Awareness is key to suicide prevention

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A security forces Airman returned home after a year-long deployment to discover his family has left him without notes or contact information.

He started drinking after failing to get in contact with his wife or any of her family members. One of his co-workers noticed changes in his behavior and decided to check up on him. His co-worker found him trying to commit suicide, but intervened and saved his life.

"Things could have easily gone the other way," said Staff Sgt. Michael Buchanan, the 71st Mental Health Services Flight NCO in charge, who investigated this very case a few years ago. "The key to suicide prevention is awareness. If that Airman didn't see the signs and go to check on his friend, we would have one less Airman today."

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and throughout the month messaging and training involving suicide awareness will be taking place around Vance.

Between January and September this year more than 60 Airmen took their own lives.

Suicide victims are just normal people going through a catastrophic life event who lack the necessary coping skills, haven't learned healthy ones, or learned negative skills - like drinking, said Buchanan.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 90 percent of people who commit suicide have been diagnosed with a treatable mental illness.

"Be aware of behavioral changes amongst your co-workers and if you notice someone acting differently, make an effort to be check up on them," said Buchanan. "Most of the time people just need to know someone cares."

If someone indicates they are suicidal there are some actions Buchanan advises Airmen to take.

"If it's during duty hours, offer to take them over to see us or a chaplain" he said. "The fact you're willing to go with them will help make them feel cared about.

"If it's not during duty hours, you can take them to an emergency room, or call the police or your first sergeant," he said. "You also want to avoid traveling alone with someone who may be suicidal. They are sometimes dangerous."

Self-awareness is also an important piece of suicide prevention.

"Coping skills are either innate or learned behaviors," said Buchanan. "Some people are just born with the right skill set. Others have to learn skills though education, which we offer here."

The stigma of visiting mental health as a bad career move is mostly myth, he said.

"If you're just feeling stressed or overwhelmed you can visit us, and we will teach you some skills on how to cope," said Buchanan. "We keep those files for two months and send them on their way. Everything is confidential. "