Suicide is a uniquely human behavior that can be traced to the earliest recorded times. Perhaps the oldest known suicide note dates from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (1991 - 1786 B.C.). The earliest known suicide in America took place in November of 1620 aboard the Mayflower. While some of the Pilgrims were exploring the "New World," William Bradford's wife, Dorothy, took her life aboard the ship.

Because suicide was widely considered a shameful act, little in the way of systematic historical data on the subject was kept in this country prior to the present century. Available data does indicate, however, that suicide rates in this country have been fairly stable, at least during the present century. The overall suicide rate from 1900 to 1970 was 12.4 per hundred thousand people. Between 1970 and 1980 almost 300,000 people killed themselves in the United States, amounting to a conservative estimate of one suicide every 20 minutes.

The military is not exempt from the problem of suicide. As in the civilian community, suicide ranks third as a leading cause of death among active duty members (following fatal accidents and deaths from natural causes). A total of 723 active duty members took their lives between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1993, for an average of 66 suicides per year. This means that an active duty suicide occurs in the Air Force about once every 5 days.

A 19-year-old male E-2 had been married for 6 months when his wife left him, returning to live with her mother. She was extremely immature and dependent on her mother, who kept telling her the airman was no good. Two days after she left (at her mother's urging) he hanged himself, leaving a suicide note on the back of his wedding picture.

Suicide is a choice. Clearly, many had given the matter considerable thought before they opted for self-destruction. Perhaps they believed the decision to commit suicide was their best choice. Perhaps they saw it as their only choice. The best clues to this decision-making process come from analysis of the victim's behavior; what he or she had to say prior to the suicide, and the content of suicide notes. Understanding why people kill themselves is critically important because effective suicide prevention must try to influence the potential victim's decision-making process before he or she finally selects suicide.

Behavior is driven by purpose: people do things for a reason. There is no such thing as random behavior. Even so, people are not always consciously aware of why they behave the way they do. A great deal of human behavior has to do with "protecting" the individual from physical and psychological harm or stress. To do this, people have complex personalities which employ psychological defense mechanisms to protect their sense of well-being. This is not always easy, as the realities of life sometimes exert enormous pressure. Perhaps it helps to look at personality as a tool box and the psychological defense mechanisms as tools. Depending on the kind of "work" that needs to be done to protect the individual, he or she intuitively selects the best tools for the job and tries to fix what's broken. If some of the tools are missing or if the individual doesn't know how to use them, efficiency is diminished. Sometimes people use the right tools the wrong way; other times they use the wrong tools. Worse yet, sometimes they deny the fact that anything is broken and make no effort to fix what needs to be repaired. In some cases, the individual even breaks things that are working just fine. They do this for what seems to them to be very good reasons, although to the rest of us it looks crazy.

A 28-year-old male E-4 with a history of substance abuse (alcohol, marijuana, LSD) had a stormy relationship with his second wife. He disliked his job and was diagnosed as having a personality disorder. After a fight with his wife she left him. After she left, he shot himself in the heart with a shotgun.

A PREVIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPT: A significant number of people who commit suicide have made previous attempts.

VERBAL THREATS: Statements such as "You'd be better off without me" or " I wish I were dead" should always be taken seriously.

CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR: For example, normally active people may become withdrawn and isolated; cautious individuals may suddenly start taking unusual risks. Changes in sleep patterns and/or appetite. Gambling and/or spending sprees.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Alcohol and other drug abuse frequently appear to be factors in suicide attempts among young people.

UNUSUAL PURCHASES: If the person buys a weapon, rope, or any item that arouses suspicion, talk openly with him or her about it.

GIVING AWAY POSSESSIONS: Someone who has decided to commit suicide may give away personal possessions such as records or favorite articles of clothing.

SIGNS OF DEPRESSION: There may be changes in the person's eating and sleeping habits, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, feelings of helplessness and guilt, and loss of interest in usual activities.

THEMES OF DEATH: The person's thoughts of ending his or her life may be shown through artwork, poetry, essays, etc.

