FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- An open house was held Sept. 19 to bring awareness to a very serious topic -- suicide prevention. The theme of the day was finding strength and hope together.

Brig. Gen. Theresa Carter, commander of the 502nd Air Base Wing, began the event with a poignant story about her sister who committed suicide at age 21.

"I have come to the conclusion that the difference between someone completing an act [of suicide] and those not completing it is that they remember the people they will leave behind," the general said. "I think if my sister had done that, the outcome might have been different."

Carter encouraged service members and leadership to ask questions, be engaged, get involved and don't be afraid to ask for help.

"There are ample resources available," she said. "But, probably the most important resource is your battle buddy sitting to your left or right."

The U.S. Army Public Health Command developed the ACE suicide invention program. ACE stands for "Ask, Care and Escort."

Ask the tough question. "Are you thinking of killing yourself?"

Care, calmly control the situation, actively listen to show understanding and remove any means that could be used for self-injury.

Escort the person to the chain of command, chaplain, behavior health professional or primary care provider.

Dr. Patricia Adams, a marriage and family therapist from Zeitgeist Wellness Group, provided a testimonial about helping a client who called her for help.

"I listened. I was in tune to what she said. I asked the right questions. I persuaded her to get some help and I referred her to the right place," Adams said.

Sgt. Kemosi Evans gave a moving account about his personal struggle with suicide. Evans attempted suicide when he was a teenager.

"I remember waking up in the hospital and my family was standing over me asking, 'Why?'" he said.

After joining the Army in 2001, he deployed to Afghanistan. Only two weeks after he returned home from deployment, his wife filed for divorce.

On his second deployment, one of the Soldiers in his unit died from combat injuries, even though Evans tried desperately to save him.

During his third deployment, Evans was under stress worrying about his family.

"You can't fight two wars, especially when you are trying to focus on one," he said. "The sad part about it is I wasn't able to let go. I was overwhelmed, anxious and anger. I just got to the point I couldn't take it anymore."

Evans said he became very combative with his superiors and still worried about his family. When he returned from overseas, he said it took him five to seven months before he realized he had a problem.

"It took friends, colleagues and the chaplain telling me, 'You have a way out. You are not going to give up. You are not going to accept defeat. You have the will. You can continue to fight,'" Evans said. "I went to behavioral health and got the help I needed."

"I'm still here, I'm still standing and I'm no longer afraid to ask for help," he said.

"No one is exempt from tough times or difficult circumstances," said Chaplain (Maj.) George Hammil. "All of us are susceptible to trials and tribulations. No one is above the fray because of their education, spiritually, believes or rank."

The chaplain spoke about a sometimes overwhelming sense of loss.

"But, human beings are resilient," he said. "Research shows that resilience is actually an ordinary thing, not extraordinary."

He said people strengthen their resiliency by making connections -- strong, close, healthy relationships with family members, friends and co-workers.

"Accepting help and support from those who care about us and who will listen to us, strengthens our resiliency," Hammil said.

"Suicide is something that is not easy for a lot of people to discuss, it tends to make people feel uncomfortable," said Col. John Lamoureux, commander, 502nd Mission Support Group. "But, we must discuss it often and with a deliberate tone."

"Suicide is when someone's pain exceeds the resources that they have to deal with that pain," the colonel said.

"As leaders and we are all leaders, we are responsible to intervene and not ignore," he said.

Lamoureux asked everyone to spread the word about the resources that are available.

"Talk to people, encourage others to do the same. Ask questions before a tragic incident happens, instead of trying to answer them in the aftermath."