This program is for active duty Air Force personnel.

The United States Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (AFSPP) is a military program that is designed to help prevent and reduce suicide rates for active duty Air Force members.

A public search identified two evaluations of the United States AFSPP.  Results from both studies revealed reductions in the suicide rate from pre- to post-intervention time points.  In addition to a drop in the suicide rate, one study revealed reductions in other problematic outcomes (e.g., family violence, homicide) across the 12-year study period (i.e., 1990 to 2002).  While these outcomes appear promising, the lack of rigor in study design (i.e., lack of a control group and use of longitudinal data) makes it difficult to determine the program's effectiveness.

This program is comprised of 11 components that focus on increasing social support, developing social skills, and creating cultural norms that support help-seeking in the prevention of suicides:

• Leadership Involvement - Actively support suicide prevention initiatives;
• Addressing Suicide Prevention through Professional Military Education - Provide suicide prevention training for Airmen that is targeted to a person's rank and level of responsibility;
• Guidelines for Commanders - Learn how and when to use mental health services and encourage others to seek help;
• Unit-based Preventive Services - Collaborate with professionals from helping agencies to provide services that increase access, promote help-seeking, and enhance understanding and trust with Airmen and families;
• Wingman Culture - Make responsible choices and practice healthy behaviors and encourage similar actions in others; encourage early help-seeking; recognize signs and symptoms of distress in self and others and take appropriate action;
• Investigative Interview Policy - After an investigative interview with any individual, the investigator transfers this person's care to their commander, first sergeant, or supervisor, who is responsible for further care, if needed;
• Post Suicide Response (Postvention) - Provide early support to coworkers, families, and friends;
• Community Action Board (CAB) and Community Action Team (CAT) - Assess individual, family, installation, and community issues that influence quality of life and force readiness;
• Limited Privilege Suicide Prevention Program - Enhance confidentiality for patients who are involved in legal action and who are at risk for suicide when they are seen by mental health providers;
• Commanders Consultation Assessment Tool - Use assessments, such as Support and Resilience Inventory and Unit Climate Assessment, to better understand areas of strength and vulnerability within the unit; and
• Suicide Event Tracking and Analysis - Enter data on all suicides and suicide attempts into the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report to help determine suicide trends and potential risk factors.

The United States AFSPP has been used in installations around the world.

The United States AFSPP requires that mental health professionals train First Sergeants, Commanders, and Traumatic Stress Response Teams around the world on the use of mental health services.  All training materials for this program can be found on the main program website listed as the second website in the Source section.

Considerations for implementing this program include understanding that the program components need to be integrated into the everyday base activities, recruiting facilitators and ensuring they are aware of all the Military policies and guidelines that must be followed, and gaining buy-in from participants as this program could broach sensitive topics.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing United States AFSPP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program is integrated into the day-to-day activities of active duty Air Force members, so implementation time is flexible and will vary.  Additional time for mental health evaluations, community education, development of plans based on the members' needs, and Military education courses will be necessary and will fluctuate widely.

The United States AFSPP prevention manual is free at http://dmna.ny.gov/r3sp/suicide/AFPAM44-160.pdf  Please contact the developer for additional cost information.

To move the United States AFSPP to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation of sufficient rigor should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Air Force Medical Service by mail HQ USAF/SG, 1780 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC, 20330-1780 or visit www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/Contact-Us/

www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/SuicidePrevention/ and www.sprc.org/resources-programs/united-states-air-force-suicide-prevention-program