Suicide prevention through intervention is goal Published April 7, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Moore 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- One of Keesler's strategies for suicide prevention is a program called safeTALK. "SafeTALK stands for Suicide Alertness For Everyone; Tell, Ask, Listen, and Keepsafe," said Chaplain (Capt.) Chaplain (Captain) Charles Seligman from the 81st Training Wing chapel community ministries branch. "You could say that it conveys the message that we need everyone, every wingman, to be alert to the invitations others convey who may be thinking about suicide." SafeTALK is a program that through scenarios builds awareness and improves prevention by stressing safety while challenging taboos that inhibit open talk about suicide. "In my opinion," the chaplain said, "every Airman is responsible for the detection of suicide's threat to life. We never know when the threat will confront us so we have to be vigilant against missing it, avoiding it or denying that it exists." Keesler has used this program for a couple years and Chaplain Seligman wants to expand on its potential. "Since implementing safeTALK at Keesler more than two years ago, we've mainly used it to teach students to be suicide alert helpers," Chaplain Seligman explained. "This has been great because as these students go out into the Air Force, they take with them these skills for suicide prevention, so I've seen my role with it as touching the whole Air Force. "SafeTALK empowers the student to not be afraid of suicide and to be able to help when the time comes that they are called upon," the chaplain continued. "It's worked time after time." Keesler now has six safeTALK trainers who can bring the program to units who wish to receive it. "The training only takes three hours to teach so we can take it to squadrons or flights on Wingman days or training days upon request," Chaplain Seligman remarked. "Right now we conduct the training every other week, but we would like to start conducting two trainings per week." The chaplain extended the invitation to all Keesler leadership to take advantage of this program. "We need everyone to develop the warrior ethos that 'I will never leave an Airman behind,'" he emphasized. "We can't afford to lose anyone to suicide. I'd love to receive phone calls from commanders and first sergeants who want to bring safeTALK to their units." For more information or to schedule training, call Chaplain Seligman, 377-2331.