When your Wingman needs a hand: Helpful tools in the Air Force’s fight against suicide

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Frank Whorton
  • 319th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander
Grand Forks AFB, ND --  Suicide is a real problem. The World Health Organization says more people die each year because of suicide than are killed in all the world's conflicts. Recently, the base suffered a tragedy when an Airman in my squadron ended his life with a firearm. What can be done to reduce the risk of suicide?
As a leader, supervisor, co-worker or friend, we have to understand life's problems can overwhelm a person and lead to a feeling of depression, hopelessness and complete despair. This is when a person thinks of suicide as the only answer to their troubles. Unfortunately, suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems. To help a person who is possibly suicidal, we must understand the signs of deep distress, encouraging him to seek help and enlist community resources.

Signs of distress:
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there are several warning signs of suicide. A person with problems can become depressed, as we all have at some time in our lives. Although most depressed people are not suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed. Serious depression can be manifested in obvious sadness, but often it is expressed as a loss of pleasure or withdrawal from activities that had been enjoyable. 

Although there is no certain checklist, a person should be considered at risk if he exhibits five or more of these signs:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- Change in appetite or weight
- Change in sleeping patterns
- Speaking or moving with unusual speed or slowness
- Decrease in sexual drive
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach or guilt
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, slowed thinking or indecisiveness
- Thoughts of death, suicide or wishes to be dead 

Who is most at risk statistically in the Air Force? A young enlisted man with access to a firearm, having romantic, legal or financial troubles is the most likely suicide risk. However, it could be anyone. According to the Department of Defense, nearly half of all suicides (47 percent) among active-duty members of the armed forces are young men and women aged 17 through 24. Those aged 25 through 34 accounted for 32 percent of suicides; those aged 35 to 44 for 16 percent and those aged 45 and above 4 percent. Suicide prevention is viewed as one of the top troop-readiness concerns in the Air Force. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces after accidents and illnesses. 

Steps to follow:
What to do if you or someone you know is suffering from extreme depression or shows symptoms of suicidal intent:
1. Take seriously the risk of suicide
- Seventy-five percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.
- All suicide threats and attempts must be treated with the utmost caution and professional help should be sought.
- Remove any firearms, drugs or sharp objects from the vicinity that could be used in a suicide attempt.
2. Be willing to listen
- Talk to people, especially young people with multiple problems. Take the initiative to ask what is troubling them and persist to overcome any reluctance to talk about it.
- If professional help is indicated, the person you care about is more apt to follow such a recommendation if you have listened to him.
- If your friend is depressed, don't be afraid to ask whether he or she is considering suicide or even if they have a particular plan or method in mind.
- Do not attempt to argue anyone out of suicide. Rather, let the person know you care and understand that he is not alone, that suicidal feelings are temporary, that depression can be treated and that problems can be solved. Avoid the temptation to say, "You have so much to live for," or "Your suicide will hurt your family."
3. Seek professional help (community resources)
- Call your first sergeant or commander and then stay with the individual until help arrives.
- Call the command post at 747-6711, and then ask for the on-call life skills provider.
- Call your local emergency number (911) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
- Call 1-800-SUICIDE to talk with live counselors. 

Suicide can be prevented. While some suicides occur without any outward warning, most do not. You can prevent suicide by learning to recognize the signs of someone at risk, taking those signs seriously and knowing how to respond to them. The emotional crises that usually precede suicide are often both recognizable and treatable. One caring person can make the difference!