Leaders call for evaluation of suicide prevention efforts

  • Published
  • By G.W. Pomeroy
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force senior leaders are calling for commanders to conduct full reviews of suicide prevention efforts and to ensure that all Airmen are aware of resources such as life skills and other support agencies to address the service’s highest suicide rate in nine years.

As of Oct. 27, 46 active-duty airmen had taken their own lives since Jan. 1, which is a rate of 15 per 100,000 people. For the seven years before 2004, the suicide rate among active-duty Airmen averaged 9.2 per 100,000 people.

“We must take action now to reverse this alarming trend,” wrote Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper in a memo sent to commanders Oct. 27.

They are also requiring full reviews of how the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program is implemented across the service.

The review will be supplemented by a survey from the Air Force Integrated Delivery System, the group of base-level organizations -- chaplains and professionals from life skills, family support, child and youth services, health and wellness centers, and family advocacy -- that work together and take responsibility for prevention.

The surveys will be used to help commanders evaluate how the 11 key initiatives of the Air Force program are being implemented. The surveys also will serve as a critical component of the service-wide re-evaluation of the program.

The results of the survey must be completed and submitted to Air Force headquarters by Jan. 7.

The 11 initiatives are outlined in Air Force Pamphlet 44-160, “Air Force Suicide Prevention Program,” and include building community awareness; leaders involvement; investigative interview policy; professional military education; epidemiological database; delivery of community preventive services; community education and training; critical incident stress management; integrated delivery system; limited patient-psychotherapist privilege and unit risk factor assessment.

The 11 initiatives have been the cornerstone of the program, which was created in 1996.

“For seven years, we (had) a 36 percent reduction in overall suicides -- an unparalleled achievement by any military or government organization,” Secretary Roche and General Jumper wrote. “This past success makes the rise in suicides even more troubling. We must examine our approach for areas to improve or update. Taking care of our Airmen is a fundamental responsibility of command. We need to set the example from the top. Take notice and be involved.”

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