One click can make a difference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jazmin Smith
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Sometimes the answer isn’t as simple as we hope.

Life inevitably has problems we haven’t faced before. They can manifest suddenly or appear over time.

Sometimes they can get so overwhelming, a person loses hope.

If you, or someone you know, is facing adversity and doesn’t know how to overcome it, there are resources available to assist in finding the information needed to combat hardship.

As a result of the Resiliency Task Force efforts over the past two months and Air Force Global Strike Command’s Year of the Family initiative, a new bomb wing icon named “Whiteman HELP” has been added to every computer's desktop at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, beginning Feb. 16, 2017.

This tool provides quick access to a wealth of information for support. The goal for this one-click resource is to enable individuals to take care of themselves, their family and their friends.

If there is a topic that any member of our team is uncomfortable approaching their mentor or supervisor with, they can find out where to go through the icon’s matrix.
By clicking on the icon, access is granted to a list of helping agencies on and off base. Most are hyperlinked to the agency’s web page.

“It is important to have easy access to available resources for the struggling individual, the supervisors, or the friends,” said Linda Ambard, the 509th Bomb Wing specialist for primary prevention of violence. “It is easy to forget what help is available through military and civilian resources.”

Resources listed also include contact information to aid with parenting and healthcare questions, in addition to other emergency services and helping agencies.
“During a time of crisis or when someone needs help is not the time to be fumbling around,” added Ambard. “This icon will directly link to the phone numbers, web pages, and a ‘where to go for help’ page. This easy access means that a person is one click away from help.”

“Whiteman HELP” can be used by anyone, no matter rank, age, or any other factor. No two problems are alike; whether you’re looking for help during a life-changing milestone, like separation from the military, or want to know where military-friendly getaways are for some overdue stress relief, there are people who want to help.

“Early help-seeking can lead to greater likelihood that the person will be able to resolve stressors or emotional distress prior to those stressors becoming unmanageable,” said 1st Lt. Erin Dunn, a clinical social worker assigned to the 509th Medical Operations Squadron.

By equipping our Whiteman family with this resource and an awareness of what issues can lead someone down a dark path, together, we can support ourselves and one another.

Some of the most common risk factors to be aware of include:

• Relationship problems/break-ups
• Legal/financial concerns
• Occupational stress
• Sense of hopelessness/helplessness
• Sense that one does not belong
• Sense that one is a burden to others
• Increased substance use
• Transitions such as permanent change of station and deployments
• Interpersonal isolation
• Losing someone close

Over 90% of suicides stem from a mental illness, oftentimes clinical depression. Lives can be saved just by providing support, reducing access to means of self-harm and making sure they get the help they need.

“Treatment for emotional concerns can lead to a greater sense of empowerment for the individual, ultimately facilitating positive change and the ability to manage stressors in the future,” added Dunn.

Unwillingness to seek help can develop into a more serious and possibly fatal outcome if continuously ignored. With the collective information gathered in a single forum, the hope is for all members of Team Whiteman to become aware of and utilize this tool for themselves and those around them.

There is always hope. One click can get you there.