EXPAND: Army uses video games in suicide preventio

Lubold, G. (2008, November 26). The army uses video games in suicide prevention. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1126/p02s01-usmi.html

This article by the Christian Science Monitor introduces an act on the part of the Army Suicide Prevention Program to do develop an interactive game to help in suicide prevention of soldiers because of the intense nature of war and especially the Iraq war. Because of these wars the suicide rates have gone up by 46%. This interactive game is a modern-day military mortality play meaning that the players watch a drama unfold and then makes decisions for the outcome of the characters. Another scenario focuses on preventing a buddy's suicide. These games are so realistic that they allow people to walk in someone elses' shoes and they get the chance to "play it out before they live it out." All the soldiers need is the courage to seek help and the game provides them with a way to realize that. This game made me think of different issues that plague teens and young kids. Issues such as teen pregnancy, alcohol, drugs, are just a few that maybe a same sort of scenario game could be created where teens step in someone else's shoes to see the consequences of their would-be actions played out. I would be a big fan of those types of games allowing kids to come to a realization before they fall into it.