Training to prevent tragedy

Flyers are on display during the Suicide Explained & Suicide Intervention training inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 17, 2021. With suicide being the leading cause of death in the Air Force, the presentation focus was to provide skill based training in primary prevention for personnel at Keesler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Training to prevent tragedy

U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Col.) David Carr, 81st Training Wing chaplain, attends the Suicide Explained & Suicide Intervention training inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 17, 2021. With suicide being the leading cause of death in the Air Force, the presentation focus was to provide skill based training in primary prevention for personnel at Keesler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Training to prevent tragedy

Amy Morgan, Academy Hour founder and CEO, delivers remarks during the Suicide Explained & Suicide Intervention training inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 17, 2021. With suicide being the leading cause of death in the Air Force, the presentation focus was to provide skill based training in primary prevention for personnel at Keesler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Training to prevent tragedy

Published Sept. 20, 2021
By Airman 1st Class Jasmine Galloway
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.-- The suicide rate among active-duty and veterans has outpaced the rising rates of the general population in recent years, which is a challenge Suicide Prevention Awareness Month combats through encouraging education regarding resources and available support, as well as how to notice signs commonly seen in individuals considering suicide.

Liz Waters, 81st TRW community support coordinator, assists the violence prevention office in providing resources to military personnel and their families, as well as collecting data for analysis to see where the violence is occurring and prevent it from happening in the future. Waters also has the role of delivering annual suicide prevention training for wing personnel.

“I’m looking at how we can build more resilience on the installation,” said Waters. “We have to be able to connect with each other, which is a key aspect of the annual training, we have to feel comfortable asking an individual ‘Are you okay, how are things going?’”

The violence prevention office hosted its annual training, “Suicide: Explained and Intervention” at the Bay Breeze Event Center on Sept. 17, where guest speaker Amy Morgan, Founder and CEO of Academy Hour, spoke about suicide prevention. CEO of Academy Hour has been offering online since Jan. 1 of this year.

Morgan said she enjoys assisting first responders through challenges with the intent of supporting their mental health.

“I’m hoping to present information that will help strengthen your mental immunity, help you get through those hard phases, or help you help someone else,” said Morgan.