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U.S. Air Force civilian Matthew Palmisano, the director of Psychological Health with the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a portrait in Peoria, Ill., Dec. 18, 2020. In his role, Palmisano helps support the Air National Guard mental health mission statement to ensure, maintain and enhance mission readiness by promoting individual, family, and community resilience through readily accessible and exceptional psychological health services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lealan Buehrer)

What do you need to know to effectively raise awareness about suicide prevention?

Published July 28, 2021
By Mr. Matthew Palmisano
182nd Medical Group

PEORIA, Ill. --

•Daily connections can make a big impact on someone’s feeling of loneliness.

•No special training is needed to show genuine concern for someone in crisis.

•Suicide prevention is very much a leadership issue, which means leaders should create climates in which Service Members are encouraged to seek the help they need.

•When members of the military get behavioral health care, they are protected against discrimination by law.

•There are important signs of suicide risk that can be identified: Hopelessness, Anxiety, Self-destructive behavior (for example, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as talking about death)

Matthew Palmisano, MSW, LICSW, US ARMY CPT (Ret)
Director of Psychological Health
182d Medical Group (MDG)
2416 S. Falcon Blvd.
Peoria, IL 61607-5023
Comm: 309-633-5774 DSN: 724-5774
Mobile: 309-210-8390
Comm: Fax: (309)633-5304 DSN Fax: (309)724-5304