This podcast from Military Times examines the alarming rate of military and veterans suicide, offering new insights based on research and effective clinical and peer support practices in suicide prevention. Hosted by Duane France, a retired Army combat veteran, author and mental health counselor, and Shauna Springer, a psychologist, author and nationally recognized expert on initiatives to benefit the military community, the podcast aims to move beyond awareness to identify actionable strategies that can impact the rising suicide rate among service members, veterans, and their families.
About this week’s guest
Michael Richardson: As the independence services and mental health vice president for the Wounded Warrior Project, Michael Richardson is responsible for the Independence Program and Long-Term Support Trust, as well as the Combat Stress Recovery Program.
Richardson began his military service in 1981 as a 17-year-old private and retired 32 years later in 2013 as a medical service corps lieutenant colonel. During Richardson’s career, he had numerous combat and operational deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, Kosovo, and Bosnia. Of note, during his last 15-month deployment to Iraq, Richardson served as the Iraq theater medical regulating officer and was responsible for the coordination of all patient movement within and departing from Iraq.
Richardson holds a master’s degree in public administration (health) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Hawaii. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife, Beth, who is an active-duty military police officer.
Dr. Roger Brooks: Roger Brooks is a senior program initiatives and integration specialist of mental halth at Wounded Warrior Project. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of the Incarnate Word and his graduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Roger previously served as the chief clinical officer for a mental health facility. He has also served as the co-director for a trauma studies program and director for the laboratories for the psychological research of ethno-cultural aspects of Trauma.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
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Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Facebook
Shauna's latest book: Warrior: How to Support Those Who Protect Us
Duane's latest book: Military in the Rear View Mirror: Mental Health and Wellness in Post-Military Life
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