Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Can narrative save lives?

Yes, in the sense of deterring suicides.

Photo taken August 19, 2013 shows wheat field near Tioga, North Dakota. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER        (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo taken August 19, 2013 shows wheat field near Tioga, North Dakota. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo taken August 19, 2013 shows wheat field near Tioga, North Dakota. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

 

 

Yes, in the sense of deterring suicides. So relates Sgt. Charles Stokes, of the 1st Armored Division: “A person at risk feels like they have nothing to live for. So you have to help that person find a turning point, a reason to live. You find that from hearing out their story.” (Stokes was recognized at Fort Bliss for his work in intervening to deter a suicide attempt.)

Photo credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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