We have all been there, deep in thought , unknowingly buried in our daily tasks. I too have been guilty of this. Last year I was a busy CAR working elbow deep in the tasks of the day. As I did every morning, I greeted the Airmen as they walked by my office door, haphazardly looking up occasionally. I said hello and continued to work. On this day however, an Airman whom I had interacted with on the daily walked by I said my usual good morning, but this day I noticed a change in their behavior. Not a big change but enough to get my attention and cause me to STOP what I was doing and follow them down the hall and ask are you ok? At first, they walked away saying yes, I’m fine but I followed intently and asked again. This time however they replied with no I'm not ok. I invited them into my office to talk and a cup of coffee. It was at this time that I learned this Airman was struggling with some relationship issues and had the night before contemplated suicide. I was able to get them to mental health, receiving the urgent intervention they needed. In the days that followed I began to think about how I , just one person, could with just a moment of time create a change with the simple act of intention.
-Erica Kerin, 9 RW Prevention Specialist