CSAF: Commanders can help stem suicides through knowledge of prevention resources

Gen. John P. Jumper Jr.  Air Force Chief of Staff

By G.W. Pomeroy
Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- Suicide prevention begins with leaders at every level being knowledgeable about resources available to help those in distress. This is the message Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper wrote to commanders July 21.

In the communiqué, titled ‘Seeking Help and Suicide Prevention,' Jumper urged commanders to encourage airmen to seek help “earlier rather than later.”

“The Air Force has established a network of community and medical resources,” Jumper wrote. “These resources range from prevention services such as marital-enrichment seminars to individualized counseling.”

The Air Force uses an integrated system of chaplains and professionals from mental health, family support, child and youth services, health and wellness centers and family advocacy. All of them work together and take responsibility for prevention.

“Unfortunately, many distressed airmen never seek these services,” Jumper wrote.

Of the 29 suicides among active-duty members during 2002, “only 24 percent sought help from life skills support centers in the month prior to their death,” Jumper wrote.

Jumper also addressed a common misconception among airmen: that getting help will damage their careers.

According to Jumper, airmen often confuse medical-record entries with personnel-information-file entries.

“Please emphasize that PIF documents misbehavior, not medical or mental health visits,” Jumper wrote. “It is highly unlikely a voluntary mental health visit will have a negative career impact, but may in fact save one’s career.”

Statistics overwhelmingly support this fact: 97 percent of airmen who self-refer for mental-health treatment receive no negative career recommendations.

“We should encourage our people to seek help early, rather than waiting until difficulties become so severe that they impact job performance or result in administrative action,” Jumper wrote.

Suicide rates in the Air Force have declined throughout the last six years. From 1991 to 1996, the active-duty suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000. From 1997 -- the year in which the suicide prevention program was fully implemented -- through 2002, the annual average was 9.1 per 100,000. The service’s suicide rate in 2002 was 8.3 per 100,000 people -- its second lowest in 20 years.

As of July 21, there had been 19 suicides among active-duty airmen this year -- a rate of 9.3 per 100,000. No suicides were among active-duty airmen deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Despite these positive trends, Jumper emphasized that too many airmen still choose to take their own lives.

“These individuals often struggle with relationship problems, financial or legal difficulties, and/or substance abuse. Although these stressors may seem overwhelming, there are alternative ways to cope.”

The Air Force's community approach to suicide prevention and education has received national recognition, including praise in May 2001 from the then-U.S. surgeon general. Dr. David Satcher said the program was a model for the nation and incorporated it into the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.