SUDDEN UNEXPECTED HAPPINESS: Sudden happiness after a prolonged period of depression may indicate that the person is profoundly relieved because he or she has finally made a decision to commit suicide.

SAYING "GOODBYE": Making "goodbye" telephone calls, paying off debts, changing life insurance policies, or changing a will.

CHANGE IN PERSONALITY: May be withdrawn, irritable, anxious, apathetic, preoccupied, sad, pessimistic, aggressive.

LOSS OF RELIGIOUS FAITH: Loss or change in religious faith or a sudden interest in religion.

RIGIDITY IN THINKING: All or nothing, inflexibility in perspective.

DECREASING JOB PERFORMANCE: High absenteeism, tardiness, poor appearance, poor personal hygiene, reluctance to accept responsibilities, neglecting responsibilities.

FREQUENT ILLNESSES: Visits to sick call, headaches, sweating, heartburn, stomach upsets, tight chest, trouble breathing, heart palpitation, tiredness, aching, weakness, dizziness.

ANGER CONTROL PROBLEMS: Child/spouse abuse, fights, domestic disturbances, insubordinations.

LEGAL INFRACTIONS: Indebtedness, shoplifting, traffic tickets.

OTHER SIGNS: These may include physical complaints, becoming accident prone, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, sexual promiscuity, attention-getting behaviors, decreasing academic performance, or prolonged grief after a loss.

A 32-year-old married (but separated) male E-5 was deeply in debt, hated his job, and was depressed because his wife left him after she discovered that he had been cheating on her. He told several of his co-workers he was going to kill himself as a result of which he was sent to Mental Health, where he was being treated for suicidal ideation. He bought a .38 pistol and a day later used it to shoot himself in the head.

Pay attention to your subordinates and match the demographic profile with the above risk factors. Let people know from the start you are a "people person" as well as a "mission person;" or have a good relationship with someone in your section/chain of command who is a "people person" to balance your mission orientation.

As long as going to Mental Health is viewed with suspicion by the chain of command, personnel will hesitate to seek assistance because of the fears that going to Mental Health will negatively impact their career. Many cases of suicide have occurred because a supervisor tried to "protect" someone from mental health. If people are going to be encouraged to seek out help, they need to know that they will not be penalized. After duty hours, a mental health professional is always on call and the Emergency Room or Command Post will make the contact.

If you suspect a potential suicide problem, take responsibility to intervene. Don't be afraid to ask someone if they're suicidal - it will not put ideas into his or her head.

When you intervene tell the individual your specific concerns ("I have noticed you really seem down lately and are more on edge than usual") ("I have noticed you are more withdrawn and there have been rumors about you drinking more and I'm concerned about you)" and try to balance a deep appreciation for the individual's feelings with confidence (in them, in your willingness to help them, in others ability to help them, that things can get better).

Finally, ask about suicidal ideation ("I'm concerned you might end up hurting yourself if you don't get help." "Have you thought of hurting yourself"). If the person answers "No" and you believe this, then just state your openness to talk or your support should they decide to contact Mental health, the chaplains, Family Advocacy, or other local resource. If they say "Yes" or give a sarcastic or defensive response, try and get more specifics such as "Do you plan to hurt yourself;" How would you hurt yourself; do you have the means available;" (Risk increases when the intensity of the suicidal thoughts are coupled with an available lethal means of dying and an increasingly immediate intent to die). And "When would you hurt yourself, do you have a time set when you're going to kill yourself." Your IMMEDIATE goals are to delay impulsive acts, slow them down, stall for time. Counter rationalizations that permit suicide, "Everyone would be better off without me." Assess the individual's support system and join that support system. Assess hopelessness and instill hope (but not superficially-"You'll get over this (or similar phrases)" are rarely helpful). Help the individual prioritize problems and identify first steps to their resolutions. Help them externalize any anger and validate feelings, but not the actions planned based on those feelings. Lastly, remove easily accessible means of self harm and if they are distraught have an escape route very close. Some "don'ts include trying to challenge or shock the person ("Go ahead and do it"); don't analyze the person's motives ("You just feel bad because..."); and don't argue or try to reason ("You can't kill yourself because..."). If you're unsure of what action to take, contact your supervisor, the commander, first sergeant or Mental Health.

