Suicide: A preventable outcome

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Many people have been affected by a suicide in one form or another, whether it is the loss of a family member or a friend. The month of September has been designated as National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month in an effort to create cognizance for suicide prevention, and Team Dover is doing its part in observance.

Team Dover's suicide prevention and awareness outreach has been headed by the mental health clinic's 1st Lt. Cristina Benitez, 436th Medical Operations Squadron clinic social worker and family advocacy officer, and Airman 1st Class Samantha Gilbert, 436th MDOS mental health technician.

"Every 39 seconds, someone dies from suicide," Benitez said. "So every 40 or 41 seconds, someone is left to make sense of it."

Risk factors for suicide include: a history of mental illness, substance use/abuse, a history of impulsivity, legal issues, financial issues, major physical illness, easy access to lethal means, family history of suicide, hopelessness, loss of relationship and a lack of social support.

As part of the month-long observance, mental health will be handing out information and reading material at Dover AFB's main gate and at the fitness center. Also the film, the Surface, starring Sean Astin, will be shown on Sept. 10, 2015, at 4 p.m. at the base theater. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. These events are an effort to combat suicides and raise awareness.

"Suicide is a global epidemic," Benitez said. "It's in the top 10 leading causes of death for people under the age of 40."

Suicides hit the military particularly hard, due to the stress and lifestyle associated with a military life.

"It's the military lifestyle in general that puts you at a higher risk," said Benitez. "One in five suicides nationally has a military affiliation."

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, every day, 23 service members lose their lives to suicide (one active duty and 22 veterans). Veterans account for 20 percent of all suicides in the U.S., even though they only make up roughly seven percent of the U.S. population.

According to Gilbert, a great way to help a friend or family member who you feel may be showing suicidal tendencies is to remember the acronym, A.C.E.

"Unfortunately, the only way to help someone is to ask them the blunt questions," said Gilbert.

A stands for Ask your buddy. Have the courage to ask the question, but stay calm. Ask the question directly: Are you thinking of killing yourself?

C stands for Care for your buddy. Calmly control the situation; do not use force and be safe. Also, actively listen to show understanding and produce relief. Remove any means that could be used for self-injury.

E stands for Escort your buddy. Never leave your buddy alone. Escort your buddy to your chain of command, chaplain, first sergeant, a behavioral health professional or primary care provider.

Resources on base include: the mental health clinic, primary care, Chaplin services, first sergeant or commander and Military OneSource.

Gilbert also started a new Family Support Group. This group meets on the last Friday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at Chapel One on Dover AFB.

"It's for families to come out and learn about skills they might need," Gilbert said. "Last month we talked about communication skills."

If you wish to talk to the Dover AFB on-duty chaplain, one can be contacted 24/7 via the command post at (302) 677-4201, where you will be connected. The number for the Military Crisis Hotline is 1-(800)-273-8255 (press 1). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-(800)-273-TALK (8255).