1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,820 growl in the face of fear , you know , 2 00:00:02,820 --> 00:00:05,042 and say I got this and I'm going to get 3 00:00:05,042 --> 00:00:06,931 help and nobody's gonna stop me . 4 00:00:12,790 --> 00:00:14,846 Hello Shipmates , I am forced Master 5 00:00:14,846 --> 00:00:17,020 Chief Tracy Hunt september is suicide 6 00:00:17,020 --> 00:00:19,280 prevention month and we have a story 7 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:21,457 that I encourage you to watch . It's a 8 00:00:21,457 --> 00:00:23,630 real story from a shipmate just like 9 00:00:23,630 --> 00:00:26,320 you and me . It's a brave story of 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,690 Chief Marissa Mason who talks about 11 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:31,130 overcoming some of her challenges . It 12 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:33,580 is a message of hope , so take the time 13 00:00:33,580 --> 00:00:35,880 and watch it . Thank you . Shipmates 14 00:00:35,890 --> 00:00:38,120 take care of each other and continue to 15 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,000 push forward . Look , I'm gonna 16 00:00:42,010 --> 00:00:44,240 wouldn't be very blunt , I had all 17 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,430 those same fears , I still have all 18 00:00:46,430 --> 00:00:48,652 those same fears . This this right here 19 00:00:48,652 --> 00:00:50,708 takes a lot of courage if I wouldn't 20 00:00:50,708 --> 00:00:54,120 have asked for help or been worried 21 00:00:54,130 --> 00:00:57,040 um about what my chain of command was 22 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,660 going to think about me or um maybe 23 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:03,210 what my peers would think about me , I 24 00:01:03,210 --> 00:01:06,220 might not be here today , I knew 25 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,540 I knew that I had to be here or I have 26 00:01:10,540 --> 00:01:12,651 a bigger purpose or whatever it shall 27 00:01:12,651 --> 00:01:15,120 be and I knew my chain of command was 28 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,342 going to support me , I had a fantastic 29 00:01:17,342 --> 00:01:19,342 chain of command , super supportive 30 00:01:19,342 --> 00:01:22,100 environment , I think that impacted my 31 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:24,378 decision as well to be like , hey look , 32 00:01:24,378 --> 00:01:26,489 I know these people are gonna support 33 00:01:26,489 --> 00:01:28,711 me , they're not gonna judge me or look 34 00:01:28,711 --> 00:01:30,933 at me crazy , they're probably gonna be 35 00:01:30,933 --> 00:01:33,100 proud of me and they probably were , I 36 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:35,211 don't know , I've never asked but now 37 00:01:35,211 --> 00:01:37,322 that I talked about it , I'm probably 38 00:01:37,322 --> 00:01:39,489 going to ask because it takes a lot of 39 00:01:39,489 --> 00:01:41,322 courage . It's really just about 40 00:01:41,322 --> 00:01:44,310 courage . And um there are , there are 41 00:01:44,370 --> 00:01:46,426 chain of commands out there that are 42 00:01:46,426 --> 00:01:48,990 not supportive . You have to remember , 43 00:01:50,060 --> 00:01:53,910 You are number one 100% . You are 44 00:01:53,910 --> 00:01:56,700 number one and only you 45 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,110 only only yourself , you know , Can you 46 00:02:01,110 --> 00:02:04,330 ask for help ? And you have to think to 47 00:02:04,330 --> 00:02:05,500 yourself if 48 00:02:08,190 --> 00:02:10,590 how do I say this ? If 49 00:02:15,170 --> 00:02:19,090 is it worth it to suffer 50 00:02:19,090 --> 00:02:23,050 in silence ? Or is it 51 00:02:23,850 --> 00:02:25,850 better to just ask for help and get 52 00:02:25,850 --> 00:02:29,550 better and get back to supporting the 53 00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:33,230 mission ? Get back to your career , get 54 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,220 back to your life and be mentally well , 55 00:02:38,550 --> 00:02:40,717 it's it's a tough decision . It really 56 00:02:40,717 --> 00:02:43,610 is . But it's a personal choice and 57 00:02:43,610 --> 00:02:46,960 only only you can make that and um 58 00:02:46,970 --> 00:02:50,220 growl in the face of fear , you know , 59 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:52,442 and say I got this and I'm going to get 60 00:02:52,442 --> 00:02:56,290 help and nobody's gonna stop me . So 61 00:02:56,290 --> 00:02:58,890 I'm gonna take you back to 2016 . 62 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:02,400 Um Your life was pretty good . I was a 63 00:03:02,410 --> 00:03:04,632 first class petty officer at the time . 