Bottom line, NEVER KEEP SECRETS. You're not doing a subordinate any good if you ignore their behavior or try to protect them from the commander, first sergeant or Mental Health.

A 37-year-old single male E-5 was depressed because he had financial problems and was turned down on a request for a humanitarian reassignment to be closer to his sick father. He was on the weight program and had received an Article 15 for poor performance, as a result of which he lost a stripe. He told numerous people that if the Air Force took a stripe he would kill himself. He then contacted a local funeral home and asked about making advance preparations for this mother's funeral (although she was long since dead). After making the arrangements he wrote multiple suicide notes and then shot himself in the head with a pistol.

The following information was extracted from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations report on the 723 active duty suicides investigated between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1993.

AGE: The average age of Air Force suicide victims was 29; however, this average fluctuated by sex and grade. The lowest average age (26) was for women and the highest (35) was for officers. The average age of enlisted suicide victims (28) suggests that these victims were at or near the midpoint of their careers, which is corroborated by the fact that 62 percent of them were in grades E-4 though E-6. Young adults (25-34) face a number of unique developmental challenges that place them at risk for suicide. For example, they must establish intimacy and avoid isolation. Suicide risk is probably higher for single persons in this age range because failures in attachment increases one's feeling of isolation and loneliness. Young adults must also come to terms with important life choices: career, marriage, child-rearing and personal goals. Some of the common features found in the suicides of young adults in both the civilian population and the Air Force are marital and financial problems as well as problems at work.

RACE AND GENDER: Although an average of about 80 percent of the active duty force was white, 88 percent of all active duty suicides were committed by whites. Blacks, who comprised about 17 percent of the active force, only accounted for 10 percent of the active duty suicides. This is not surprising, as the black suicide rate in America has historically been about half that of whites, although it is increasing. Just as blacks account for a small proportion of all active duty suicides, females are likewise "under-represented." Males comprised an average of 87 percent of the enlisted force but accounted for 94 percent of the suicides. The rate for enlisted white males is significantly higher than for any other category, including the gross rate for the Air Force as a whole and the civilian suicide population. As a result, white males are the Air Force's high risk population. Historically, suicide attempts by females have been high while completed suicides have been low. This generalization is complicated by speculation that women are more likely to use less lethal methods and are therefore more likely to fail, whereas men are more likely to use highly lethal methods and succeed. Suicide by younger civilian women is typically preceded by familial loss (divorce, separation or abandonment) or disruption, or by the onset of psychiatric problems, and this appears to be equally true in the military. Of the 41 female suicide victims in this study, 14 (34 percent) were married and 27 (66 percent) were either single or divorced. Of the married female victims, 71 percent were experiencing marital problems at the time of their death; almost a quarter of them were separated from their husbands and the majority were deeply depressed at the time of their deaths.

MARITAL STATUS: Marital status by itself offers little insight into suicide, as neither gross figures nor percentages speak to the quality of an individual's relationship with a spouse or others with whom they are intimate. Just as a good marriage can be a source of strength and personal enrichment, a bad one can create intolerable stress. Much the same can be said about one's relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend. seventy-six percent of those who took their lives had experienced serious problems in their intimate relationships. Psychiatric literature has consistently reported a close relationship between interpersonal networks and suicidal behavior.

GRADE: One of the most important relationships an individual has with the military is that of rank. One's rank determines such things as income, status, power, and influences one's ability to adapt and succeed within the military community. A person's rank can also have a powerful influence on his or her self-perception and personal as well as professional expectations. People whose age, education, or experience are not in harmony with their rank may experience more stress than their contemporaries. In addition, the loss of rank or failure to progress in grade can produce considerable anxiety and stress. In the case of senior NCOs and officers, feelings of personal or professional disgrace can exceed the individual's coping mechanisms. During the 11 year period of the study, 642 (89 percent) of the active duty suicides were committed by enlisted members (with the most occurring between the grades of E-3 through E-5). Of the 81 remaining suicides, 80 were committed by commissioned officers (with the most occurring between the grades of 0-2 through 0-4) and one cadet at the Air Force Academy took his life.

