EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Thirteen Airmen from the 354th Maintenance Group attended a suicide awareness training called safeTALK, held April 18 by the 354th Fighter Wing Chapel staff.
“This training is a guide to help connect people with thoughts of suicide to resources that can assist them,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Brian Anderson, the 354th Fighter Wing command chaplain.
The main goal of safeTALK is to train people to be alert for prospective signs of suicide in friends, families and fellow wingmen. The acronym stands for suicide alertness for everyone, tell, ask, listen and keep safe.
“SafeTALK is the equivalent of CPR,” said Anderson. “It’s learning how to use those basic live-saving steps until the first responders get there.”
Anderson explained avoiding the word “suicide” is not beneficial to a person who may be contemplating it.
“The best thing you can do is ask,” said Anderson. “Being straight forward and saying ‘Are you thinking about suicide’ is the best option. They either say ‘yes, I am,’ and you can get them help, or they say ‘no’ and give you a list of reasons why.”
The Airmen who signed up for the course learned phrases to use and signs to watch for that assist in identifing people with possible suicidal thoughts.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity to potentially help people in my flight,” said Airman 1st Class Nicholas Ramsey, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew apprentice. “It may put me in a position where I might do some good for a wingman one day.”
To schedule a safeTALK training for your unit, call the chapel at 377-2130.