BAMBERG, Germany — Soldiers and civilians who have experienced suicide in their families — or attempted suicide themselves — are featured in a video being aired by an Army suicide prevention program.

The 12-minute video is part of the second phase of a program launched by the Army in February after 143 servicemembers — a record number — killed themselves in 2008.

"Suicide is uncomfortable to talk about," Lt. Col. Gary Rosenberg, USAG Bamberg commander, said Wednesday before an audience of about 120 soldiers and civilians attending the second phase.

But "that is exactly what we need to do — talk about it," he said.

"Army leadership is determined to address this problem."

The first phase of the suicide-prevention program, which was held in early spring, featured videos of hypothetical scenarios in which servicemembers are beset by problems.

Participants were invited to talk about how they could be helped.

The second phase of the program, which is being held through mid-July, is intended to be a more deliberate and personal approach to training conducted by small-unit leaders and first-line supervisors, officials say.

The phase two video shown Wednesday, titled "Shoulder to Shoulder — no soldier stands alone," starts with the view of a graveyard, followed by an honor guard carrying the flag-draped casket of a fallen soldier and the words of Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of U.S. Army Reserve.

He says that just as soldiers wonder whether they could have prevented someone’s death in combat, they would wonder the same thing about a death by suicide.

Spc. Katrina Wright, who attempted suicide in 2006, talks in the video about suicidal thoughts.

"Your family has progressed without you for how many years, so what would be the difference if you weren’t here anyway," she says.

"You feel like you are no good to anyone now."

Also in the video, families and experts discuss ways of determining whether someone is contemplating suicide.

Carole Graham, the mother of a servicemember who committed suicide in 2003, relates what he said.

"He said, ‘It’s like, Mom, my brain doesn’t work,’ he said. ‘I can’t think,’ " she recalls.

"I don’t think we really understood depression is an illness."

After attending the second phase, Capt. Carlos Rivera said it was "much more interesting" than any PowerPoint presentation.

Capt. Don Williamson, deputy garrison chaplain, said in an interview that ending the stigma of seeking help, and having peer-to-peer detection of potential victims, will greatly help deter suicides.

Williamson said the Army does not have enough chaplains or mental health specialists to be "on the spot" in every case.

"That is why this training is so important," he said. "Now soldiers can conduct suicide first aid on their peers."

Soldiers can move from prevention to intervention, he said.