HEALTH PROBLEMS: In 29 cases (4 percent) the individual's health problems were a major factor in the decision to commit suicide. Several victims were HIV positive and clearly feared the prospect of dying from AIDS. Others had medical problems that were much less severe (and not even life-threatening), but with which the victim either could not or would not cope.

MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS: Although it is widely believed that "you must be crazy to kill yourself," this assumption does not hold up on close examination of the Air Force cases. However, a word of caution is necessary: the "healthy worker" effect could mask the relationship in the Air Force suicides. Very few of the victims in this study (7, or about 1 percent) were psychotic and only 31 (4 percent) had a diagnosed personality disorder. Perhaps the most significant mental health issue in active duty suicides was depression. At least 384 (53 percent) of the victims gave clear indication they were depressed at the time of their death. Depression and other mental illness are genuine risk factors but should not be considered in isolation as it is often symptomatic of other problems in the individual�s life and may be closely related to his or her ability to cope with stress. Depression typically arises from other conditions, especially marital problems, financial difficulties, work-related problems, substance abuse and so on. Although identifying depression as a risk factor is important, it may be even more important to identify the basis and nature of the individual's depression.

While an individual experiencing these symptoms may not be suicidal, they are experiencing increased difficulty coping. These symptoms are indicators that an individual may need to seek assistance.

EMOTIONAL..............................BEHAVIORAL.................................PHYSICAL

Apathetic......................................Withdraws...........................................Preoccupied with:.......... The "blahs" ..................................Socially isolated ..................................Death........................... Avoids recreation...........................Avoids responsibility............................Sickness....................... Sad; depressed...............................Neglects duties....................................Health..........................

Shows Anxiety...............................Starts to "Act Out"...............................Frequent sickness......... Restless.........................................Alcohol abuse......................................Colds........................... Agitated.........................................Gambling............................................Minor ills..................... Insecure.........................................SpendingSpree....................................Aches.......................... Feels worthless...............................Sexual promiscuity...............................Pains

Acts irritable...................................Drawn to danger..................................Somatic cues............... Overly sensitive..............................Talks about suicide.............................. Headaches.................. Defensive.......................................Suicide gestures....................................Indigestion................. Arrogant.........................................Gives away possessions........................Nausea..................... Argumentative.................................Accident Prone....................................Vomiting................... Insubordinate..................................Indifferent to danger.............................Diarrhea.................... Hostile............................................Reckless..............................................Constipation

Mentally fatigued.............................Administrative Infractions......................Decline in libido......... reoccupied......................................Late for work........................................Loss of sex drive....... can't concentrate.............................Poor appearance................................... Impotence................ Inflexible........................................Poor hygiene..........................................Indifference

Slightly less than one quarter (23 percent) of the suicide victims in this study were under mental health care at the time of their death (or had recently been under mental health care). Many had been seen for suicidal ideation or even for suicide attempts (at least 13 percent of all active duty suicides had made a previous suicide attempt or gesture). Although the percentage of suicide victims who had been under mental health care seems high, it is actually low in light of the fact that at least 341 (47 percent) communicated their suicidal intentions to friends, family, or co-workers. In spite of clear indications of their intention to commit suicide, many of these victims neither sought out nor were they referred (or directed) to mental health. Not all people who are suicidal want mental health treatment, and not all of those who enter treatment cooperate with their mental health care providers. In some cases the mental health care system may have failed to properly diagnose the severity of the problem; in other cases, it simply could not reach the victim.