64 00:03:04,632 --> 00:03:07,150 Um for chief eligible to be a Chief 65 00:03:07,150 --> 00:03:09,206 Petty Officer in the Navy number one 66 00:03:09,206 --> 00:03:12,850 aspiration . And um I thought things 67 00:03:12,850 --> 00:03:14,739 were good . Life was good . I was 68 00:03:14,739 --> 00:03:18,500 married and happy and I thought , 69 00:03:19,220 --> 00:03:23,150 you know , I was unstoppable and 70 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,360 in that same year . Well , 71 00:03:26,370 --> 00:03:29,900 2017 year later , um 72 00:03:29,910 --> 00:03:33,290 I was told that my husband wanted a 73 00:03:33,290 --> 00:03:36,090 divorce and I was like , it's the end 74 00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:38,034 of the world right ? Nobody's ever 75 00:03:38,034 --> 00:03:40,034 gonna love me , nobody's ever gonna 76 00:03:40,034 --> 00:03:42,201 wanna be with me . Um This is the only 77 00:03:42,201 --> 00:03:45,180 person for me and I wanted all the pain 78 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:48,140 to stop . I want to go away and said 79 00:03:48,140 --> 00:03:50,084 you know what this is it , I don't 80 00:03:50,084 --> 00:03:52,150 wanna do this no more . I'm tired , 81 00:03:53,070 --> 00:03:56,570 tired of hurting . So 82 00:03:58,390 --> 00:04:01,980 went out on my back deck and I have 83 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:06,320 I had two little dogs to shed 84 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,780 zoos rex and Xena 85 00:04:09,930 --> 00:04:13,680 and they come out they come out there 86 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,820 and being the little dogs they are 87 00:04:15,830 --> 00:04:17,830 mommy ! Mommy you know pick me up , 88 00:04:17,830 --> 00:04:20,850 pick me up . So I had to take that 89 00:04:20,850 --> 00:04:24,820 breath right if I die who's 90 00:04:24,820 --> 00:04:26,598 gonna take care of these dogs , 91 00:04:26,598 --> 00:04:28,870 nobody's gonna love them as much as I 92 00:04:28,870 --> 00:04:32,000 will . I went back inside sat down on 93 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,810 my couch and I was like I'm not okay I 94 00:04:35,810 --> 00:04:38,490 am not okay this is not okay . 95 00:04:39,690 --> 00:04:42,620 Um My husband at the time was like you 96 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:44,509 know I'm gonna call your chain of 97 00:04:44,509 --> 00:04:46,930 command , I'm gonna tell them . And I 98 00:04:46,930 --> 00:04:49,600 was like not before I can tell them . 99 00:04:50,370 --> 00:04:53,130 Um at the time I had a fantastic master 100 00:04:53,130 --> 00:04:56,620 chief that I worked for um great mentor , 101 00:04:56,620 --> 00:04:59,950 wonderful man . I went to work and I 102 00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:01,900 walked into his office and I said 103 00:05:01,910 --> 00:05:05,370 master chief I'm not okay I need 104 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:09,250 help and my best friend my 105 00:05:09,250 --> 00:05:11,417 best friend also worked at the command 106 00:05:11,417 --> 00:05:13,880 with us . So of course he calls her in 107 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,440 and she comes in and he's like , we we 108 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,496 need to get her out , we need to get 109 00:05:18,496 --> 00:05:20,950 her seen . So um 110 00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:24,101 they walked me over to the chaplain . 111 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:26,417 He helped me through a lot . He helped 112 00:05:26,417 --> 00:05:30,000 me through the emotional 113 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,111 distress of going through a divorce . 114 00:05:32,111 --> 00:05:35,840 Um shortly after I 115 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:38,930 lost my friend to suicide in the Navy 116 00:05:38,930 --> 00:05:42,290 as well . Um and he was there . I 117 00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:44,520 walked right across the street from 118 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,576 where I worked . I walked right over 119 00:05:46,576 --> 00:05:48,687 the chapel and I was like , hey , I'm 120 00:05:48,687 --> 00:05:51,710 not okay again . Right ? Like my friend 121 00:05:51,710 --> 00:05:53,821 just took her life . You know , she's 122 00:05:53,821 --> 00:05:56,410 my friend , she's my shipmate . Um 123 00:05:58,260 --> 00:06:00,482 It was hard . It was hard again . Every 124 00:06:00,482 --> 00:06:02,880 it just , it was felt like it just kept 125 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,510 compiling , right . So 126 00:06:07,050 --> 00:06:10,920 I didn't seek met medical therapy . 127 00:06:10,930 --> 00:06:14,660 I went to the chaplain . My heart just 128 00:06:14,670 --> 00:06:17,030 felt so full every time I walked out of 129 00:06:17,030 --> 00:06:19,760 there and he gave me a purpose . Right ? 