Suicide Prevention Talking Points Talking Point 3: Resiliency, Overall Wellbeing- the Key to Readiness Overview/Purpose: The Suicide Prevention talking points are designed to supplement Suicide Prevention Annual Training (Green Dot/Bystander Intervention Training). This toolkit will assist commanders and wing leadership with safe messaging, creating a regular and repeated conversation with Airmen regarding suicide prevention. The intent is to spend a few minutes during a regularly scheduled briefing or meeting to discuss the suggested topics.   Guidance: Commanders and/or wing leadership are highly encouraged to discuss the Commander’s Talking Points with their personnel on a regular basis. Ideally, the talking points will be delivered at the Squadron or Group level. For 2019, the Suicide Prevention Talking Points are highly encouraged and recommended to be completed quarterly, with a completion date of 31 Dec 2019. This recommendation is for the ANG only. Delivery of this material can be flexible but should be delivered by key leadership within your Squadron or Group. Research has shown that messaging delivered by leadership around connectedness, and communicating that each member is valued- reduces a person’s potential for suicide. Suggested tools are provided in this toolkit to supplement the talking points. Those delivering the message are encouraged to reach out your local Suicide Prevention Program Manager and Director of Psychological Health. These points of contact are for your reference but should not deliver the talking points/messages. Based on the research, it is highly encouraged that these messages and talking points be delivered by leadership.

Video Options ** Suggested Opener: ** https://www.dvidshub.net/video/659792/self-care 1:38

Resiliency and Self Care Resiliency and Self Care. You may have heard about the importance of both but you might not be aware that resiliency is something that starts before a tragedy and is learnable and good self-care goes hand in hand with resiliency. We can build up and learn both prior to needing them. Becoming resilient does not happen overnight. But with practice and good self-care you can take positive steps in improving your ability to handle and overcome life’s challenges. Just like Readiness, Resiliency does not begin at the time of crisis. **Suggested personalization: Give an example of ways to build your resiliency in your squadron/group/Wing. Examples might include: Resiliency training. ** **Suggested group engagement: Ask the audience what resiliency means to them. See supplemental information below for definitions and examples of resiliency **

CAF Pillars Areas of a person’s life which capture the totality of how they experience and relate to others and themselves Mental – the ability to effectively cope with unique mental stressors and challenges needed to ensure mission readiness. Physical – the ability to adopt and sustain healthy behaviors needed to enhance health and wellbeing. Social – the ability to engage in healthy social networks that promote overall well-being and optimal performance. Spiritual – the ability to sustain an individual's sense of wellbeing and purpose through a set of spiritual beliefs, principles or values Within the Air Force, we embrace the Comprehensive Airmen’s Fitness model that represents the four pillars of Mental, Physical, Social, and Spiritual wellness domains. Good self-care techniques can encompass all four pillars.

Self Care Self-care helps prevent burnout, reduces effects of stress and helps you focus on what is important. You can’t do your job, take care of your family/loved ones or be a ready and able warfighter if you are not FIRST taking care of yourself. As your (Leader, Commander, First Sergeant, Superintendent, etc.), it is important to me that you are healthy and strong both physically and mentally. Every person in this room is important to our mission and I need you all to be healthy and ready at a moment’s notice, both professionally and personally. Let’s take care of ourselves so we can take care of each other and the mission. Your health is not a risk I am willing to take because you matter to our mission! **Suggested personalization: Give an example of how, from lowest ranking to highest ranking, the people in the room matter to the mission.   It is important to be deliberate with your self-care. Take the time you need to care for yourself. Work with your direct leadership to ensure you are getting what you need to take care of your needs so you can focus on our mission when you are here. **Suggested personalization: Give an example how you, as a leader “take care of yourself” and how leadership can support airmen that need help with self-care, overall wellness and/or sleep disturbances. Possible examples include: How you set aside regular and consistent time to exercise, your leisure activities/hobbies, how you work out solutions to personal and professional challenges with the help of a mentor, positive family and friend relationship engagements.

Importance of Sleep Sleep is an important aspect of good self-care. Everyone needs to be getting adequate sleep to ensure your problem solving skills during your waking hours are sharp and ready to respond. It’s also important to receive the right amount of quality sleep. **Suggested personalization: Give an example of your specific work environment and how lack of sleep can cause issues and what leadership can do to encourage healthy sleep habits.

Prevention Resources Wing DPH: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX #ANGcares365 It’s important to know that everyone encounters stress and difficulties balancing the demands of work, family, friends, guard life, school, etc. Many of us have had difficulties taking care of ourselves, getting enough sleep and maintaining balance between our pillars. And it’s ok to not be ok. If you are having issues with sleep, balance or self-care, the important thing is to get help. Within the Air Force and Air National Guard, we’re lucky that we have access to both military and community services to help us rebalance and thrive at work and home. At our Wing, everyone has access to the Director of Psychological Health, Chaplain, Airmen and Family Readiness, Financial Counselor, Military One Source and Community Resources, etc. **Suggested personalization: Briefly share a personal experience of dealing with an imbalance in your pillars or poor sleep hygiene and how you overcame that stress Wing Director of Psychological Health Chaplain Local Emergency Room Local Veteran Health Administration (VA) Local Vet Centers https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/ Military and Veterans Crisis Line phone number: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) Option 1 Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): 800-959-TAPS (8277) Military One Source: 1-800-342-9647 ANG Prevention Website: https://www.ang.af.mil/suicideprevention/ AF Resiliency Website: https://www.resilience.af.mil/ Give an Hour: https://giveanhour.org/get-help/ Wingman Online: http://www.wingmanonline.org/Home American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/ Suicide Prevention Resource Center: https://www.sprc.org/ Defense Suicide Prevention Office: http://www.dspo.mil/ ANG Suicide Prevention Office: Lt Morsch (DSN 612-8581, katherine.a.morsch.mil@mail.mil ), MSgt Barnes (DSN 612-8432, clairmont.j.barnes2.mil@mail.mil ) ANG Drug Demand Reduction Office: Lt Col Harvey (DSN 612-8239, gilbert.t.harvey.mil@mail.mil ) Wing DPH: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Wing Chaplain: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Airman & Family Readiness: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Prevention Website: https://www.ang.af.mil/prevention/

Suggested Closing Activity Option 1: Self Care list and Action Plan Make a list of Self Care actions you can take Use the next slides to show examples and to make a Self-Care Action Plan Write it down!!! Or put it in your phone. Option 2: Ask wing members how they find balance in the four pillars of CAF

Create a Self-Care List