A study comparing individuals with and without suicidal ideation found those with suicidal ideation were more likely to posses several "irrational" or unrealistic and nonsensical beliefs than non-suicidal men and women. Those include: "I need to have the support and approval of everyone I know or care about." "I must be successful, achieving and thoroughly competent in every task undertaken and my worth as a person is based on successful accomplishments." "Things should not go wrong, and it is awful or terrible when they do." "If something bad or dangerous might happen I must worry and dwell upon its possibility." "Since I am a product of past history, there is little I can do to overcome its effects." "Emotional upset is caused by other people or events in the world, and I am not responsible for my own disturbance." Lastly, "It is much easier to avoid difficulties and responsibilities and I prefer to do enjoyable things first.

An especially important and potent warning sign is when a depressed person suddenly appears relaxed, at ease, or even happy. Suicide victims frequently feel a sense of happiness and freedom after making the decision to end their lives, and this "false freedom" is often misinterpreted by others as a sign the victim has solved his or her problems and is willing to live. This "calm before the storm" is reached after the person's inner struggle has ended and the decision to commit suicide has been reached.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: At least one third of the victims had been involved with either alcohol (22 percent) or drug abuse (10 percent); approximately 6 percent were abusers of both drugs and alcohol. Although substance abuse is a problem in its own right, it must also be understood as a symptom. For some people substance abuse may seem an effective means of coping with life's problems. For others, it is simply a means of escape. In reality, substance abuse only complicates the individual's problems by preventing a more mature and effective approach to life's stresses. In addition, it complicates life by adding the negative issues associated with substance abuse to the individual's other problems. Although substance abuse is a risk factor, it should not be viewed in isolation as a cause of suicide. Like depression, substance abuse is often visible to - but ignored by others. In many of these cases family, friends, and co-workers knew the individual had a problem with alcohol or drugs but did not seek care or treatment for the impaired individual. In other cases they failed to do so until it was too late. In some instances they helped the victim hide a substance abuse problems in a misguided attempt to protect the individual form his or her own problems; in other cases, their failure to act simply amounted to indifference.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS: Twenty-three percent of the suicide victims were in the throes of significant financial problems at the time of their death. In some cases the problem was caused by the victim's spouse, whose spending was beyond the control of the victim. In other cases, the problem was of the victim's own doing. Some of the victims' financial problems resulted from immaturity and impulsiveness while others appeared to be a form of acting out. Although financial problems do not appear to play a significant role in Air Force suicides, where they do occur they can be a clue to the individual's need for help. Alert supervisors often recognize financial problems as being a symptom of a broader pattern of ineffective coping behavior. As such, it has the potential of being another point of intervention that might collectively reduce the overall suicide rate with the Air Force.

LEGAL PROBLEMS: A small proportion of the victims in this study (114, or 16 percent) were involved in difficulties with law enforcement agencies or the courts at the time of their death. About half of them were under investigation by AFOSI for the suspected violation of a criminal act and about half were under investigation (or charges) by a civilian law enforcement agency. Being under investigation for a suspected criminal offense, especially if the crime involves moral turpitude, is extremely stressful. This is compounded by the fact that legal outcomes are difficult to anticipate, and many suspects expect the worst. Legal problems almost always entail career problems, as conviction in court (including civilian courts) are also cause for administrative action by the Air Force. Thus, military members facing serious legal problems must also worry about public disgrace and a very real threat to their careers.

DEATH RELATED ISSUES: About five percent of the active duty suicides involved a death-related issue, almost always involving the death of someone close to the victim. Interestingly, within families of suicides there are more records of previous deaths in the recent family history than in families that have not experienced a suicide; what has been referred to as a "trend toward death". If the victim experienced a premature (especially a traumatic) death of a loved one but has not properly mourned the loss, a pathological grief reaction may ensue. Pathological grief reaction is a clinical problem in which a survivor is unable to cope with the loss of a loved one and in its most extreme manifestation ultimately takes his or her own life.

