KYNG Videos

Video by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Reno

Had to Ask: Suicide Prevention Training Video (NGB)

Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office

May 29, 2025 | 4:36

This short film, produced by the Kentucky Army National Guard, supports suicide intervention training using the ACE method: Ask, Care, Escort. It is designed to raise awareness, build confidence in intervention, and foster a culture of support.

In this fictional story, a squad leader, Staff Sergeant Bland, notices troubling changes in his Soldier, Specialist Dorn, and chooses to ask the difficult question: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” Their interaction dramatizes a scenario that could happen in any unit, underscoring the lifesaving importance of ACE.

Written by Maj. William Bland, KYARNG R3SP Coordinator. Starring Bland as Staff Sergeant Bland and Capt. Quentin Dorn as Specialist Dorn. Filmed at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky, on May 29, 2025. Music and lyrics performed by Bland and Dorn. Filmed and produced by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Reno.

Take action now—ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” If yes, help them get support. Contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 988 + 1 or visit https://www.militaryonesource.mil/, https://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth, https://giveanhour.org/. Let’s save lives together—share and start the conversation today!

Supports Department of War and National Guard Bureau efforts to reduce suicide and enhance resilience. For training and awareness only. Viewer discretion advised.

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