D-M brings resiliency

Practicing resiliency isn't a program; it's a way of life. Resiliency by definition is an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. Every person should be resilient and D-M is making it easier for Airmen to find the resources available to help them work on it.

Vincent Howard, 355^th Fighter Wing Community Support Coordinator and a team of 18 members, worked together to build a resiliency room available to military members and their families.

The room contains massage chairs, pamphlets, books and movies all focused on resiliency.

"I could give people this card that lists resources," Howard said. "They will take it but they probably won't remember it. They will remember (the resiliency room) and hopefully draws them to ask questions."

Resiliency plays an important role in everyone's life, especially to help prevent suicide. September is Suicide Prevention Month and D-M is using this opportunity to help spread awareness.

"The Suicide Prevention Subcommittee of the (Integrated Delivery System) has chosen to use this time to reinforce leadership's message that seeking help is a strength and that wingmen are vital to the wellness of our force," said Capt. Amileah Davis, 355^th Medical Operations Squadron staff psychologist and Installation Suicide Prevention Program manager. "We chose this focus because the key factor in preventing suicide is resiliency: being able to take care of oneself during a difficult time, and being able to help a friend or loved one when they struggle."

According to Davis, D-M has not had a suicide in the past year and views this as a positive sign. D-M has many resources available to Airmen to help combat suicide including the Chapel, Airman and Family Readiness Center, and now the resiliency center.

Although these options are available when help is needed, Howard stressed that building resiliency now will help when you need it.

"Let's not wait till someone is suicidal to focus on suicide," Howard said. "When you're feeling good, you don't think you need it, but when life comes at you and says 'I got something for you, you may not like it but it's for you,' you have to be able to bounce back from that.

------ CALL TO ACTION: One of the most effective ways to promote the 24/7/365 approach to suicide prevention is for Airmen, their families or friends to step forward and share their own experiences of how they recognized they needed help and sought out support and resources. Perhaps your resilience was tested in some way; or someone close to you had their resilience challenged and you reached out to them. We want to hear your stories of resilience encouraging others to seek treatment and understand what resources are there to help. Please contact the Public Affairs office to coordinate sharing your story.