WORK RELATED PROBLEMS: Not surprisingly, almost half the victims in this study (310, 43 percent) had work related problems. In some cases the victim brought his personal problems to work, and as a result added his job to his other problems. In other cases, the victim took work related problems home and added them to his or her non-work related problems. Of those who were married, more than a third had both serious marital and work related problems. This is a particularly dangerous combination as it leaves the victim with virtually no safe haven.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS: Slightly over 60 percent of the victims in this study were beset by multiple, serious problems at the time of their death. These people typically had marital, financial, substance abuse and work related problems of such a magnitude that they simply could not see a way out. There is little doubt that many of these victims were immature and their ineffective approach to life produced both failure and frustration. Each successive problem undoubtedly magnified the weight of other problems, ultimately making recovery seem remote and death desirable.

A 24-year-old female E-2 in the process of being discharged for self-admitted homosexuality expected an honorable discharge. However, she learned that she was going to receive a general discharge. Later that day she attended a party, where she became upset. She fled the party and walked down to a railroad track. When she saw a train coming she stood still, crossed her arms, and smiled. She was killed instantly when the train struck her.

Although the act of self-destruction may take only a few minutes to carry out, suicides normally involve a great deal more than the fatal event. Impulsive suicides are relatively rare. Most impulsive suicides occur during a moment of great stress that is preceded by a series of emotionally-laden problems. Typically, the victim first comes upon the idea of suicide as a hypothetical solution to his or her problems and gradually focuses on it as the only solution. As this process evolves, the victim comes to see life in increasingly narrow terms until his or her problems are seen as hopeless and suicide is viewed as the only way out. During this process the individual is likely to drop "suicidal hints," both verbal and behavioral. These hints are a way of "testing the water," enabling the person at risk to validate the concept by gauging the responses of those to whom the hints are directed.

COMMUNICATIONS BEFORE THE EVENT: Of the 723 victims in this study, at least 341 (47 percent) communicated their intention to kill themselves. In some cases these communications were clear. For example, one 19-year-old E-1 who had been having serious marital problems told his co-workers that he was so unhappy about his marriage problems that he was going to kill himself. They thought he was just "blowing off steam" and took no action. He subsequently shot himself in the head with a .44 caliber pistol. In another case, a 19-year-old E-2 who was an alcohol abuser was depressed over girlfriend and financial problems. He told a friend that he was going to retrieve his rifle from a pawn shop and kill himself, which he did the following day. In other cases the victim communicated suicidal intentions indirectly, often in the form of "good-bye" statements or by making comments that everyone would be better off if he or she were dead. Vague allusions to suicide are easy to dismiss because of their passive nature and because many people mistakenly believe that people who talk about suicide are less likely to actually do it.

ATTEMPTS AND GESTURES: AFOSI experience clearly indicates that as a group suicide "attempter" are analytically distinct from "completers." Most people who genuinely intend to kill themselves are apparently successful in doing so, and most people who make unsuccessful attempts or gestures apparently do not really wish to end their lives. Although there are exceptions in both categories, this generalization has held true in the Air Force for well over a decade. Actual suicides are nearly always characterized by a combination of high lethality in the method selected and a low probability of rescue. Suicide attempts and gestures are a form of communication that should be interpreted as a plea for help. Of the 723 people who took their lives, at least 94 (13 percent) had previously made a suicide attempt or gesture. These attempts often appear as part of a larger pattern that if ignored can escalate into successful self-destruction.

SUICIDE NOTES: Suicidal communications after the fact usually take the form of notes left at the death scene by the victim, but may also include audio or video recordings. Of the 723 suicides, 333 (46 percent) left a suicide note. Of those who left suicide notes, 183 (25 percent) also verbally communicated their suicidal intent prior to taking their lives. Interestingly, 228 victims (32 percent) neither communicated their intent nor left a note. Perhaps they felt they had nothing more to say or no one to say it to.

METHOD: Of the 723 suicides, 620 (86 percent) used one of three methods: firearms (418, 58 percent); hanging (117, 16 percent); or auto exhaust (85, 12 percent). The most common method of suicide in America is by firearm. This is true within the Air Force as well. Of the 418 victims who died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, 291 (40 percent) used a pistol; 54 (7 percent) used a rifle; and 73 (10 percent) used a shotgun. The seriousness of their intent is reflected by the fact that 83 percent of all self-inflicted gunshot wounds were to the head (16 percent were to the chest and only one percent were to the abdominal region).

