Air Force units to stand down for one day to highlight male suicide crisis among servicemen after 78 airmen take their own life just in 2019 so far
- Air Force units will stand down for one day this summer to draw attention to the male suicide crisis becoming increasingly prevalent among servicemen
- As of the end of July, 78 Air Force personnel have taken their lives so far this year
- The Chief Master Sergeant said suicide is the biggest problem the service faces
- Wright called for a suicide-prevention program that works best for their wing, claiming current provisions are inadequate. ‘We trust commanders,’ he said
- If you or someone you know is at risk for suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
Air Force units will stand down for one day this summer to draw attention to the male suicide crisis among current and ex-servicemen.
At least 78 Air Force personnel have taken their lives so far this year – almost twice as many as the whole of 2018, representing an epidemic within the Armed Forces.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright told airmen this week he believes suicide is the biggest problem the service faces.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright told airmen this week he believes suicide is the biggest problem the service faces
‘Let’s take a moment and breathe and spend a little time on our airmen and their resiliency, and make sure we’re not missing anything when it comes to suicide and suicide awareness,’ Wright told Air Force Magazine.
‘I would never have predicted that a year later we would stand today at 78 suicides,’ Goldfein write. If we do nothing, we will end 2019 with upwards of 150+. Hopeful to hopeless… what is going on? It is our job to find out.’
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein penned a letter to commanders detailing his call to arms, while Wright filmed a video explaining the extent of the problem.
Suicide happens ‘sometimes with, and often without, warning,’ Goldfein wrote. ‘Make this tactical pause matter. Make it yours and make it personal.’
AIr Force officer buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Air Force units will stand down for one day this summer to address the rising problem of suicides
‘As we peel back the onion on many of these cases, on occasion, we see some common threads: Relationship problems, sometimes discipline issues, things of that nature,’ Wright said
Wright urged leaders to design a suicide-prevention program that works best for their wing, claiming current provisions are inadequate. ‘We trust commanders,’ he said
‘Taking care of our airmen and their families so they can take care of the mission is our most sacred duty as leaders,’ Goldfein said.
‘As we peel back the onion on many of these cases, on occasion, we see some common threads: Relationship problems, sometimes discipline issues, things of that nature,’ Wright said. ‘It’s really hard to kind of nail down the why—why there’s been such an increase.’
- If you or someone you know is at risk for suicide call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.