Suicide Prevention Questions Published July 2, 2015 By Senior Airman Sean D. Smith Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Air Force's stance on suicide prevention is aggressive, and there's no shortage of resources dedicated to helping people who need it. Mandatory training is held on a regular basis to ensure that all Airmen understand the topic of suicide, and where to go and what to do if they or someone else needs help. But what actually happens when someone self-identifies? If an Airman walks into their first sergeant's office and shares that they've considered hurting themselves, what happens next? An individual who has expressed suicidal inclinations will usually be escorted to the Mental Health office at the 5th Medical Group. One of the main policies when handling someone who has voiced those inclinations is not to leave them alone. "The rules at Mental Health are such that they will not leave for the day until they've seen that person," said Cindy Whitesell, Minot Air Force Base community support coordinator. "They're going to fit that person in as soon as possible and get them whatever assistance they need." That's straightforward enough, but does it help? The treatment and assistance that the Airman receives undoubtedly will, but it doesn't end there. The Airman's first sergeant and commander will also be contacted, which has led to concerns about seeking treatment having a detrimental effect on careers. However, self-identifying is actually one of the best protections against career damage, not to mention personal harm. It's generally much better to get help early and voluntarily than to be referred or mandated to it later, after something has already gone wrong. Suicide can be an uncomfortable subject. Because mental health counseling and assistance is often protected by patient confidentiality, it's not common to hear stories about people who have gotten help and managed to put suicidal thoughts behind them. It's not that there are no success stories, only that it isn't always easy for mental health professionals to talk about them except in general terms. "Suicides are being prevented," said Capt. Paul Cotton, 5th Medical Group Suicide Prevention Program manager. "Friends and supervisors often accompany Airmen at risk to the Mental Health Clinic. Mental health providers have many successful accounts of Airmen getting the help they need and returning to their normal way of living. It's obvious that the wingman concept along with the suicide prevention education is working." Proactive initiatives to help Airmen going through difficult times and to reduce perceptions of isolation do help, and the Air Force is always working to make these efforts more effective. Minot Air Force Base is collaborating with the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University to conduct a survey to collect data that will be used in the interests of gaining funding for even more anti-suicide initiatives. For some, suicide prevention training is something they tolerate rather than welcome, but for others it's more than a box to be checked, and can make all the difference.