Deputy Head of RAF left suicide note on Twitter - Found Safe
Discussion
Hi all, bit of an odd one this as it's not being reported anywhere in UK media and hardly anywhere in the rest of the World, despite being acknowledged as true by the RAF.
On Friday the deputy head of the RAF left a "suicide" note on Twitter (since taken down but still findable for those who want to read it) and was thankfully found "safe" later on and transferred to Hospital. The current head of the RAF Sir Rich Knighton posted himself on Twitter -
"Earlier today Air Marshal Maddison tweeted, this caused great concern to his family and all those who know him. I can confirm that Rich is safe and is being looked after. Understandably we will not be offering any more details and ask for the privacy of the family to be respected"
Head of RAF Original Tweet - https://twitter.com/ChiefofAirStaff/status/1697667...
NBC affiliate story and letter text - https://news.snbc13.com/richard-maddison-raf-air-m...
RAF Facebook (same message as Twitter) - https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/posts/pfbid...
I'm ex-RAF and follow Knighton which is where I heard about this initially. I've since read the letter and can understand the very emotionless/practical tone taken, talking about planning this on & off for almost 30 years as if describing a shopping list or a military operation for example. Religion in general, but more specifically the Padres who are employed by the MOD, came in for a bit of stick which is the only time any emotion became apparent.
There's plenty of help available for those currently serving (or ex) and those kinds of thoughts can strike anyone at anytime irrespective of life style, ranks, position etc so, whilst I understand the request for privacy, I think the RAF itself should be far more vocal currently about the wide support available, especially at a time like this, rather than what could be seen as an attempt to sweep this under the rug with this wall of silence.
Since 1984 over 170 serving members of the RAF have committed suicide so if some good can come from this story to help prevent that number climbing I'm all for it. There's a whole heap of support that can be found within the MOD - https://www.raf.mod.uk/serving-families/health-wel... - or talk to anyone outside of the RAF if needs be but help is always, and will always be available!
On Friday the deputy head of the RAF left a "suicide" note on Twitter (since taken down but still findable for those who want to read it) and was thankfully found "safe" later on and transferred to Hospital. The current head of the RAF Sir Rich Knighton posted himself on Twitter -
"Earlier today Air Marshal Maddison tweeted, this caused great concern to his family and all those who know him. I can confirm that Rich is safe and is being looked after. Understandably we will not be offering any more details and ask for the privacy of the family to be respected"
Head of RAF Original Tweet - https://twitter.com/ChiefofAirStaff/status/1697667...
NBC affiliate story and letter text - https://news.snbc13.com/richard-maddison-raf-air-m...
RAF Facebook (same message as Twitter) - https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/posts/pfbid...
I'm ex-RAF and follow Knighton which is where I heard about this initially. I've since read the letter and can understand the very emotionless/practical tone taken, talking about planning this on & off for almost 30 years as if describing a shopping list or a military operation for example. Religion in general, but more specifically the Padres who are employed by the MOD, came in for a bit of stick which is the only time any emotion became apparent.
There's plenty of help available for those currently serving (or ex) and those kinds of thoughts can strike anyone at anytime irrespective of life style, ranks, position etc so, whilst I understand the request for privacy, I think the RAF itself should be far more vocal currently about the wide support available, especially at a time like this, rather than what could be seen as an attempt to sweep this under the rug with this wall of silence.
Since 1984 over 170 serving members of the RAF have committed suicide so if some good can come from this story to help prevent that number climbing I'm all for it. There's a whole heap of support that can be found within the MOD - https://www.raf.mod.uk/serving-families/health-wel... - or talk to anyone outside of the RAF if needs be but help is always, and will always be available!
Edited by IanH755 on Monday 4th September 18:34
IanH755 said:
Religion in general, but more specifically the Padres who are employed by the MOD, came in for a bit of stick which is the only time any emotion became apparent.
My experience of this: the Padre was the only man in the squadron from whom I was guaranteed to be told the truth & the only one I could be certain wouldn't blab things told in confidence. Based on this I think that they are entitled to a great deal of respect, despite my usual contempt for all things religious.IanH755 said:
Since 1984 over 170 serving members of the RAF have committed suicide so if some good can come from this story to help prevent that number climbing I'm all for it.
Genuine question, but how does that rate compare to the civilian world? Or even the army? Edited by IanH755 on Monday 4th September 18:34
Not to play it down, and I mean no offence, but 170 doesn’t sound a lot when you consider how many hundreds of thousands of people have served in the RAF since ‘84.
Oh cripes. Hopefully he's now getting the professional help he needs.
Seems the feelings have been with him for decades but have increased or come to the fore as he's aged and as his kids have grown up, despite his achievements and the status and rank he has gained in his role.
As well as the support he should get from those professionals it's evident he needs his family's support too.
Seems the feelings have been with him for decades but have increased or come to the fore as he's aged and as his kids have grown up, despite his achievements and the status and rank he has gained in his role.
As well as the support he should get from those professionals it's evident he needs his family's support too.
Crumpet said:
Genuine question, but how does that rate compare to the civilian world? Or even the army?
Not to play it down, and I mean no offence, but 170 doesn’t sound a lot when you consider how many hundreds of thousands of people have served in the RAF since ‘84.
The info came from a 2022 Freedom of Information request looking deaths in conflict vs suicide (see below), the percentage for suicide was lower than civvy street for men aged 18-55 over the same time time frame and about 25% higher than the Royal Navy (130-ish IIRC) but the Army weren't included in the figures so no idea there.Not to play it down, and I mean no offence, but 170 doesn’t sound a lot when you consider how many hundreds of thousands of people have served in the RAF since ‘84.
Here's the PDF for the request and answer - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
There's actually a GOV.UK webpage regarding the number of suicides in the UK Armed Forces, awful reading - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed...
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