Suicide prevention a supervisory duty

Published May 5, 2014
By Senior Airman Mary O'Dell and Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- In the ongoing battle against suicide in the military, a program has been formulated to keep those in leadership from reinventing the wheel, by virtue of advising each other of when something positive emerges from what would otherwise be a negative or tragic event.

The Good Catches program, made up of organizations throughout Fairchild, has formed an action team and developed the project targeted at helping Airmen get the information needed to assist them in coping with suicidal ideations.

"The Good Catches program is intended to identify and share positive things that have come out of potentially negative events," said Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "It also aims to open up informal discussions between commanders and first sergeants so they are not re-learning lessons others have already faced."

This program was designed to have minimal impact and maximum results, and has already been incorporated in the wing Duty to Intervene program.

Members may be submitted to the program by commanders, but recommended by any Airmen that feel it is necessary.

"The world's problems are not solved by corporations or charities - they're solved by people," said Chief Master Sgt. Wendy Hansen, the 92nd ARW command chief. "And every time an individual finds a unique way to reach out or finds a new source for information so they know when to intervene, the rest of us can learn something. The intent of the Good Catches program is to share lessons learned."

According to Hansen, sharing "Good Catches" allows supervisors and fellow Airmen to learn different processes that are proven to help identify hard-to-recognize warning signs that may have gone unnoticed.

The program is formulated under the idea that the duty to intervene is every Airman's responsibility to help fellow service members in their time of need.

"I think the first question you should ask, as a supervisor, is: 'How well do I know my people?,'" said Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Simmet, 92nd ARW installation suicide prevention program manager. "Do you know them well enough to be able to tell if they are not 'acting normally' in a given situation? The most significant sign that there may be a serious issue going with one of your troops is a sudden and/or unusual change in behavior. Changes can range from slow and subtle, to immediate and drastic."

The program advocates getting to know your people beyond merely their rank and their professional relationship to the supervisor within the system hierarchy.

"Being a good supervisor is not easy," Simmet said. "It takes time and a commitment to do your best for your troops. I believe it means taking the time to sit down with each of your subordinates and really get to know them. Don't be afraid to ask some really difficult questions. Look them in the eye when you do-it is not easy to fabricate or lie about something when you are looking someone in the eyes. They really are the window to the soul."