty.

[via Reuters]

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Jenny Wilson

About Jenny Wilson

Jenny Wilson is a contributing editor for SmartPlanet.

Jenny Wilson

Jenny Wilson

Contributing Editor, Technology

Jenny Wilson is a freelance journalist based in Chicago. She has written for Time.com and Swimming World Magazine and served stints at The American Prospect and The Atlantic Monthly magazines. She is currently pursuing a degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Follow her on Twitter.

Jenny Wilson

Jenny Wilson

Jenny Wilson does not hold any investments in the technology companies she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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suicide-preventing app?
I'm quite skeptical with this. I don't think some "apps" can actually help.


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Posted by policebodyarmor
19th Dec
+1 Vote
+ -
suicide-preventing app?
Apps is useless. The problem lies somewhere else. Ask your Government to manage their own business. Do not attack other countries. Do not involve in wars and battles. Then your soldiers will not have a situation to go for "Sucide".
Posted by NAYAKHK
19th Dec
-1 Votes
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suicide-preventing app
Sir, the invasion of other countries and wars are not to sole reason behind the suicide rates in the Army. It could be a myriad of reasons such as marital problems, seperartion from family, diciplinary problems with soldiers...etc. At least they are taking a step with an app. What do you suggest that the military do if they dont invade or fight wars? I know Iraq was off course but what about every other place?
Posted by SGTBROWN
21st Dec
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