The Air Force has built a suicide prevention program based on 11 overlapping core elements that stress community involvement and leadership in the prevention of suicides in the military:
Leadership involvement -- Air Force leaders actively support the entire spectrum of suicide prevention initiatives in the community.
Addressing suicide prevention through professional military education -- PME provides periodic and targeted suicide prevention training for Airmen, specifically oriented to the individual's rank and level of responsibility.
Guidelines for commanders about the use of mental health services -- Commanders receive training on how and when to use mental health services and guidance on their role in encouraging early help seeking behavior.
Unit-based preventive services -- Helping-agency professionals partner with unit leaders to provide services at the work site to increase access, encourage help-seeking, and promote familiarity, rapport, and trust with Airmen and families.
Wingman culture -- Wingmen practice healthy behaviors and make responsible choices and encourage others to do the same. Wingmen foster a culture of early help-seeking. Wingmen recognize the signs and symptoms of distress in themselves and others and take proactive action. Investigative interview policy -- Following any investigative interview, the investigator is required to 'hand-off' the individual directly to the commander, first sergeant or super
visor. The unit representative is then responsible for assessing the individual's emotional state and contacting a mental health provider if any question about the possibility of suicide exists.
Post suicide response (Postvention) -- Suicide impacts coworkers, families and friends. Offering support early is associated with increased help-seeking behavior.
Integrated delivery system and community action information board -- At the Air Force, MAJCOM and base levels, the CAIB and IDS provide a forum for the cross-organizational review and resolution of individual, family, installation and community issues that impact the force readiness and the quality of life.
Limited privilege suicide prevention program -- Patients undergoing legal action who are at risk for suicide are afforded increased confidentiality when seen by mental health providers.
Commanders consultation assessment tool -- Commanders use a variety of assessments (e.g., Support and Resilience Inventory, Unit Climate Assessment) recommended by appropriate agencies, to gain insight into unit strengths and areas of vulnerability.
Suicide event tracking and analysis -- Information on all Air Force suicides and suicide attempts are entered into a central database, currently the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report, to identify suicide risk factors and trends.
There are many programs the Air Force and civilian advocacy groups offer to help with depression or issues someone maybe dealing with. Help is not limited to military members only, but to family members as well.
The Air Force offers chaplains and behavioral health professionals or someone can seek help through their primary care provider.
If depressed or thinking about suicide, contact the military crisis line at 800-273-8255 or text the line at 838255. This line is confidential and provides a skilled, trained counselor available 24/7.
It is one team and one fight. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Have the courage to ask someone if they are thinking about killing themselves. Have the courage to ask for help. You are not alone.
For more information on suicide prevention, visit http://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/suicideprevention/ or http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.