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It's your call: Suicide Prevention Month

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Andrea Valencia
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Team Tyndall is making sure that awareness is at the forefront of everyone's mind.

Many members of Team Tyndall have been touched by suicide in some manner, and its impact is felt in families and communities on a broad scale.

"It's an uncomfortable topic, but you have to ask them the question: are you thinking of hurting yourself," said Chaplain (Maj.) Gabriel Rios, 325th Security Forces chaplain. "You have to be like CSI and notice how things are affecting people and if they've changed."

A person at risk for suicidal behavior will often exhibit warning signs, according to 325th Medical Group Mental Health:
· Threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself
· Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary
· Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
· No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
· Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
· Hopelessness
· Withdrawal from friends, family and society
· Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
· Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
· Dramatic mood changes

"We all have a wingman. A wingman is not a lateral person, in my opinion a wingman goes up and down and side to side," said Maj. Alexsa Billups, 325th MDG Mental Health flight commander. "I don't care what your rank is, if you wear a uniform or not, if you see someone who appears to be different than normal you should be asking questions."

There are many places on base for support along with the Chapel and Mental Health, including First Sergeants, commanders and Military and Family Life Consultants.

Mental Health is open Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Providers can be reached at (850) 283-7511. For after-hours emergencies dial 911 or (850) 283-2254.

The Chaplain team can be reached at (850) 283-2925 or (850) 283-2367. In case of emergencies after hours they can be reached via the Tyndall Command Post.

In the event of an emergency you can reach The Military Crisis Line, 24-hours-a-day, dial 1-800-273-8255 and press No. 1. The crisis line is also available by cell-phone by texting 838255 or through online chat at http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ActiveDuty.aspx.