National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Published Sept. 6, 2017 By Merrie Schilter-Lowe 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Department of Defense is encouraging people to connect with others to save the lives of service members, civilians and their families. “Connection saves lives,” said Col. David Linkh, Air Force Suicide Prevention Program manager. Linkh said in a June press release that isolation, alienation and feeling a lack of belonging places people at risk. “If a fellow Airman seems to be struggling, make simple gestures,” said Linkh. “Have lunch with them, talk to them and include them. Ask them how they are doing, or about their family. Stop by their desk and share a little bit about yourself.” About 41,000 people die each year by suicide, which is the 10th leading cause of death among adults and the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The center also reports that more than half a million Americans receive medical care annually for self-inflicted injuries. ”Every suicide is a tragic loss to our nation and those impacted,” said Keita Franklin, PhD., and Defense Suicide Prevention Office director. “The family and friends left behind who must deal with the aftermath of the event and put those events in perspective may, in some cases, never know why the service member or veteran took their life,” she said in a statement posted on the agency’s website. A person contemplating suicide may show signs they are thinking about or planning their suicide but that’s not always the case, according to Capt. Brendon Jones, clinical psychologist with the 60th Medical Group at Travis Air Force Base, California and the suicide prevention program manager at Travis. “Not everyone shows signs, which surprises family members,” said Jones. “Yes, we should be paying close attention to our loved ones and how they are doing but, on the other hand, we can’t take responsibility if the person commits suicide.” According to research, the most common warning signs include constantly thinking or talking about death, clinical depression which gets worse and is characterized by deep sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, trouble sleeping and eating, frequent and dramatic mood changes, increased substance abuse and feeling hopeless, excessively guilty or ashamed. Senior Airman Cameron Saldana, 60th Medical Group at Travis Air Force Base, California, didn’t see signs in his friends. A unit deployment manager at the David Grant Medical Center, Saldana was recognized earlier this year at the 60th MDG commander’s staff meeting for preventing two friends and a family member from committing suicide and for rescuing a woman from a burning car after she crashed into a retaining wall in Fairfield, California. “Each person survived solely because Cameron took the time to care,” said 1st Lt. Kimberly Smith, 60th MDG and Saldana’s former deputy flight chief. “Luckily, he was in the right place at the right time.” As he reflected back on the incidents with his friends, Saldana remembered both had been “all smiles” the morning before they tried to take their own lives. The first incident had a major impact on Saldana. “I told my supervisor because it really bothered me,” he said. “I had nightmares for a while.” He also relived the situation. “Every cop, every doctor, every friend, every family member and every neighbor wanted to know what had happened.” When Saldana worked in the emergency room, he saw an average of three to four suicide patients each month. “Most (patients) were thinking about it, but some of them had attempted it,” he said. Based on his own experiences, Saldana recommends that family and friends get involved. “Check on each other,” he said. “Don’t just talk about work, but their personal lives.” Although people can hide their feelings, research shows there are risk factors for suicide, including a family history of suicide, a history of depression or other mental illness, a history of substance abuse, stressful life events or loss, isolation and easy access to lethal methods. DOD tracks risks factors and provides an analysis of the frequency of these factors during an individual’s life before death. The annual suicide event report also tracks probable risk factors, such as working too much, ongoing military moves or deployments and transitioning out of the service. Since 2013, those who have taken their lives have primarily been white or Caucasian men ages 20 to 24 in grades E-1 to E-4, high school graduates and married. Never married men had the second highest rate. The Air Force data mirrors DOD’s, except members in grades E-5 to E-9 and those never married had the second highest rate of suicide. Although the DOD report is not designed to identify potential causes of suicide, it does provide a comprehensive picture of trends and patterns “so we can be aware of those areas of concern and target interventions toward those at-risk populations,” said Jones. Air Force suicide rates among security forces Airmen have been on the decline since 2012. “Before, we weren’t taking care of our people when they got back from deployment – there was no decompression time,” said Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Ilsley, 60th Security Forces Squadron manager. “Mental health would do a post screening in front of everyone. Now we receive one-on-one counseling. That matters to me to see the agency so engaged.” Airmen also are encouraged to seek help when they need it and mental health personnel are regular visitors in the squadron. A chaplain also has an office in the building. “We teach our defenders that it’s responsible to seek help; it’s your duty,” said IIsley. “There’s an extremely high degree of comfort for someone who sees death up close to have mental health and the chaplain show up on a moment’s notice.” Although a large number of Airmen have suicidal thoughts, they don’t have suicidal behaviors, said Jones. However, if a family member or friend is threatening to take their own life, begin giving away personal belongings, or says goodbye to loved ones, suggest they get professional help. “If suicide seems imminent, call 911,” said Jones. “Protecting the person’s life is the chief concern.” Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should contact their primary care provider or behavioral health, said Jones. DOD also has a peer support call and outreach center where members can call, text or email peer coaches 24/7. Communications between the member and peer counselor are confidential. Call the center at (844) 357-PEER (7337) or text 480-360-6188. Other resources include: the Military Crisis Line at (800) 273-8255 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. To have a confidential online chat session, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at http://www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.