Did you know that there are organizations out there that offer holistic healing treatments for Veterans who are suffering from physical as well as mental health challenges? In this episode, we talk to Eva M. Belanger, a decorated captain of the U.S. Air Force, with over nine years of service and wartime deployment. She currently serves as a fully licensed marriage and family therapist out of her own private practice in San Diego and is the co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Warriors Live On.

Sabrina Barella is using her experience as a former military wife to be an active voice in many military non-profits. She is also making it her mission to help end Veteran suicide by using her personal time and her business to help Veterans and their families. In this episode, Sabrina explains how anyone (civilians included) can help be a safe ear to Veterans and maybe help save a life in the process.

Did you know there are clinicians that specifically specialize in studying suicide and how to prevent it? I didn't! In this episode, I sit down with Suicidologist Dr. Blaire Schembari to learn more about her unique profession and some of the amazing studies and efforts underway to help prevent this epidemic.

There are many new emerging modalities for treating mental health challenges being discovered every day. Did you know that researchers are making breakthroughs in treating people with PTSD and depression with psychoactive substances? In this episode, we talk with Psychologist Dr. Ryan Stevenson and unpack a whole lot of topics relating to mental health treatment, survivors of sexual assault and abuse, veteran and student mental health, as well as the difference between PTSD and trauma.

The Nation is celebrating Veterans this week, and we are honored to continue our conversations with Veterans who are making a difference by sharing their stories of courage surrounding mental health.

Today, we meet back up with Green Beret Special Forces Operator/Delta Force Medic Veteran Joe Hudak to go more in depth about what happened when he came home, his two suicide attempts, and what he did gain resilience, heal, and learn how to live his best life possible.

And if you ever wanted to ask a Veteran a question, you now have the opportunity to ask Joe what you would love to know...yes, he is taking questions from our audience! Click this link and fill out the form: https://airtable.com/shrUk0X8SoI3HOEts

Bill Protzmann is a man of many hats. Not only has he been a successful businessman and an award-winning musician, but he has discovered how to use music to help heal those who have been affected by trauma by using music for self-care.

In 2011, he launched Music Care Inc, a for-profit corporation dedicated to providing education in music as adjunct treatment for post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. In this episode, Bill talks about how music saved his life and how he is now helping others by showing them the power of music care.

There is a very important conversation happening in America right now surrounding sexual assault. And while we had this interview scheduled long before some of the recent events unfolded, the timing couldn't be more important for her story to be told.

We are extending our deep-dive series on suicide prevention for veterans, and today I am honored to talk to Jalitza Cardona. She is a Veteran and a mental health advocate after surviving sexual assault and is now making it her mission to impress upon others that they are not alone…and that help is waiting for them.

Sexual assault is discussed but the specific acts or details of assault are not.

In this episode, we talk with Stephen Padilla about how entrenching himself in the Veteran community has not only been beneficial for his wellbeing; but also shows that through therapy and community, there was a way out of a vicious circle of traumas.

Sometimes, regular talk-therapy isn't enough for Veterans to manage their mental health challenges. And sometimes, the spiritual injury from the things they have seen and done in wartime is too much to bear. That is why the incredible organization The Mighty Oaks Foundation exists.

In this episode, we sit down with Mighty Oaks Foundation Executive Director, and USMC Infantry Officer and Iraq Veteran Jeremy Stahlnecker to discuss "out of the box" solutions for Veterans suffering spiritually, dealing with additions, family difficulties, and the challenges they face transitioning back to civilian life...that are free.

Shad Meshad is a voice that encourages empathy for Veterans because he witnessed so much in Vietnam, as well as the shock of coming home to (at times) a hostile and dangerous homecoming from Americans.

Not only is Shad a soldier; he is also a mental health clinician and expert in PTSD. In this episode, we get to hear Shad's insight and stories of wartime; as well as what things Veterans need to survive and thrive after coming home.

Military Veterans face a whole new reality and set of challenges when they transition to civilian life. Imagine being a young adult who is just starting out in life being thrown into a life that is full of trauma, death, structure, and brother/sisterhood only to come home and be paralyzed by simple tasks like making decisions at the grocery store? How do you integrate back into a world that has not seen the horrors you have seen or understand what you have gone through? Today, Joe shares his raw story of how he was able to claw his way out of the darkness to living a life of compassion and how is he now educating others by sharing his own experience. And his wife Julie graciously shares what reality is like for their family supporting Joe through his challenges...and his mission.

Suicide is not an easy topic to talk about. And because of the stigma surrounding suicide, many survivors of suicide may feel shunned, guilty, and alone. But this needs to change to help end the vicious cycle. In this episode, we talk with Joyce Bruggeman, the Executive Director of the amazing organization Survivors of Suicide Loss in San Diego to discuss why sharing our stories of suicide is so important for not only healing, but to also help prevent others from taking their own lives. Joyce is joined by Floyd Strayer, a Veteran who is dedicating his time to share his own stories of how he has been affected by suicide.

In our first episode of The Power of the Story: Conversations Around Veteran Suicide, we sit down with William Felty and Sara Correll. Both William and Sara are integral members of the San Diego Veteran community and are working tirelessly to reach out to those Veterans and families that may be struggling. Learn why the current state of mental health help for Veterans is frustrating William and fueling his passion to ensure not another Veteran dies by their own hand.