There are many resources available to Airmen and Guardians, their families and friends pertaining to the subject of interpersonal and self-directed violence.
The purpose of the Veterans/Military Crisis Line is to connect service-members, their families, and their friends to a qualified Department of Defense responder in a time of crisis. The VCL/MCL can be reached by phone at 1-800-273-8255, by text at 838255, or via online chat.
The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is dedicated to domestic and Child abuse prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention and treatment. The Air Force provides a variety of services to Airmen, Guardians and their families to enhance their relationship skills and improve their quality of life. Federal-Benefits/Family-Advocacy-Programs-(FAP)
The Employee Assistance Program (AF EAP) provides information, support and advice to Department of the Air Force employees, APF and NAF, and their families for work-life challenges, legal and financial services, child and senior care management, as well as short-term, solution-focused, non-clinical counseling. Services are 24/7 and at no cost to the civilian or family member.. www.afpc.af.mil/eap
American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
AAS is a membership organization for all those involved in suicide prevention and intervention, or touched by suicide. AAS is a leader in the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services. https://www.suicidology.org/
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Clinician Survivor Task Force
Under the auspices of the American Association of Suicidology, the task force will provide consultation, support and education to psychotherapists and other mental health professionals to assist them in understanding and responding to their personal/professional loss resulting from the suicide death of a patient/client. http://mypage.iu.edu/~jmcintos/therapists_mainpg.htm
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. http://www.afsp.org/
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the world's largest psychiatric organization. It is a medical specialty society representing more than 33,000 psychiatric physicians from the United States and around the world. Its member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorders, including intellectual developmental disorders and substance use disorders. http://www.psychiatry.org/suicide
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA is the world's largest association of psychologists, with more than 137,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. www.apa.org/topics/suicide/index.aspx
Federal Civilian Employees - Office of Personnel Management
Office of Personnel Management website containing links and information for current, new and prospective civilian employees of all agencies. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/federal-employees/
Link Counseling Center's National Resource Center
The Link's NRC is a leading resource in the country for suicide prevention and aftercare. It is dedicated to reaching out to those whose lives have been impacted by suicide and connecting them to available resources. Families who have experienced a loss through suicide receive unparalleled support while they grieve. https://www.thelink.org/
Make the Connection
A public awareness campaign by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) that provides personal testimonials and resources to help Veterans discover ways to improve their lives. http://maketheconnection.net/conditions/suicide#
Mental Health America
Dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental and substance use conditions and achieving victory over mental illnesses and additions through advocacy, education, research and service. http://www.nmha.org/go/suicide
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml
SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Their mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. http://www.save.org
DoD/VA Suicide Outreach: DCoE Outreach Center (with Link to Chat)
Provides psychological health information and connects service members/families with resources. 1-866-966-1020
Military One Source
Free service provided by the DoD to service members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns including money management, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, relocation, deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of families with special-needs members.
They can also include more complex issues like relationships, stress, and grief. Services are available 24 hours a day -- by telephone and online. (Available 24/7) 1-800-342-9647 http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
Compassionate Friends
Provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family http://www.compassionatefriends.org/home.aspx
The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families
Provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. Provides support and training locally, nationally, and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief. http://www.dougy.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI, is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need. http://www.nami.org/
Parents of Suicide
A mailing list provides that provides a supportive environment for parents whose children have died of suicide. It is intended to provide a place where parents can discuss the lives and deaths of their children with other parents whose children have died by suicide. http://www.parentsofsuicide.com/parents.html
SiblingSurvivors.com
Share stories of surviving sibling suicide and continue supporting the need for open dialog and community amongst those affected by the loss of a sibling. http://www.siblingsurvivors.com
Suicide: Finding Hope
http://www.suicidefindinghope.com/home
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
TAPS provides immediate and long-term emotional help, hope, and healing to all who are grieving the death of a loved one in military service to America. TAPS meets its mission by providing peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, casework assistance, and connections to community-based care. http://www.taps.org/
Exceptional Family Member Program
The Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to support military family members with special needs. https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/EFMP/
Military life can be both rewarding and challenging, and everyone deals with life stressors. Fortunately, most Airmen deal effectively with life stressors the majority of the time.
For some people, however, challenges can seem overwhelming, which may even lead to thoughts of suicide. Risk Factors for suicide include anything that makes it more likely that a person will attempt to take his or her own life, such as:
These stressors may or may not be known to others. For this reason, it’s important to notice changes in those around you, and engage with anyone you are concerned about. Ask questions in order to understand what’s going on, and provide support. It’s also important to recognize Risk Factors in yourself as signs that you may need additional support.
Warning Signs for suicide are different than Risk Factors. They are more observable, and should be responded to immediately. A common theme for Warning Signs is change. This is why friends, relatives, and coworkers are critical in detecting early Warning Signs of distress.
Many people who are at risk for suicide show changes in their mood such as hopelessness, depression, or anxiety. Other emotional and behavioral changes include agitation, anger, or irritability.
Changes in daily activities, for example changes in appetite or sleep, can be Warning Signs. These can include eating or sleeping significantly more or less than usual. Unusual or sudden changes in behavior, isolation, withdrawal, a loss of interest in work, or change in work performance are also Warning Signs. Even a positive mood change can be a Warning Sign if someone has been down for a while. It’s important to ask about the reasons behind the change.
And, finally, one very important Warning Sign is talking or communicating about death or suicide. All Airmen should be alert to these behaviors in others and be prepared to intervene.
The behaviors listed below may be signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. One resource is the VETERANS/MILITARY CRISIS LINE, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the crisis line via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.
Medical services are available at your local VA Medical Center and can be accessed by contacting the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator (or Women Veterans Program Manager). Assessment and referral for sexual trauma counseling is available at all Vet Centers. Onsite counseling is available at selected Vet Centers across the country.
Check out these helpful Mobile Apps for your mental, physical and family health!
Military Crisis Line
DOD Safe Helpline
Employee Assistance
Military OneSource