Photo By Shane Hughes | Airmen listen as a comedian delivers jokes Sept. 17, 2025 at the Springfield Air...... read more read more
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Airmen filled the aircraft hangar at the Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base, sitting on plastic and aluminum chairs. Laughter echoed off the walls, as Neff Johnson stood in front of them waiting for the laughter to stop. Johnson looked around and asked, “Is this an aircraft hangar?” A few voices in the crowd murmured assent.
“Man, now I know I’ve done comedy everywhere,” he said. “I did a show in West Virginia a couple weeks ago, and there were a lot of people there. It was like 300 people,” he paused briefly. “Only two last names, though,” he said, as the airmen in the audience erupted into laughter once again.
Johnson was one of four comedians from One Degree of Separation who visited Sept.17 to talk to the airmen of the 178th Wing about mental health and suicide prevention, a topic not normally approached through comedy.
The purpose of the presentation was to help initiate a dialogue centered around five non-judgmental questions: What does depression feel like? What do others do that makes it worse? What do others do that makes it better? What do you do that makes it worse? What do you do that makes it better?
“A lot of people say, ‘This is depression and suicide. How can you joke about that?’” said Jermaine Wiley, a comedian touring for One Degree of Separation. “But as soon as they come to the show and see how we’ve approached it, they open up. We just try to tear down the wall and make it easier for people to talk about.”
It began with a comedy act and led into a presentation where each of the presenters answered the five questions in turn and shared their personal struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. As the act shifted from comedy to discussion, the mood in the audience shifted from jovial to somber, tears replacing the smiles.
“So many people are unwilling to talk about things we’re all experiencing, and I think comedy is a language that is so honest it can break through all those barriers,” Johnson said. “You don’t have to avoid the elephant in the room. You can even look for it.”
While the discussion covered some heavy subjects, they lightened the mood with occasional jokes, breaking the tension in the audience.
“Humor is kind of like a dance, and it depends on the energy of the crowd being your dance partner,” said Jason Ressler, a comedian touring for One Degree of Separation. “You have to play off that and be in the moment. Luckily, we seem to know how far we can push the envelope without going to far.”
Amy Hernandez, the Director of Psychological Health at the 178th Wing, said she wanted to break up the normal routine of discussing suicide awareness and mental health through dry slide deck presentations and bring in One Degree of Separation for a different approach.
“It’s bringing in the laughter, but then bringing the realness of what’s happening in people’s lives,” Hernandez said. “Their approach humanizes it. It gives perspective on why we need to stand up and lean in and take care of each other.”
After the presentation ended, the comedians set up a booth along with numerous other mental health providers from the local area. While some of the airmen might have been reluctant to attend, there was a long line of airmen who spoke with the comedians about how much the presentation impacted them and shared stories of their own struggles.
“I almost didn’t even come here today,” said Staff Sgt. Kieran Curlett. “This was the best investment the wing has ever made for one of these presentations.”
While the laughter may have stopped, the comedians said they hope their presentation continues to spark conversations.
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2025 09:55 |
| Story ID: | 550088 |
| Location: | SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 381 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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