Seeking the Military Suicide Solution

About Today’s Guest: 

Akshay Nanavati is a Marine veteran, speaker, adventurer and entrepreneur. His new book "Fearvana" is an actionable guide on how to leverage fear to accomplish anything. The Dalai Lama said “Fearvana inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives.”

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Fearvana Web Site

Fearvana Book on Amazon
Responding to Grief and Trauma course on PsychArmor

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

About Today’s Guest: 

Rick Trimp, MBA, is an experienced health and education executive. He leads LivingWorks with a vision of community-based health impact made possible through layered, integrated training programs combined with transformative technology.

Prior to joining LivingWorks, Rick led the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)’s School of Health and Life Sciences as Dean. Before that, he provided executive leadership to Alberta Health Services, Canada’s first and largest province-wide health service, first as Vice President of Province-Wide Clinical Support Programs and Services and then as Interim President and CEO.

Rick began his career as a physical therapy technician with the United States Navy and went on to work in healthcare operations throughout Canada and the United States. His focus on fostering and expanding strategic partnerships has enabled him to draw communities and partner organizations together to magnify their health and education impacts. Rick is passionate about suicide prevention and establishing grassroots, community-based approaches that create lasting changes in population health.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

LivingWorks Suicide Prevention and Intervention Training Website

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

About Today’s Guest: 

Mr. Tony Kurta performed the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Mr. Tony Kurta assumed the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy on September 8, 2014.

A member of the Senior Executive Service, he was responsible for recruiting, retention, compensation, travel, and the related human resource management for the 1.4 million Active Duty military members of the U .S. Armed Services

A native of Columbia Falls, Montana, he graduated with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981, earned an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, is a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and was a National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Mr. Kurta’s career includes over 32 years on active duty as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer, during which he commanded USS Sentry (MCM 3), USS Guardian (MCM 5), USS Warrior (MCM 10), USS Carney (DDG 64), Destroyer Squadron Two Four and Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). As CJTF-HOA, his command included Active and Reserve officers and enlisted, Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, Special Operations, National Guard, inter-agency and coalition personnel.  Shore assignments included: Chief, Special Actions Division on the Joint Staff; Director, Surface Officer Distribution Division (Pers-41) at the Navy Personnel Command; Director for Policy, Resources and Strategy for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa; and Director, Military Personnel Policy (N13) on the OPNAV Staff.  Mr. Kurta retired from the Navy in 2013 as a Rear Admiral.

He has also served as a Senior Leader in the Department of the Navy from December 2013 through September 2014 as the Director of Navy Flag Officer Management and Development where he was responsible for flag officer community management and executive development. 

His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medals, Legions of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, and various other awards and unit commendations.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Rear Admiral Kurta's LinkedIn Profile

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

About Today’s Guest: 

Tom Cruz is an Active Duty Master Sergeant in the United States Army with over 25 years of service.  He has deployed in support of Operation Joint Guardian, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Jordan.  He has lived experience with suicide prevention and awareness resulting from an attempt in 2010 to take his life.  Since his attempt, he became a huge advocate of more awareness and prevention for Veterans.  Tom has taken his skills to social media, where he assisted in pioneering two organizations to identify and assist Veterans with mental health issues, suicidal ideations, relationship issues, financial concerns and other Veteran specific issues.  With his own recovery breaking the stigma within the military on career status, family life and security clearance myths, he has pushed to bring holistic means to Veterans to the road of recovery.

Tom has been widely sought by military units, military bases, DoD organizations, National Suicide Organizations and the White House for his expertise on Veterans issues and social media.  He is Master Resilience Trained Level One, an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Instructor, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) trained, and an Army Suicide Intervention (SI) trainer.  He is also the Program Director for Suicide and Awareness with Veterans Counseling Veterans, advisor to Animal Rescue & Veteran Support Services, panel member of Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research with University of South Florida, and subject matter expert with White House and Office of the Surgeon General. Tom received the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) 2017 Voice Award Consumer/Peer/Family Leadership Award for his work to ensure America’s military and veteran communities have access to the mental health and substance use treatment and services they deserve

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Tom Cruz on Twitter

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

About Today’s Guest: 

Mathew “Frag-o” Bergendahl, MS, NCC, LPC graduated from South Dakota State University with a Masters Degree in Counseling in the Agency Setting back in 2015. Prior, he earned his Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Blackhills State University. Mathew is a former Air Force Security Forces member enlisting from 1999-2005 and spent his enlistment being deployed to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq.

Mathew started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 as an Office Manager for the Rapid City, SD Vet Center and was promoted to Readjustment Counseling Therapist once he completed his Masters degree. Mathew currently holds a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of South Dakota, and is a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors. Mathew started donating his time to Stack Up as a Therapeutic adviser for the Stack Up Overwatch Program (StOP) early this year and currently serves as the Overwatch Program Manager.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

StackUp.org

StackUp Overwatch Program (StOP)

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

About Today’s Guest:

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., named to TIME magazine’s 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is the president of Give an Hour. A licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years, she received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1991. Concerned about the mental health implications of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour in 2005 to enlist mental health professionals to provide free services to U.S. troops, veterans, their loved ones, and their communities.

Working with other nonprofit leaders, Dr. Van Dahlen developed the Community Blueprint, a national initiative and online tool to assist communities in more effectively and strategically supporting veterans and military families. Give an Hour has implemented the Blueprint approach in two demonstration sites and continues to lead community collaboration projects.

In June of 2019, she was named the Executive Director of the Task Force to create the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS).

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

PREVENTS Web Site

Public Health Approach Overview 

PREVENTS Road Map

Within REACH Public Awareness Campaign

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

Sue joined Combat Stress in 2016 as the first female Chief Executive in the charity’s 100-year history. Since her arrival, the charity has increased its profile and contributes actively to veterans’ mental health and particularly military trauma healthcare. Sue has set out a new strategic direction in the face of growing demand for military trauma treatment and a changing NHS landscape.

