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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — September is National Suicide Prevention Month, an opportunity to highlight mental health resources and ways Airmen can support their wingmen.
One resource available to Airmen is the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program. The ASIST program teaches participants how to recognize when someone shows signs of suicidal thoughts and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Unlike prevention campaigns focused on awareness, ASIST emphasizes real-time, peer-to-peer intervention.
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Antonio Mendoza, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuel systems technician, is ASIST certified, equipping him with vital skills to help individuals at risk of suicide.
“ASIST trains individuals to safely and properly intervene in a suicide situation before it can happen,” said Mendoza.
For Mendoza, the program offered an opportunity to expand beyond familiar areas of prevention work and gain confidence in addressing suicide-related challenges.
“I work closely with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office, and I felt comfortable with that material but I didn’t feel as comfortable with the suicide prevention side [prior to ASIST]. ASIST felt like a great stepping stone to learn more,” said Mendoza.
The training carries particular weight in the military, where service members may face heightened mental health challenges.
"In the military, we have one of the highest suicide rates among any group of people," Mendoza states. "Allowing more individuals to be ASIST trained means there's a better chance of intervening and saving the lives of our brothers and sisters in service."
He adds that peer-to-peer support helps break down fears that speaking up could damage a career.
“With peer-to-peer communication, people are less afraid of it affecting their career, as I’m not a supervisor or a mandatory reporter, people can come to me and I can walk them through it without it impacting their career,” said Mendoza.
For Mendoza, the most rewarding part is knowing he can help in a moment of crisis.
“It feels good to know I’m having a positive impact on another person,” he states. “That’s what really drew me to this kind of training.”
Airmen interested in learning more or seeking support can reach out to their unit leadership or any ASIST certified member on base, who are ready and trained to provide help.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2025 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 548756 |
| Location: | DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The ASIST program at DM: Equipping Airmen with the skills to support, by Amn Jaden Kidd, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
