Air Force Academy serving to businesses ‘Connect to Protect’ for the duration of Suicide Prevention Thirty day period > United States Air Drive Academy > News Screen
U.S. AIR Force ACADEMY, Colo. — September is Suicide Avoidance Month across the Protection Section, with each individual provider department working to increase awareness about suicide and violence avoidance.
The Air Force Academy is no various.
“This unique thirty day period makes it possible for the Academy community to rally close to the situation and develop much better link from a community standpoint,” stated Dr. Ken Robinson, a violence prevention integrator at the faculty.
The DOD slogan for the month is “Connect to Defend,” meant to emphasize healthy connections to spouse and children, pals and communities.
According to the DOD’s 2020 Suicide Avoidance Thirty day period Campaign Arranging Manual released in July, exploration signifies that connectedness can lessen the likelihood that someone will take into consideration or attempt suicide.
“Having social connections you can count on and a sense you belong can be a protective issue against suicide, while loneliness and experience like a load can maximize the danger of suicide for some men and women,” the manual experiences.
Robinson mentioned the Air Drive and the Academy have come to a greater understanding of the relevance of nutritious relationships.
“Relational disconnection can be a sizeable factor for suicide risk and other varieties of interpersonal violence but protected connections tend to be a potent protecting aspect,” he said.
As the Academy’s violence prevention integrators, Robinson and Megan Lee oversee the school’s violence avoidance software and join cadets and assistance members to the base’s aid organizations, such as the Peak Efficiency Centre and chaplains at the foundation.
“Our software offers programming and consultation to senior leaders and supporting agency directors who mix their endeavours to avoid sexual assault, family members violence and place of work violence,” Robinson claimed.
Victim advocacy is offered 24 hrs a working day, 7 times a week by contacting 719-333-7272. Advocates reply to phone calls on and off base.
Take a look at https://www.usafa.edu/cadet-everyday living/cadet-assistance-companies/sexual-assault-response for a lot more info.
Peak Performance Centre

The Peak Functionality Center is an accredited higher education counseling heart staffed by behavior wellbeing specialists who provide specific therapy for small-time period issues.
“We truly treatment about the individual carrying the uniform,” said Maj. Robin Morris, a PPC certified social worker.
Morris explained investigation from the operational Air Drive indicates that a high percentage of individuals who voluntarily search for assistance keep their occupations “the wide majority of the time.”
The PPC is the only middle of its type in the Air Power and trains cadets to aid other cadets to grow to be “PEERS” — personal ethics and instruction representatives. Every single of the 40 cadet squadrons at the Academy has a PEER providing guidance and referral solutions to classmates with developmental and behavioral worries.
“We honor survivors, advocate for those who experience and appear alongside one another as a community,” Morris reported. “Mental health and fitness treatment companies at the Academy do this all year extended but [Suicide Prevention Month] makes it possible for us to highlight this vital concern as an establishment.”
Counseling services at the middle incorporate tension administration, time management competencies or adjustment concerns, self-esteem, picture and id development, abuse and sexual assault, conquering fears and phobias, and stress and anxiety and melancholy.
Connect with 333-2107 or pay a visit to www.usafa.edu/cadet-existence/cadet-assistance-solutions/counseling-and-advising to study additional about the PPC.
Chapel Expert services

Chaplains at the Cadet Chapel and the Local community Middle Chapel deliver spiritual and spiritual counseling and assistance with problems ranging from worry and military services lifestyle transitions to grief and reduction.
Capt. Justin Thomas, cadet group 1 chaplain, claimed chaplains present individual, ethical and religious treatment and deal with any information and facts shared with “100 % confidentiality,” he explained.
“One matter we really benefit is making associations and local community,” he mentioned. “[Chaplains are] embedded in each individual part of the Academy. We enjoy to be there and guidance our local community in its lowest times and rejoice with them in their greatest moments.”
Thomas claimed chaplains supply “100-% confidentiality and while they don’t deliver very long-time period treatment, they do website link these they counsel with the Academy’s other helping companies, including the PPC and Sexual Assault Prevention and Reaction Workplace.
“We want individuals to know they are safe and sound,” he stated. “We want them to know that when they come see us, they have obtained a new most effective friend.”
For all this, Robinson claimed it is nonetheless important to set a month to emphasize the providers offered.
“This concentrated target on awareness and avoidance will allow us to instill hope and produce momentum for the other 11 months of the 12 months,” he explained.
Check out www.usafa.edu/cadet-life/cadet-help-services/counseling-and-advising to study additional. Cadets and college can join with a counselor by calling 333-2636.
To join with a counselor at the Neighborhood Middle Chapel, connect with 333-3300.
Strategies to Acquire Part in Suicide Prevention Month

You can obtain this year’s Suicide Avoidance Month Campaign Preparing Guide at https://www.dspo.mil/Portals/113/Documents/SPM2020/DOD%20SPM%202020%20Guide.pdf?ver=2020-07-24-100139-717.
Here are 10 techniques any individual at the Academy can just take component in Suicide Avoidance Thirty day period:
— Download and display screen the 2020 Suicide Avoidance Thirty day period poster.
— Obtain and use the Suicide Prevention Month 2020 logo banner for display screen on your web site and social media.
— Acquire the Suicide Avoidance Thirty day period #ConnectToProtect pledge and really encourage your mates and family to do the similar.
— Host a contest for men and women in your neighborhood to see who receives the most #ConnectToProtect pledges.
— Be social. Use #ConnectToProtect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to advertise Suicide Prevention thirty day period to your local community.
— Choose a selfie. Use the #ConnectToProtect selfie indicator to explain to many others how you are connecting to protect with buddies or household. Choose a selfie with the template and publish it to social media making use of #BeThere and #ConnecttoProtect.
— Dress in yellow on World Suicide Prevention Working day, Sept. 10, to raise recognition about suicide prevention and motivate others to do the similar. Use social media to distribute the entire world.
— Share outreach materials at resource fairs, electronically and at local community activities.
— Create and share community company announcements with social media and other channels to motivate your local community to #ConnectToProtect.
— Arrange a source truthful in your local community that’s live or virtual. Invite organizations that share the exact same mission and distribute Suicide Prevention Thirty day period content to attendees.
