FORT CAVAZOS – Suicide is a significant public health crisis affecting citizens of the United States. More than 50,000 people die from suicide yearly nation-wide. The comedy show "1 Degree of Separation, A Funny Look at Depression and Suicide" takes a unique approach to raise awareness on a serious topic. Beginning with its debut show on Jan. 10, 2019, 1 Degree of Separation continues to use comedians to talk about anxiety, depression and suicide. More than 11 states have experienced the comedy show; audiences have included middle and high schools, colleges, first responders, military personnel, the FBI and many more.
The Fort Cavazos Suicide Prevention Program hosted the free event Sept. 12-13, which was open to servicemembers, civilians and family members at the People First Center. The event not only served as a learning opportunity, but Soldiers were able to receive suicide awareness training credit.
Miss Baaba Oppong-Agyare, one of three suicide prevention managers, explained that previously, suicide prevention training at the People First Center was in a classroom setting; however, the prevention managers agreed to do training a little differently this year.
“We like to find so many different ways to reach our audiences,” expressed Oppong-Agyare. “Soldiers, family members, children and civilians.”
In July, the suicide prevention managers went to a Veterans Affairs Department of Defense conference in Portland, Ore. During the five-day conference, 1 Degree of Separation was invited to perform on stage and display their strategy for tackling a difficult conversation.
Mr. Brad Bonar Jr., founder of 1 Degree of Separation, thought of the idea for the program after his own struggles with depression. He expressed that he wanted to explore a show that could be put together with four comics demonstrating what depression looks and feels like, with no boundaries.
The first segment of the show is an introduction and brief comedy set from each of the comedians to fill the audience with laughter and humor. The second, is a discussion panel with the comedians joined on stage to answer five questions regarding their own battles with depression.
Bonar Jr. revealed that he wrote the five questions in only two minutes. The questions include: What does your depression feel like? What do others do that makes it worse? What do others do that makes it better? What do you do that makes it worse? What do you do that makes it better?
At the end of the show, the audience receives a copy of the questions to use as a tool for their own conversations about depression and suicide.
“The show's not just for people who struggle with depression,” said Bonar Jr. “It's for people who know someone. That's why the show's called 1 Degree of Separation. If you don't struggle, you know someone who does. We’re all connected to it and everybody that attends learns.”
Oppong-Agyare expressed that the goal of this event was to put Soldiers and civilians into a comfortable environment where people are free to talk and see mental health in a different perspective. Since September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, she stated that it is important to be empathetic and make sure that people around you are doing okay.
The Suicide Prevention coordinators at the People First Center said they aspire to host 1 Degree of Separation, A Funny Look at Depression and Suicide quarterly or at least twice a year.
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