As part of Suicide Prevention Month White Sands Missile Range will host a couple of events starting with a Community Wellness Fair Sept. 17 at the Professional Development Center in Building 465.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

As part of Suicide Prevention Month White Sands Missile Range will host a couple of events starting with a Community Wellness Fair Sept. 17 at the Professional Development Center in Building 465.

The event starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

Join the Army Substance Abuse Program and learn about local resources that support a holistic approach in preventing suicide and promoting health and wellness.

In addition, ATEC is hosting the FY24 Push-Up Challenge every Tuesday starting Sept. 9 through Oct. 2 at the White Sands Missile Range Bell Gym from 11 a.m. to noon.

The theme of the challenge is “We Are Stronger Together” via the “Connect to Protect” program.

Stop by Bell Gym every Tuesday to challenge yourself. The event is open to the entire WSMR community.

Jessica Williams, Prevention Coordinator and Employee Assistance Program Specialist with the Army Substance Abuse Program, said they take a holistic approach even when it comes to the topic of suicide.

“This is a chance for the community to see what other resources are available outside of WSMR,” Williams said.

She said most people who work on post live in Las Cruces, El Paso, and other surrounding communities and many of them are not aware of the resources that are available to them in their communities in regard to mental health or physical wellness.

Williams said there will be a variety of vendors coming on post for the event to include mental health clinicians, hospital representatives, physical therapists, sleep center representatives, some IV clinics some of which also provide oxygen bars.

Blue Cross Blue Shield will also be on site and will be able to offer blood pressure checks, blood glucose checks and other services.

“We also have some Veteran focused agencies coming. The Vet Center will be here with their van.”

Ed Westbrook, ASAP Program Manager, said suicide has a series of events that lead up to that unfortunate event.

“When you catch things early on that really is what prevention is,” Westbrook said.

He said it is important to be educated about the resources available, having the courage and strength to utilize those resources, and sharing that information by making it available to others.

“Everybody taking care of each other is what we are trying to convey here,” Westbrook said. “We as federal employees have mandatory training where we learn about resources available to us from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. But what about the afterhours when people go home? Suicide doesn’t stop when you go home, it can happen to anyone at any time. We want to make sure people are covered 24/7.”

Adam Judd, Drug Test Coordinator, said people who attend the event can get credit for their FY24 or FY25 ASAP and Suicide Prevention Training.

Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs