The message is simple: suicide can be prevented.
During September, local prevention advocates are promoting awareness programs that can help civilians and soldiers to manage stress.
"Our motto is always ready, always there," said Maj. Sandra Stover, public affairs officer at the Missouri National Guard. "The bottom line is that we want to help our people be ready and healthy while taking on their underlying problems."
Missouri's National Guard has developed a unique program called the Suicide Response Prevention Program (SRPP) helping soldiers to become "postured for readiness."
Under the SRPP, soldiers and their families have access to resources that will help direct them to key people, programs and training that address their individual issues.
According to Maj. Stephan Baker, deputy chief of the Family Warrior Support Resource Center, relationships and finances are the two biggest problematic areas for soldiers.
"Through our Enhanced Resilience Program 2.0 (ERP), we are educating our soldiers and their families on how to identify problematic situations," Baker said.
"Families are our soldiers' number one network."
Baker explained that it is important that these resources are accessible because Guard soldiers spend more time with their families than they do on base unlike active duty members of other branches of the military.
The Missouri National Guard offers programs like the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills/Training program, a two-day course that trains military first responders how to communicate with soldiers who may be at-risk and Safetalk, a program that trains soldiers and their families how not to miss, dismiss or avoid signs that can help identify problems related to suicidal behavior while they are still manageable.
Baker added that the goal of programs is to trigger soldiers to reach out and ask for help.
"Some soldiers grew up in the era where not saying something is being strong," Baker said. "We're trying to reduce that stigma."
The Missouri National Guard has established a statewide network called Partners in Care, a program that helps soldiers find employment and also works closely Catholic Charities to use their substance abuse program for soldiers who have tested positive.
"Building partnerships are an important aspect of the Missouri National Guard," said Stover. "It is really critical that we stay connected to the community because we are citizen soldiers, and we are out in the community more than we are wearing this uniform."
There is also app called Guard Ready, that allows soldiers to download a menu of the resources that are available to them depending on their areas of need.
"Our goal is to reduce the number of suicides that occur to zero," Baker said. "My advice to all units is to take care of your soldiers and get to know them on a daily basis. The stronger the soldiers are, the better they are."