Hanscom employee running marathon to raise suicide prevention awareness

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A Battle Management program manager assigned here will be raising awareness for suicide prevention in the military while running his first Boston Marathon on Monday.

Jeff Price, assigned to the Airspace Mission Planning Systems Division, will run alongside 13 others from a local suicide prevention organization he volunteers with.

"I first got involved with Samaritans Inc. shortly after I PCS'd [permanent change of station] from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base [Ohio] in 2014," said Price, who volunteers before work every Friday from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. "Given my schedule, once a week was all I was able to do -- but I wanted to do more."

Following the 2015 marathon, Price learned about the Samaritans' marathon team, which raises money to help support the organization's programs as well as generate awareness and educate the public about suicide prevention.

"I accepted this as another challenge, another way to help Samaritans, but also, as a way to give back to the military community," said Price, who has worked for the government since completing his master's degree from Wright State Univeristy in Dayton, Ohio, in 2010.

By fielding calls through the Samaritans' hotline, sometimes as many as 10 calls per shift, Price was inspired to increase awareness for preventing suicide, which affects currently serving members of the military as well as veterans.

"Each year far too many people from all walks of life choose to take their life," he said. "The Air Force or the military is not immune to this."

According to Maj. Matt Willerick, 66th Medical Squadron Mental Health Flight commander, Air Force statistics show that in 2015 there were 62 confirmed suicides among active-duty Airmen, 10 confirmed in the Reserves, 21 in the Air National Guard and 14 confirmed civilian Airmen suicides.

Price said he will find strength to overcome the challenges of running in his first marathon by remembering each of those military and civilian Airmen and the many others in the military who took their own life.

"It's important for people to know that suicide is not the way to go," he said. "Far too many people have felt they had no other choice than suicide."

He said often one person can make a difference and this is what motivates him to run and continue to serve as a volunteer.

"Samaritans, like other suicide prevention resources, provides crisis services 24 hours a day, seven days a week for those feeling isolated, desperate or uncertain," he said. "People need to know that suicide is preventable."

Price, who hopes to raise $11,000, said we can all make a difference by helping our Wingmen understand they are not alone and positive support is available.

Service members and veterans who are in need of help are encouraged to call the Military Crisis Line and speak to a counselor by dialing 800-273-TALK (8255) and pressing 1 or visiting http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Additional resources can be found for both military and Defense Department civilians at http://www.af.mil/SuicidePrevention.aspx. Other resources are available to support military members and veterans in crisis by visiting www.Veteranscrisisline.net or the Defense Suicide Prevention Office at http://www.dspo.mil/.