JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Education, one of the hallmarks of the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program, will be the focus of Joint Base San Antonio's Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month activities in September.
Resource tables will be set up Wednesday at the
JBSA-Randolph Exchange and Sept. 11 at the Randolph Medical Clinic, a 5K Family Run is scheduled Sept. 14 at Eberle Park and a suicide awareness symposium is planned Sept. 19 at the chapel annex.
"Taking a month to educate the public is critically important," Jennifer Mitchell, 359th Medical Operations Squadron behavioral health consultant, said. "Education and advertisement help to enhance known protective factors, which buffer individuals from suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In this way, we are promoting resilience by providing information, providing easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support, and advertising effective clinical care for individuals seeking help."
The suicide awareness symposium will feature a presentation by Margy Agar, the mother of Army Sgt. Kimberly Agar, a 25-year-old active-duty Soldier who died by suicide in October 2011.
Agar, who is on a mission to help educate service members and the community on military suicides, has become an advocate for military families who have a service member who died by suicide.
"The guest speaker will have her personal story about her daughter and how she coped with it," Gina Ramirez, 359th MDOS psychology technician, said.
Suicide prevention is a top priority in the military, Ramirez said.
"It's a message Airmen hear at basic training, at the first-term Airman's course and throughout their careers," she said.
In 1996, the Air Force launched its suicide prevention program, which is built on 11 overlapping core elements stressing leadership and community involvement.
Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, called the program "an integrated network of policy and education that focuses on reducing suicide through the early identification and treatment of those at risk."
"Last year's suicide rate was the highest rate in the military since they started collecting data," Ramirez said. "This year's rate is down so far, but it's important to get the word out that services are available."
In addition to services provided at the Randolph Medical Clinic and the 359th MDOS Mental Health Flight, agencies such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the chaplain's office are available for assistance, she said.
The key to suicide prevention is awareness - to know the warning signs and not be afraid to ask questions and provide support, Mitchell said.
"All clinic staff are trained in this area," she said. "Warning signs include talking about, wanting to and threatening to hurt themselves, talking or writing about death or dying, increased substance use or abuse, lack of meaning or purpose in life, hopelessness, feeling trapped, social withdrawal, anger or rage, reckless activity and dramatic mood changes. We also strive to identify risk factors and enhance protective factors, so that we can address each individual's needs."
One of those protective factors is social support, Ramirez said.
She said the events planned in September will educate people by helping them "spot warning signs and know what to do to get their loved ones help."