Hill Air Force base in Utah has had 25 suicides of employees since 2006, and three have been added so far this year. Hill Air Force Base officials reported Monday that they hired a full-time psychologist in an attempt to figure out why it is happening. In 2010, two civilians on the base and one airman committed suicide. In 2009, eight people that work on the Hill Air Force base have committed suicide.
In 2007, a USA Today report listed the state of Utah as # 1 for having the highest suicide rates of all states. The suicide rate on the Hill Air Force base is even higher. And some family members say that the number of deaths may be higher because there are also a number of deaths that could not be proven intentional.
Since 2006, most of the suicides of employees who work at Hill Air Force base have occurred off the base. According to US Census numbers taken in 2000, almost 5,000 people worked on the base located in Clearfield, Utah approximately 25 miles north of Salt Lake City.
The Associated Press reported the main reason for the suicides on the base as the working conditions on the base. But base officials say that other factors like substance abuse and marital problems are also involved in every one of the suicides.
Donald Cleavenger, 39, hung himself in an aircraft hangar on the base on the last day of 2008 after receiving a poor review. The public became more aware of the suicides after his death. Family members of loved ones who committed suicide have come forward with information since that date.
Joni Berriochoa was another person who worked on the base and took her own life. She kept a journal which she labeled "Joni's Hell," and described in detail problems she had with her manager on the base. Including the fact that she had complained to other people on the base about her manager and no changes were made.
Hill Air Force base officials have stated that they are addressing the issue and attempting to find a solution that will hopefully work for all employees on the base.
Source: Associated Press, the Salt Lake Tribune and USA Today
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Comments
The one consideration that has yet to be brought to the forefront is the fact that all the suicdes were committed by people who had ongoing issues in thier personel lives. Some of These issues were; drug and/or alcohol abuse, relationship, financial, mental, time off abuse and I am sure the list goes on. Hill has a reputation for being a very hard place to get fired from, most of these people would have lost thier jobs some time ago outside the gate i.e Wal-Mart, Lifetime etc. Then the burden would have been with another employer and the statics would be in line and not out of the ordinary. I agree that the employer bears some responsibility to ensure it’s employees are taken care of, but at what point is it just too much?
Another reason Hill AFB is so hard to get fired from is the NEPITISM that goes on there,
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