The article discusses the mental health crisis in the US Air Force, specifically among maintenance personnel. It highlights the struggles they face due to a toxic culture of retaliation and bullying for speaking up about their mental health issues. The article also touches on the planned consolidation of maintenance specialties, which could lead to another rise in suicides.
Some key points from the article include:
* A quarter-century of internal maintainer discussion, GAO reports, scientific studies, and death data shows that this mental health and preventable death crisis has been tracked by multiple government entities.
* More than half of the maintainers interviewed for this article experienced suicidal thoughts while in service. Several were hospitalized for psychiatric care, and one former maintainer survived a suicide attempt.
* The Trump administration's effort to shame military leaders over combat readiness and so-called "softness" within the ranks stands in sharp contrast to the reality many service members experience.
* A Pentagon spokesperson did not provide an explanation of why the Air Force violated the law and withheld the data from the public, despite repeated requests from The Intercept.
The article concludes by calling on readers to support The Intercept's independent journalism and its commitment to covering stories that are important but often ignored. It also provides a hotline for those experiencing suicidal thoughts or for those close to them, as well as contact information for the Military and Veterans Crisis Line.
Some key points from the article include:
* A quarter-century of internal maintainer discussion, GAO reports, scientific studies, and death data shows that this mental health and preventable death crisis has been tracked by multiple government entities.
* More than half of the maintainers interviewed for this article experienced suicidal thoughts while in service. Several were hospitalized for psychiatric care, and one former maintainer survived a suicide attempt.
* The Trump administration's effort to shame military leaders over combat readiness and so-called "softness" within the ranks stands in sharp contrast to the reality many service members experience.
* A Pentagon spokesperson did not provide an explanation of why the Air Force violated the law and withheld the data from the public, despite repeated requests from The Intercept.
The article concludes by calling on readers to support The Intercept's independent journalism and its commitment to covering stories that are important but often ignored. It also provides a hotline for those experiencing suicidal thoughts or for those close to them, as well as contact information for the Military and Veterans Crisis Line.
This is so not cool 
! The mental health crisis in the US Air Force is a total disaster 
! Maintenance personnel are being bullied and retaliated against just for speaking up about their feelings 
? That's so not okay 
. And to think they're struggling with suicidal thoughts while trying to do their jobs 
. It's like, come on guys 
! We need to support our troops and listen to them without judgment 
.
️, especially The Intercept 
for shedding light on this important issue 
. And I love that they're providing resources for people in crisis 
. If you or someone you know is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out 
.
! We need more awareness about mental health and less shame around it 
. Let's get behind our troops and support them every step of the way 
Can't believe it's come to this... another generation of service members suffering in silence because of a toxic culture that frowns upon vulnerability 
. It's time for us to take a stand and demand change 
. We need to prioritize mental health, provide real solutions, and stop stigmatizing those who are struggling 
. Can we do better? 
. I mean, think about it - they're supposed to be fighting for our freedom, but can't even get their own a**es sorted out? It's like, come on guys! You try being in that situation where you feel like nobody cares or is listening, and see how long it takes you to snap 
. I'm not buying the whole "shaming military leaders" narrative either - what about shaming the system for failing to support these people? 
. We need to get better at supporting each other, not tearing each other down 
. I mean, who wants to speak up about their mental health issues when you know it's going to get met with ridicule or worse? It's like we're teaching our service members to suffer in silence and not prioritize their own well-being.
. More people are going to be pushed into situations where they have to deal with the pressure of maintaining equipment, without any support or resources to help them cope. It's like we're setting up a recipe for disaster.
. We need to provide our service members with the support and resources they need to thrive, not just survive. And we need to hold our government accountable for its actions - or lack thereof.
I'm reading this article and it's literally breaking my heart 
Can you believe it? It's not just a crisis, it's a pattern of neglect and disregard for human life. And don't even get me started on the Trump admin's efforts to shame military leaders over "softness" - what about taking care of our troops' mental health instead?! 
. We need independent journalism like The Intercept covering these important stories, and we need to support them in their efforts! 
, where these chefs were frantically trying to whip up some gourmet meal within like 5 minutes, and it was hilarious! I mean, have you ever tried making a soufflé in under 10 minutes? 
It's like, impossible. And the judges were being super harsh too, just because they wanted someone to lose so badly. Anyway, it got me thinking, what if we applied that same pressure on our mental health? Like, can't we have a safe space to talk about our issues without being shamed or bullied?