Officials uphold commitment to suicide prevention solutions

by Amaani Lyle, Staff Sgt. David Salanitri

Source: U.S. Air Force
Published: Wednesday 27 March, 2013

3/27/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A panel of Defense Department and service officials told Congress March 21, their efforts to address military suicides will persist.

Representing the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Darrell D. Jones, the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, spoke to the actions the Air Force is taking to educate their Airmen on suicide prevention.

"Air Force leaders at all levels are committed to suicide prevention through our wingman culture," Jones said. He went on to say, "It belongs to commanders and leaders at all levels."

Jacqueline Garrick, the acting director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, told the House Armed Services Committee's military personnel subcommittee the service member suicide rate had increased from 10.3 to 18.3 per 100,000.

For 2010, Garrick said, the U.S. suicide rate for males, ages 17 to 60 - an age demographic that best matches the armed forces -- was 25.1 per 100,000, which rose from 21.8 per 100,000 in 2001.

DOD officials saw leveling in suicide rates for 2010 and 2011, Garrick told the House panel, but they expect an increase in the suicide rate for 2012 upon the completion of investigations and final determinations of manner of death.

Defense Department officials have closely tracked every suicide and attempt since 2008, she said, and trends indicate the majority were enlisted Caucasian males below age 29 who had a high school education.

In some cases, Jones said, relationship, legal or financial issues were present.
"Within the Air Force, we've not experienced a link between suicides and deployments," he said.

The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also created a suicide repository dating back to 1979, Garrick said, so DOD officials now can affirm military service for the CDC, enhancing its ability to track active duty, Guard and reserve service member deaths overseas.

Eliminating the stigma that some service members or families associate with seeking help remains a critical aspect of preventing suicide, Garrick said. DOD and VA officials are implementing a presidential executive order in part through a 12-month, help-seeking "Stand By Them" campaign to encourage service members, veterans and their families to reach the military crisis line by phone or online, she said.

Specific to the Air Force, the front-line supervisors of Airmen in at-risk career fields receive training focused on learning key skills to intervene effectively, Jones said. Also, Jones said "we are increasing our mental health staff by 335 people between now and fiscal year 2016."

In addition, improved access to quality of care with behavioral health providers embedded at the unit level will be among the Defense Department's top priorities, Garrick said.

And because some suicides and attempts are associated with prescriptions, Garrick said, DOD began a drug take-back study, allowing beneficiaries to return unused medications in compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency rules.

The Department also has developed a research plan and created teams to translate findings from studies into policies and practices, she added, partnering with nonprofit organizations, universities and others to assess practices and share lessons learned in family and peer support.

Garrick also noted the expansion of "Partners in Care," a chaplain program in which faith-based organizations provide support to Guard and reserve service members.
In addition to exploring therapeutic sentencing techniques for military justice proceedings in veterans' treatment courts, DOD officials have teamed with Action Alliance and VA on suicide prevention strategies to ensure crisis material is incorporated into pre-separation counseling and transition briefings.

During a time where Air Force leaders consider Airmen their most vital resource, Jones stressed the importance of each person.

"In a wingman culture, Airmen look out for their fellow Airmen," Jones said. "We need every Airman as we face the difficult challenges ahead."

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