Seeking help early;Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Published Sept. 22, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Cody Dowell
Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --

This month is a reminder to civilian and military members to be a wingman to their fellow Airmen, co-workers and family members.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, highlighting the significance of suicide prevention for the rest of the year .This month is a reminder to civilian and military members to be a wingman to their fellow Airmen, co-workers and family members. This is critical because all it takes is one person to save a life.

The 97th Medical Group stresses the importance of seeking help early. They invite everyone to step up and talk to those around them, letting them know that someone cares for them.

"This month is a reminder for our service members to seek help early, and to not wait until the situation gets worse," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Caleb Shepard, 97th Medical Operations Squadron mental health element chief. "No one should have to deal with personal issues alone. There are resources and professionals available to aid with nearly any difficulty our Airmen might be going through."

Seeking help early can be a hard step for a person to do, which is why, as members of the armed forces, it is critical to look after one another.

“Looking out for each other goes back into basic things that we learned things like active listening,” said LisaMarie Mariglia, 97th Air Mobility Wing violence prevention integrator. “All it takes is one person to have that connection to help another. Suicide affects enlisted and officers of all rank and ages in the Air Force, that is why we have to lookout for each other.”

On base there are plenty of resources available to the Airmen and civilian workers. This assists the members to deal with any stressors they are facing in their lives before they lead to larger problems.

“There are several agencies that Airmen can talk to in person if their life gets too stressful. For instance a chaplain, the medical group, green dot representatives, first sergeants, Military and Family Life Counselors and the Employee Assistance Program for civilians,” said Mariglia. “Also there is the Military and Family Crisis Line hotline available to help around the clock for civilians and military. All these resources are there for people to use to better themselves in the long-run.”
Approximately 93 percent of those who went to mental health did not have any long-lasting effects on their career after seeking help. Often the sooner someone seek help the easier it is to work on the problem and resolve it, said Shepard.

"We are trying to build a culture where there is no shame for getting help,” said Shepard. "A healthy culture where Airmen can feel supported by their leadership and peers when they're experiencing personal issues is the goal."

Asking for help isn’t limited to going to a medical or mental professional, anybody can aid a person going through troubling times.

“There is no special training required to talk to someone who is possibly suicidal,” said Shepard. “Being there for someone and being supportive is all you need to help them take a step in the right direction with a professional.”

If you or someone in you know has suicidal thoughts, do not be afraid to ask for help or talk to them. For professional assistance contact a chaplain, first sergeant, MFLAC, mental health clinic or call the Military and Family Crisis Line hotline at 1-800-273-8255 extension one.