Sue joined Combat Stress following a decade as Director of Welfare and latterly Director of Operations at The Royal British Legion (TRBL). At TRBL she commissioned the first UK veterans’ population mapping studies and initiated and led the early stages of the Armed Forces Covenant campaign and a string of other successful parliamentary policy campaigns.  During her 10-year tenure she transformed TRBL's service footprint across UK, opened its 16 high street Pop In Centres and tripled its services. Prior to joining TRBL she held a series of leadership roles at Scope, the UK cerebral palsy charity including a year's secondment to Department of Health on a community care task force preparing local councils for implementing the 2001 Health & Community Care Act.

Sue has served on MoD and NHSE committees and was a Cobseo Non-Executive Director representing Combat Stress. She is currently serving on a steering group board of a veterans’ sector emerging leaders programme hosted by Clore Social and Forces in Mind Trust.  She also serves as a consortia member on the Veterans’ Gateway Strategy Board. Sue is a former lay member on NHS England Armed Forces Clinical Reference Group, partner member of MoD Defence Recovery Partnership Board, Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League Welfare Committee, World Veterans Association Medical Advisory Committee and trustee of several veterans’ charities.

Sue holds a BA Hons from Exeter University and an MBA from Aston Business School and is EQM qualified.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Combat Stress.org Web site

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

As the National Guard Bureau J-1 Warrior Resilience & Fitness Division Chief, Captain Matthew Kleiman, MSW, LCSW, BCD, synchronizes Air and Army National Guard well-being, resilience, and suicide prevention efforts across the 54 states, territories, and DC. He also serves as the Director of Psychological Health for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

He was detailed to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) from 2010-2016 as the Chief of USCG’s Behavioral Health Services. Prior to that, he was the principal advisor in the Office of Health Affairs to senior leadership at the Department of Homeland Security on resilience and behavioral health policies across the organization.

CAPT Kleiman is a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service. He began his active duty career over 20 years ago as an Air Force clinical social worker.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

National Guard Warrior Resilience and Fitness Division

Response/Recovery (RE) Leadership Integrated Engagement Framework (RELIEF)

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW, brings to PsychArmor her vast experience and leadership in the military non-profit community and academia. In 2006, she co-founded Hope For The Warriors, an organization dedicated to serving combat wounded servicemembers and their families. Scaling a grass-roots effort to a national platform, she worked extensively with various levels of military leadership, agencies, corporations, and communities educating and advocating for critical support for those who have served and their families. She has embedded her career in the field of social work innovation and leadership and obtained her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California. Her recent work focuses on the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work to eradicate social isolation specifically the challenges of military family social isolation. As an adjunct faculty, her love for PsychArmor began while utilizing the PAI educational videos to enhance teaching social work practice with military and their families to Masters of Social Work students in New York City.

As PsychArmor’s new CEO, Tina will continue the mission of bridging the military-civilian divide. She has fresh ideas to strengthen PsychAmor’s pivotal role as the “go to” place for employers, healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, municipalities, service providers, government workers, caregivers and communities to learn about how to better serve our military Veterans.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

PsychArmor Institute Suicide Training Portfolio

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna 

Dr. Karin A. Orvis, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In this capacity, Dr. Orvis is responsible for policy, oversight, and advocacy of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) suicide prevention programs. Her current portfolio spans the full spectrum of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts including policy, program development and evaluation, data surveillance, research, and outreach and engagement. In this position, and in her prior DoD roles, she strategically leads multidisciplinary, interservice/interagency teams in designing, implementing, and evaluating DoD-wide policies and programs in support of over 2M service members and over 2.5M military family members worldwide.

Dr. Orvis brings nearly 20 years of progressively broader experience spanning the federal government, academia, and private sector. Prior to her current assignment, Dr. Orvis served as the Acting Principal Director of Military Community and Family Policy, where she was responsible for the policy, oversight, and advocacy of military community quality-of-life programs for service members and their families. Dr. Orvis also previously served as the Director of the Transition to Veterans Program Office, where she was instrumental in redesigning the DoD Transition Assistance Program, which ensures that service members are ‘career ready’ and prepared to transition from active duty to civilian life.

Other prior DoD positions include the Director of Evaluation and Assessment for the Transition to Veterans Program Office and the Program Manager of the Basic Research program at the U.S. Army Research Institute. Dr. Orvis transitioned to the federal government after spending four years as a University Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University. Dr. Orvis has also worked with the private sector on programs related to employee training, leader development, staffing, and organizational effectiveness. Her work has been published in journals such as Leadership Quarterly, Military Psychology, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Business and Psychology, and the International Journal of Training and Development.

Dr. Orvis holds a Doctorate and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University. She has received various awards throughout her career including the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence, Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and American Society for Training and Development Dissertation Award.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Defense Suicide Prevention Office Web site

Join our Facebook Group:

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

How to Leave a Podcast Review

Leaving a podcast review at iTunes isn't intuitive. But positive ratings are hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review using one of the methods below.

How to leave a podcast review using Apple’s Podcast app

1. Navigate to Seeking the Military Suicide Solution on Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Click "Listen on Apple Podcasts"

3. Scroll down and click or tap "Write a Review." Enter your iTunes password to login.

4. Rate the podcast using 1 to 5 stars.

5. Submit a brief honest review.

Bonus: get a thank-you note

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. When you leave a review, drop us a line at [email protected] and you'll get a message with the warmest appreciation, and a bonus gift!

For Android users, Google Podcasts does not allow for ratings or reviews, but you can certainly let us know how you think we're doing on Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio

Many thanks, 

Duane and Shauna