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  • Suicide Prevent PSA graphics

    Resiliency Resources

    Ask, Care, Escort graphics with Military One Source, National Suicide Hotline, Mental Health Clinic and Chaplain Services resiliency resources contact information.
  • The Air Force encourages Airmen who identify an individual considering suicide to use the A.C.E. model: ask directly if a person is considering suicide, care by actively listening and removing means for self-injury, and escort the person to a helping organization. For more information, visit the Air Force suicide prevention website at www.af.mil/Suicide-Prevention. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves)

    Refusing to be a bystander

    A Grand Forks Air Force Base Airman shares a story detailing her successful efforts in preventing a friend's potential suicide.
  • Mental illness can take many forms; it can hide behind wide smiles and exuberant personalities avoiding detection. It can also be exhibited through warning signs like changes in behavior related to a traumatic event, giving away prized possessions, loss of interest in activities of interest and social isolation. Connect with your Airmen and peers so you can identify changed behaviors and warning signs. (U.S. Air Force illustration by Staff Sgt. BreeAnn Sachs)

    The monster within

    The monster within -- A letter to those suffering in silence
  • Suicide Prevention & Social Media

    Air Force psychologist considers social media’s role in suicide prevention

    Social media connects us to more people than ever before, but these contacts may not be the type that help build resiliency. Strong interpersonal connections play a critical role in suicide prevention. Used correctly, social media can be an important tool in the suicide prevention toolbox for commanders, friends, and family.
  • Be there, be aware: help prevent suicide

    Be there, be aware: Help prevent suicide

    When we focus on our health, it’s easy to pay attention to physical health versus mental well-being. Ignoring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can lead to worsening symptoms and more serious issues. For some people, these issues may include an increased risk of suicide.
  • Tech. Sgt. Lloyd, 22nd Attack Squadron sensor operator, poses for an illustrative photo for National Suicide Prevention Awareness month Sept. 14, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.

    Airmen helping Airmen: Suicide prevention

    Charged with the safety of every American against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, military members are expected to perform in highly stressful environments. Airmen deal with everyday stressors that come with wearing the uniform, and issues that arise both on and off the battlefield.These challenges eventually become too much for some to bear. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 22 Veterans commit suicide every day and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40,000 people commit suicide every year in the U.S. alone.
  • Suicide Prevention Month graphic

    Suicide prevention month: stopping suicide is everyone’s battle

    September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time for Americans to build awareness and help understand suicide in our culture. More than 40,000 Americans lose their life due to suicide each year and research shows that rates in the military and the general population are very close. The loss of any one person to suicide is a tragedy, and that is why the Air Force is committed to the goal of zero suicides.
  • September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. This year, the Department of Defense is focusing its efforts on people connecting with one another to foster relationships and promote support for one another. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)

    Every Airman plays a role in suicide prevention

    The Air Force is determined to prevent suicide, but an Airman doesn’t need to be a specialist or doctor to do that. Sometimes all it takes is starting a conversation. Everyone has a role to play. That’s a key part of the Defense Department’s #BeThere campaign, which encourages making a difference through every day connections.
  • There are many options available to Airmen who are going through a rough time. Seek out a chaplain, a Military Family Life Consultant at the Airman and Family Readiness Center or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255. “Admitting to yourself that you need help is one of the most difficult but beneficial things you could do,” said Airman 1st Class Alexander, a 49th Medical mental health technician at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. “Remember that suicide doesn’t end the pain, it just passes it off to someone else.” (Last names are being withheld due to operational requirements. U.S. Air Force illustration by Senior Airman Aaron Montoya)

    Suicide prevention – hopes for the future

    To some, suicide prevention seems like a topic that is discussed without any definite solution. Every Airman sits through the annual briefings and trainings and hears the statistics that go along with them, yet suicide remains a problem within the DOD. Although there may never be a definite solution to end suicide, it is important that we all have an understanding of how to get through the hard times we face. Before I joined the Air Force, I was personally affected by the suicide of someone I knew. It left me feeling like it was a mystery that will never be solved.
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