Global News

Air Force units will stand down for one day this summer to draw attention to the male suicide crisis becoming increasingly prevalent among current and ex servicemen.

As of the end of July, 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. 

‘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.’