130 00:06:19,770 --> 00:06:23,530 So I really think God just has a plan 131 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:26,250 for you . 2017 closed out . I was in 132 00:06:26,250 --> 00:06:28,470 the darkest place , you know , so you 133 00:06:28,470 --> 00:06:30,248 got they tell you , you got the 134 00:06:30,248 --> 00:06:32,359 mountain right ? So I always think of 135 00:06:32,359 --> 00:06:35,300 the yodeling man on the price is right , 136 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:37,809 you're going up and then all of a 137 00:06:37,809 --> 00:06:40,530 sudden bam life hits you in the face 138 00:06:40,540 --> 00:06:42,990 and you fall off . And I did . And that 139 00:06:42,990 --> 00:06:46,860 was 2017 in 2018 . I got 140 00:06:46,860 --> 00:06:49,027 selected to be a chief petty officer . 141 00:06:49,027 --> 00:06:51,670 I , you know , let's move it forward . 142 00:06:51,670 --> 00:06:55,480 2020 I had my baby . Um and I just 143 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,150 looked back and I think , gosh , 144 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,990 the world could have been changed by me 145 00:07:01,990 --> 00:07:05,220 not being here and not only the world , 146 00:07:05,220 --> 00:07:09,160 my family , my friends , I 147 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,104 would have missed out on a lot . I 148 00:07:11,104 --> 00:07:13,230 still go to counseling today . I go 149 00:07:13,230 --> 00:07:15,440 through ups and downs just like every 150 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,580 sailor does . I um I have work , I have 151 00:07:18,580 --> 00:07:22,280 school , I have a family , my 152 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,710 significant others active duty and 153 00:07:24,710 --> 00:07:27,380 deployed all the time . So I still have 154 00:07:27,380 --> 00:07:30,970 those stressors and I am real quick to 155 00:07:30,970 --> 00:07:33,540 pick up the phone and say I need help . 156 00:07:33,780 --> 00:07:35,836 I need somebody to talk to because I 157 00:07:35,836 --> 00:07:38,002 gotta get through this because I don't 158 00:07:38,002 --> 00:07:40,224 want to be the person I was in 2017 . I 159 00:07:40,224 --> 00:07:42,447 never want to feel that way again in my 160 00:07:42,447 --> 00:07:45,890 life . Ever . Families , friends . 161 00:07:45,890 --> 00:07:49,090 Shipmates , Chiefs officers . Um 162 00:07:49,990 --> 00:07:52,850 They need to just support support , 163 00:07:52,860 --> 00:07:55,800 hold their hands , help them get to 164 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,856 that resource . Don't just tell them 165 00:07:57,856 --> 00:07:59,856 the resource . Actually take them , 166 00:07:59,856 --> 00:08:01,967 spend that time with them . Show them 167 00:08:01,967 --> 00:08:04,540 that you care , empathy , right ? It's , 168 00:08:05,370 --> 00:08:08,970 it goes a long way um , to maintain 169 00:08:08,970 --> 00:08:11,880 warfighter readiness to maintain that 170 00:08:11,900 --> 00:08:15,620 strong stature , right ? And I think 171 00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:19,240 sometimes we just , we 172 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,430 forget that we know the resources I 173 00:08:21,430 --> 00:08:23,541 consider and read them off to you all 174 00:08:23,541 --> 00:08:26,100 day . But maybe the chaplain isn't the 175 00:08:26,100 --> 00:08:28,500 best resource for that sailor . Maybe 176 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,742 Clayton family support is or maybe it's 177 00:08:30,742 --> 00:08:32,853 critical and they actually need to be 178 00:08:32,853 --> 00:08:35,530 seen by a medical facility , um , and 179 00:08:35,530 --> 00:08:37,474 get the treatment that they need , 180 00:08:37,474 --> 00:08:40,390 walking with them , put yourself in 181 00:08:40,390 --> 00:08:42,557 their shoes . What would you want from 182 00:08:42,557 --> 00:08:46,350 somebody ? I think the more people that 183 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:50,240 talk about it and tell people what 184 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,470 worked for them , right ? Um whether 185 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,740 whatever resource it was worked for 186 00:08:54,740 --> 00:08:57,450 them . I think that's gonna help . I 187 00:08:57,450 --> 00:09:01,350 think it's gonna help help the Navy . 188 00:09:01,350 --> 00:09:03,970 It's gonna help society . It's gonna 189 00:09:03,970 --> 00:09:06,320 help everyone , really . Because one 190 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,598 person I believe can make a difference , 191 00:09:08,598 --> 00:09:10,653 you're worth it . You're meant to be 192 00:09:10,653 --> 00:09:13,650 here and you're an important part of 193 00:09:13,650 --> 00:09:16,420 not only the Navy , but of the world .