Suicide Prevention for Veterans: A Former VA Psychiatrist and VA Social Worker Share Their Experiences

Building the Raft While Drowning: Searching for Mental Health Help & Hope in Rural America

In this episode I’m joined by Clinical Psychiatrist, Dr. Morris Hund, and Sarah Kemp-Tabbut, Licensed Social Worker and Community Engagement & Partnerships Coordinator for the Fargo Veterans Association.

Dr. Hund, Sarah and I discuss the issue of suicide prevention for our military veterans. Together we explore a number of critical factors that can either support or prevent veterans from seeking help including stigma, treatment myths, and access to benefits. Along with looking at some of the challenges of meeting the needs of our veterans, we also find hope in sharing the many community-based suicide prevention trainings that are available for medical providers and families.
During our conversation we touch on issues affecting veterans including:

• The power of stigma and seeking help for PTSD
• The role of education and funding in increasing utilization of veterans' services
• The impact of provider burnout on veterans' services
• Available suicide prevention trainings for both veteran and non-veteran families and medical providers

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988.

Chapter

1. Suicide Prevention for Veterans: A Former VA Psychiatrist and VA Social Worker Share Their Experiences (00:00:00)

2. Getting to Know Our Guests' Backgrounds (00:02:58)

3. Why is advocacy so important in our state? (00:13:09)

4. What is PTSD? (00:15:49)

5. Busting a common myth related to military mental health (00:25:11)

6. Will attitudes toward mental health continue to evolve? (00:33:19)

7. How do we break the stigma? (00:37:03)

8. Managing burnout as a mental health professional (00:41:28)

9. Where does 988 fit into supporting our veterans? (00:48:47)

10. Telehealth in mental health services (00:59:37)

11. Suicide prevention trainings & resources (01:04:41)