HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Suicide prevention and assisting those who have been affected by it will be the topics at a Hill AFB suicide prevention town hall luncheon June 11.
The base is partnering with several community agencies for the breakfast, which will be held from 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at The Landing. The event will feature a panel of guest speakers, including Taryn Aiken, a board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Kim Penman, a volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness; June Biancalana, Director of the 530th Commodities Maintenance Squadron at Hill AFB; and Tech. Sgt. Danielle Minor, from the 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
The panel members will speak briefly about their experiences with suicide, and then open the floor for questions and interaction from the attendees. Free breakfast will be provided.
Dr. Marc Ybaben, Hill AFB’s Occupational Medicine Services clinical psychologist and the base Suicide Prevention Program Manager, is leading the event, alongside agencies from the Hill’s Helping Hands group.
He said the Air Force’s recent updates in suicide prevention training continue the leadership-driven program, “promoting the attitude that suicide prevention is everyone’s business; encouraging early and responsible help-seeking; and encouraging everyone to use the Ask-Care-Escort, or ACE, model.”
Julie Pinchak, Hill AFBs Community Support Coordinator, said it’s important for people to remember to reach out. “Reach out to seek the support you need and reach out to help a friend who’s struggling with life’s challenges,” Pinchak said. “These seemingly simple acts of connectedness represent what resilience is all about.”
Hill AFB has been addressing the issue of suicide prevention on a community-wide level by partnering with on- and off-base, resilience-based helping agencies to bring a healthy level of awareness to the topic. Over 15 agencies will have information tables and personnel to answer questions before and after the breakfast.
The June town hall breakfast is specifically intended to increase Team Hill’s awareness of on- and off-base helping agencies and to encourage dialogue on this important issue.
Registration is required for the event. A civilian release letter and electronic invitation will be sent to Team Hill. For more information, contact Ybaben at 801-777-1155.
