1. Life at the Intersection— LGBT Airmen and Suicide Prevention
DoD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference
DAVID M. SCHONBERG, LMSW
Strategic Integration
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
(703)

2. Disclosures
Mr. David Schonberg has no financial or nonfinancial interest to disclose.

3. Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
Describe a surveillance gap in the data that hinders suicide risk assessment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Airmen
Name two suicide prevention protective factors the Air Force is structured to uphold, benefiting LGBT Airmen

4. Overview ANG Documentary, I am an American Airman—David Schonberg
Scope and Risk—Data Surveillance and Gaps
The Power of Policy—Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Suicide Prevention Protective Factors in the Air Force
Deborah Lee James, M. A. (2015, March 4). Air Force Diversity and Inclusion.
USAF Medical Service. (2013). Appendices Air Force Guide For Suicide Risk Assessment, Management, and Treatment. Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behaviors,
*Defense of Marriage Act is an additional policy change impacting our culture.
“Fostering inclusion ensures an environment that capitalizes on the strengths of every individual and removes any artificial barriers to an Airman's opportunity to achieve his or her maximum potential.” SecAF James, CSAF Welsh, and CMSAF Cody, 2015

5. I am an American Airman—David Schonberg
Released in Nov 2015, the ANG debuted an 18-min documentary about a gay Airman to promote inclusion and understanding of LGB Airmen
The experience of Schonberg highlights just one story
The ANG made a significant step in communicating the welcome, the contribution, and value for its LGB Airmen
(2012). Retrieved March 9, 2015, from After Repeal: LGBT Service Members and Veterans The Facts; Service Women’s Action Network:
Diversity. (2012). Air Force Instruction
Equal Opportunity. (2012). Air Force Policy Directive
Human Resources Advisor Program. (2011). Air National Guard Instruction
Equal Opportunity Program Military And Civilian. (2011). Air Force Instruction
Air National Guard Military Equal Opportunity Program. (2003). Air National Guard Instruction 36-7.

6. Scope and Risk— Data Surveillance and Gaps
There are an estimated 3,500 LGB Airmen serving in the ANG (Gates, 2010)
Note: Transgender Airmen were not officially permitted to serve until June 30, 2016
LGBT persons experience increased risk for suicide—stigma, prejudice, discrimination (Meyer, 2003)
Research supported by Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behaviors, 2013
Gates, G. (2010). Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Men and Women in the US Military: Updated Estimates. The Williams Institute.
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, And Mental Health In Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues And Research Evidence. Psychol Bull, 129,
USAF Medical Service. (2013). Appendices Air Force Guide For Suicide Risk Assessment, Management, and Treatment. Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behaviors,
Carter Announces Policy for Transgender Service Members, 30 June 2016

7. Scope and Risk— Data Surveillance and Gaps
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention found staggering differences between straight and LGBT persons when looking at percentages of those who attempt suicide (NSSP, 2012)
Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average (The Trevor Project, 2012)
NSSP. (2012). National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention:
Project, T. T. (n.d.). The Leading National Organization Providing Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Young People Ages Retrieved March 9, 2014, from

8. Scope and Risk— Data Surveillance and Gaps
Gap in Surveillance Remains
Despite the insights into the total number of LGBT Airmen, the ability to assess the prevalence of suicide-related events in this community is severely restricted
Neither military- nor civilian-based data systems thoroughly capture individuals’ sexual orientation or gender identity
Currently, sexual orientation or gender identity post-suicide is frequently unconfirmed
Advances in LGBT suicide prevention will be enabled as universal methods are developed to disclose sexual orientation and gender identity
NSSP. (2012). National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention:
Project, T. T. (n.d.). The Leading National Organization Providing Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Young People Ages Retrieved March 9, 2014, from

9. The Power of Policy— Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Sept. 20, 2011—With a pen stroke, 17 years of isolating, discriminatory policy were reversed
The experience of living post-Repeal is being worked out one day at a time, one Airman at a time, one new policy at a time
June 9, 2015—DoD updates its Equal Opportunity program to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation
“Removing a barrier is not the same as receiving an invitation.”
“For 17 years, the law prohibited qualified gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the armed forces and sent a message that discrimination was acceptable.” --HRC
“Removing a barrier is not the same as receiving an invitation.” –Schonberg, 24 April 2017
Air Force Diversity. (2015). Retrieved March 9, 2015, from
The Air Force broadly defines diversity as a composite of individual characteristics, experiences, and abilities consistent with the Air Force Core Values and the Air Force Mission. Air Force diversity includes but is not limited to: personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity, and gender. (

10. Protective Factors in the Air Force
Suicide Prevention
Protective Factors in the Air Force
The U.S. Air Force is built on core values
Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence In All We Do
Professional Military Education infuses personal and professional development to all Airmen
Airman Comprehensive Assessment
Annual Appraisals
Affirms two key protective factors
Sense of Meaning
Sense of Belonging
Sense of Belonging (vs. Thwarted Belongingness)
Sense of Meaning (vs. Perceived Burdensomeness)
NSSP (2012)

11. Summary ANG Documentary, I am an American Airman—David Schonberg
Who is my Wingman—Data Surveillance and Gaps
The Power of Policy—Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Suicide Prevention Protective Factors in the Air Force
Deborah Lee James, M. A. (2015, March 4). Air Force Diversity and Inclusion.
USAF Medical Service. (2013). Appendices Air Force Guide For Suicide Risk Assessment, Management, and Treatment. Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behaviors,
*Defense of Marriage Act is an additional policy change impacting our culture.
“Fostering inclusion ensures an environment that capitalizes on the strengths of every individual and removes any artificial barriers to an Airman's opportunity to achieve his or her maximum potential.” SecAF James, CSAF Welsh, and CMSAF Cody, 2015

12. References
(2012). Retrieved March 9, 2015, from After Repeal: LGBT Service Members and Veterans The Facts; Service Women’s Action Network:
Air Force Diversity. (2015). Retrieved March 9, 2015, from
Air National Guard Military Equal Opportunity Program. (2003). Air National Guard Instruction 36-7.
Deborah Lee James, M. A. (2015, March 4). Air Force Diversity and Inclusion.
Diversity. (2012). Air Force Instruction
Equal Opportunity. (2012). Air Force Policy Directive
Equal Opportunity Program Military And Civilian. (2011). Air Force Instruction
Gates, G. (2010). Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Men and Women in the US Military: Updated Estimates. The Williams Institute
Human Resources Advisor Program. (2011). Air National Guard Instruction
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, And Mental Health In Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues And Research Evidence. Psychol Bull, 129,
NSSP. (2012). National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved March 9, 2014, from Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention:
Project, T. T. (n.d.). The Leading National Organization Providing Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Young People Ages Retrieved March 9, 2014, from
USAF Medical Service. (2013). Appendices Air Force Guide For Suicide Risk Assessment, Management, and Treatment. Air Force Guide for Managing Suicidal Behaviors,

13. Questions?