MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- In a proactive shift for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, a team at the 42d Air Base Wing is moving beyond traditional methods to tackle one of the primary root causes of suicide: a lack of connection and belonging.
The campaign, titled “This is Where I Belong,” is the result of a collaboration between key installation helping agencies. The team includes Capt. Samuel Alex, a clinical psychologist with the Operational Support Team, Staff Sgt. Kiyana Pittman, noncommissioned officer in charge of religious affairs for the 42d ABW Chapel, and Dominque Torres, the integrated prevention chief for Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex. Together, they developed a strategy focused on proactively building community rather than solely reacting to crises.
“Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is a critical time for the Air Force to reaffirm our commitment to every Airman, Guardian, civilian and family member, reminding them that they are valued and that resources are always available,” said Torres. “This year, we wanted to go a step further and address the ‘why’ behind the struggle, which so often comes down to feeling isolated.”
The campaign draws inspiration from Sebastian Junger's best-selling book, “Tribe,” which explores how modern society has lost the communal, tribal bonds that have historically given humans a deep sense of security and purpose. The team identified this loss of connection as a key vulnerability and made fostering it their primary mission.
“From a mental health perspective, a sense of connection is not just a ‘nice-to-have,’ it's a fundamental human need,” explained Alex. “When people feel like they belong and are part of a supportive community, they are more hopeful and better equipped to handle life's stressors. Community and belonging enhance psychological durability. This campaign is about building that armor of belonging before the battle ever begins.”
Spearheading the campaign’s public outreach was Pittman, who envisioned a video series to bring the concept to life. Working closely with the 42d ABW Public Affairs office, she developed and launched a seven-part video series showcasing authentic stories from across the installation. “I wanted people to have a chance to be seen, valued and heard,” said Pittman, “to feel like they belong.”
Pittman recruited a diverse group of volunteers, including Airmen, NCOs, officers, and military spouses, to share their personal journeys of finding community and connection at Maxwell. The powerful testimonials highlight everything from squadron potlucks and sports teams to chapel groups and simple friendships forged in the workplace. The video series has already garnered 14,000 views on social media.
For Pittman, the project directly ties into the core mission of the Chaplain Corps.
“We wanted these videos to show that community, connection, and belonging are all key components of Spiritual Fitness,” Pittman said. “It’s about that connection to the ‘transcendent,’ to something greater than ourselves, which is often found right here in our relationships with each other and the communities we build.”
Each video concludes with a call to action, asking viewers to take the initiative in their own lives and cultivate communities of belonging. The campaign organizers stress that this can start with small, intentional actions. It can be as simple as inviting a new Airman to lunch, organizing a game night in the dorms, starting a book club within a unit, or simply making a point to check in on a wingman who seems withdrawn. The goal is to create a culture where looking out for one another is an active, daily practice.
By shifting the focus from crisis to connection, the “This Is Where I Belong” campaign is not just raising awareness; it’s actively building a stronger, more connected and more resilient Team Maxwell.