AFI44-172 — Mental Health

AFI44-172 governs Air Force mental health services, including confidentiality, command communication, and assessment and treatment.

Search AFI44-172

  • Publication number: AFI44-172
  • Title: MENTAL HEALTH
  • Date: 2020-04-23

View AFI44-172 on armypubs.army.mil


AFI44-172 addresses mental health care operations, confidentiality, command notification, suicide prevention, and treatment for Air Force personnel and beneficiaries. It requires reporting of specified threats, assaults, maltreatment, diagnoses, and treatment-program participation, and establishes limits on disclosed information.

Topics covered

  • Mental health services
  • Confidentiality rules
  • Command notification
  • Sexual assault reporting
  • Suicide prevention
  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Duty-limiting conditions

Questions and answers

When must providers report suspected child abuse or neglect?

Providers must report suspected child abuse or neglect to military agencies and/or local child protective authorities. (paragraph 102-484)

What threats must mental health providers report?

Providers must report any threat to commit crimes or fraud. (paragraph 2)

When must providers report sexual assaults?

Providers are required to report all sexual assaults to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC). (paragraph 5)

When must a provider take steps to protect someone from harm?

Providers must take steps to protect individuals from harm when they have reason to believe there is a serious threat to the life or safety of the individual or others. (paragraph 3)

When does a serious risk to a military mission require notification?

The provider believes there is a serious risk of harm to a specific military operational mission. Such serious risk may include disorders that significantly impact impulsivity, insight, reliability, and judgment. (paragraph 3)

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