News

The Role of the Community in Suicide Prevention

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth McDowell
  • 14th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Technician
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  All Airmen have a responsibility to watch out for their Wingmen. Wingmen include people we work with, family, friends and other Airmen we contact within our community.

In 2013, the Air Force had 48 total suicides and in the first quarter of 2014 there were 19 suicides. All of these uniformed members served with other Airman at their jobs, had friends, or family members they encountered on a daily basis that might have notice changes in the Airmen.

The Air Force has often talked about resilience but what does that mean? Resilience is another way of describing how someone copes with their problems/stressors in their lives. Some of the most common stressors for Airmen who have committed suicide were relationship problems, marital issues, financial issues, work stressors, mental health problems such as depression, and/or more.

The suicide prevention program is here to make Airmen and their families aware of the helping agencies in the community that can help with everyday stressors like the ones listed above. It incorporates the resilience program to strengthen people and help them maintain their overall well-being across the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness domains. The CAF domains focus on seeking help when needed, noticing warning signs, and practicing a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. 

Here are some resources available to you in the local community:
Mental Health Clinic: The flight consists of Mental Health, Family Advocacy and Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment. The MH clinic provides individual counseling for active duty, dependent family members, and retirees. The FA clinic offers stress management, anger management, and marital counseling sessions and reading materials. The ADAPT clinic offers prevention through briefings for squadrons, alcohol education events and activities, and educational counseling for Airmen with alcohol issues. On-call provider services are available at 434-2239.
Chaplain:  Offers non-spiritual and spiritual counseling for all members. For more information please call 434-2500.

Behavioral Health Outpatient Provider: This provider is located in the outpatient clinic to offer brief services such as sleep hygiene counseling, stress management and/or anger management in less than four sessions.

Airman & Family Readiness Center:  Military and Family Life Consultants are counselors that rotate from base to base, on 45-90 day rotations, to offer counseling services with no documentation.  Financial services are also available to include: budgeting/saving classes, meetings for budget analysis and Air Force Aid for members in need of loans. For more information please call 434-2790.

If you have additional questions about suicide prevention or would like to schedule a briefing for your squadron, please contact Maj. Raymond Bouchard, Columbus Air Force Base Suicide Prevention Program Manager, at 434-2239.