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Fusiliers vs Suicide

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Together we will defeat the enemy: Suicide

  1. Fusiliers engaged in operational duties

    Find

    Suicides are preventable. Use your courage and compassion to find the ‘combat indicators’ of suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviour.

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  2. Fusiliers engaged in operational duties

    Fix

    Fix suicide with direct and open talk about suicide:

    “Are you thinking about suicide?”

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  3. Fusiliers engaged in operational duties

    Strike

    Strike at suicide by listening, with kindness and understanding.

    No advice.
    No solutions.
    No interruptions.
    Just listening:
    “This is serious. You are important to me. I cannot take a risk on losing you. What has brought suicide into your life? I’m listening.”

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  4. Fusiliers engaged in operational duties

    Exploit

    Exploit through cooperation and collaboration, helping the suicidal person keep themselves safe from suicide and reinforcing belonging and self worth.

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OAFAAF

  • Open

    OPEN – direct and open talk about suicide is the key to prevention. Also those wanting to help must have an open mind, and an open heart as suicidal thoughts are understandable, complex and personal.  Once a person has identified ‘combat indicators’ of suicide they should ask directly and openly about suicide e.g. “I’ve noticed…and I’m just wondering – are you thinking about suicide?”

  • Authentic

    AUTHENTIC – a person trying to save someone from suicide must be seen to be themselves, and to be genuinely compassionate and caring. It is the ‘congruence’ that talking therapists (counsellors) are trained in.  The suicidal person must be able to trust the person engaging with them. No masks, no pretence, no facades, no ‘bullshit’.

  • Friendship

    FRIENDSHIP – Relationships are the context of suicidal intervention. The suicidal person must know that they are important, that their thoughts and feelings are being taken seriously without judgement, and that they ‘belong’ without conditions.  Helping a suicidal person relies upon trustworthy relationships, based on friendship.

  • Accepting

    ACCEPTING – the suicidal person must be treated with ‘unconditional positive regard’ and acceptance. They are likely to have already been burdened with judgement and shame, with the feeling that ‘people would be better off without me.’ Acceptance means empowering people to be truly themselves, by listening to the reasons why suicide has come into their lives without any disapproval or correction or attempts to advise. Simply accepting their truth, and accepting them as they are.

  • Altogether

    ALTOGETHER – this is about ’empathy’ and sharing in the suicidal person’s feelings and pain. It is about being with them in the darkness of hopelessness, and despair. Putting ourselves ‘in their shoes’.  It is letting them know that ‘we can’t take a risk on losing you’, because we are all in this together, in a unique family created and forged by military experiences.  It is also about the person knowing that they are not suffering suicidal thoughts in isolation.  Being isolated with suicidal thoughts is the biggest risk factor.

  • Fusiliers

    FUSILIERS – this is about cooperation and collaboration in the mission to defeat the enemy: suicide.  The helper and the person at risk must work together to prevent suicide, ensuring that the suicidal person has ownership and control, and is empowered to take responsibility for their own life. You can do this, you will get through this – OAFAAF – Once a Fusilier always a Fusilier.

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A message from Fusilier legend – Nigel Benn

Former World Champion boxer and Fusilier veteran Nigel Benn is supporting Fusiliers vs Suicide.

Nigel served in the First Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1RRF) from 1982-1985, including operational service in Northern Ireland and with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany.  Nigel was undefeated as a welterweight in 1RRF and won titles all the way up to heavyweight.

After service with the British Army, Nigel became WBO Middleweight champion and WBC Super-middleweight champion of the world. Already inducted into the boxing hall of fame, Nigel was voted the WBC all time super-middleweight champion of the world.

In this video Nigel shares his own grief and experience of suicide, and offers a heartfelt message to his Fusilier brothers and anyone struggling with thoughts about suicide.

Contact Us

  • facebook.com/FusiliersvsSuicide
  • info@fusiliers-vs-suicide.org

Fusiliers vs Suicide

Our Mission

To raise awareness, educate and equip in suicide intervention skills, in order to defeat the enemy: suicide and save lives.

Other Support Groups

  • Samaritans
    www.samaritans.org
    Tel: 116 123
  • SAFFA
    www.ssafa.org.uk
  • Veterans’ Gateway
    www.veteransgateway.org.uk
  • The Fusiliers Association
    www.fusiliers-association.co.uk

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