PLACE: Suicides are usually private acts: less than one percent are witnessed. Perhaps the victim's sense of isolation and feeling of estrangement contributes to the desire for privacy; perhaps privacy is sought to reduce the likelihood of intervention by others. In any event, most suicide victims seek locations where they will be alone when they die. Likewise, most opt for a familiar place, whether it is their residence, automobile, or some outdoor location where they feel comfortable. Most of the active duty suicides (48 percent) occurred inside a residence (usually the victim's own) and most of the rest were evenly divided between the victim's automobile (18 percent) or outdoors (18 percent). Of the 723 active duty suicides, 198 (27 percent) took place on base. Members of the Air Force are seldom isolated from the civilian community. Many live off base and nearly all often interact in various ways with the larger community. Perhaps this is why such a large proportion of the active duty suicides take place off base.

TIME OF YEAR: The distribution of suicides by month has been remarkably consistent over time. There was an average of six suicides per month with no statistically significant differences among the months. Although there is a widespread belief that suicides increase during the Fall holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), no such relationship was noted in the Air Force, although there was a strong (but not statistically significant) upward trend in November.

DAY OF THE WEEK: The distribution of suicides by day of the week likewise shows a relative consistency over time. An average of 14 percent of the suicides occurred on any given day of the week. The only departure from this distribution was Monday, which accounts for 18 percent of the suicides; however, this deviation is not statistically significant. Monday may account for a larger proportion of suicides for another reason: many suicides that take place on the weekend are not discovered until Monday, when the victim fails to show up at work. Although 39 percent of the suicides occurred on the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), those 3 days also account for 43 percent of the week. Therefore, suicides are equally likely to occur on any given day of the week.

A 40-year-old 0-4 underwent a dramatic personality change 2 years prior to his suicide. Because of his abusive behavior and alcohol dependency his wife left him and filed for divorce. After being told by his lawyer that he could anticipate an unfavorable divorce settlement, he became depressed. He drove to an isolated woods where he asphyxiated himself with auto exhaust.

1. ABOUT SUICIDE 1979; Channing L. Bete Co., Inc. Available through the Family Support Center

2. ABOUT SUICIDE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE 1986; Channing L. Bete Co., Inc. Available through the Family Support Center

3. ACTIVE DUTY SUICIDES 1983-1993 August 1994; AFOSI Report written by Charles P. McDowell, Chief, Homicide Division

4. SUICIDE, PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FOR COMMANDERS AND FIRST SERGEANTS Written by Capt (Dr) Frank Bud, Clinical Psychologist and adapted for use in the 45SW

Mom and Dad,

I�m sorry about what happpend. I had to do it. The pressure was unreal. She kept threatening me. She refused to let me take XXXX to see you. XXXX means more to me than anything in this whole world. Even myself. Today is Fathers Day. It is 11:30 AM. I went to see the kids and she and her lover took them away for the day. This is my day! This was the last straw.

All I ask is one thing - That you take all my trophies and set them up around my casket. Also there is a briefcase in my room. Inside the briefcase is a manila envelope with all my accomplishments. Please place them out for all to see. I wasn�t a failure. Life dealt me a bad hand. Please don�t ever blame yourself for what happened. I love both of you. I am in Gods hands now. I will always be in your hearts. I will be looking down at you from heaven.

A 26-year-old male E-5 with financial problems was recently divorced from his wife, who had been having a sexual affair with one of his co-workers. He told a large number of people he was going to kill his wife�s lover but no one paid attention to him. He sought help from Mental Health and his first sergeant without success. His first sergeant told him he couldn�t deal with the infidelity issue because it had no impact on the duty section, even though the "other man" was also assigned to the same squadron. He confronted his wife and killed her by shooting her in the head, after which he took his own life.