Note: If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are concerned for someone who may be in crisis, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 at the prompt. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Leslie McCaddon joins us to share her story as a Gold Star wife, how suicide can be a symptom of an untreated mental illness, how we can strengthen military families as a whole, and much more. Leslie McCaddon is the widow of Army CPT Michael McCaddon, MD. She is a mental health advocate for military and Gold Star families and writes at Scary Mommy, Her View From Home, and other major publications. She lives in Southern California with a husband, 4 teenagers, and 3 dogs. If she’s not at home, she’s probably at Disneyland. Resources Mentioned On the Show Dispelling Suicide Myths by Cohen Veterans Network https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/CVN-Suicide-Prevention-Infographic-SHORT.png (https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/CVN-Suicide-Prevention-Infographic-SHORT.png) America’s Mental Health Suicide Prevention Pulse Survey https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/amhpulse/ (https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/amhpulse/) Suicide Prevention Month: YOU Matter Article by Leslie McCaddon https://homelandmagazine.com/suicide-prevention-month-you-matter/ (https://homelandmagazine.com/suicide-prevention-month-you-matter/) Suicide Prevention Awareness Month by Jenny Lynne Stroup https://homelandmagazine.com/suicide-prevention-awareness-month/ (https://homelandmagazine.com/suicide-prevention-awareness-month/) I struggled with thoughts of suicide. Vulnerability and connection kept me alive Article by Matthew Stroup https://taskandpurpose.com/opinion/suicide-vulnerability-connection-navy-oped/ (https://taskandpurpose.com/opinion/suicide-vulnerability-connection-navy-oped/) Leslie McCaddon as TIME contributor: https://nation.time.com/contributor/leslie-mccaddon/ (https://nation.time.com/contributor/leslie-mccaddon/) The Happiest Mom Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/19Z0vEjZkklCMlw45FErsv (https://open.spotify.com/show/19Z0vEjZkklCMlw45FErsv) The Happiest Moms Hangout Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehappiestmomshangout (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehappiestmomshangout) Coaching with Leslie: https://www.thehappiestmomcoach.com (https://www.thehappiestmomcoach.com) The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD: https://vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego/ (https://vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego/) Cohen Veteran Network: https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/ (https://www.cohenveteransnetwork.org/) For the latest updates on our show: https://mailchi.mp/a3b25a1f4964/holdingdownthefort (https://mailchi.mp/a3b25a1f4964/holdingdownthefort) -- Guest Applications are now open! Apply to be on our show at https://forms.gle/YdoNX9aR8RTEKpnCA (https://forms.gle/YdoNX9aR8RTEKpnCA) Stay updated! Subscribe to our newsletter http://eepurl.com/gTTOdT (http://eepurl.com/gTTOdT) Visit our website https://www.holdingdownthefortpodcast.com/ (https://www.holdingdownthefortpodcast.com/) Connect with our co-hosts Jen Amos jen@holdingdownthefortpodcast.com and Jenny Lynne Stroup https://jennylynnestroup.com/ (https://jennylynnestroup.com/) or jennylynnestroup379@gmail.com Sponsored by US VetWealth: Get FREE access to the Military Spouse's ToolKit for Agile and Purposeful Employment https://usvetwealth.com/military-spouses-toolkit-for-agile-and-purposeful-employment/ (https://usvetwealth.com/military-spouses-toolkit-for-agile-and-purposeful-employment/) November 2020, Jen Amos and Holding Down the Fort Podcast was awarded https://therosienetwork.org/2020-entrepreneur-awards (“Media Professional of the Year”) at The Rosie Network Entrepreneur Awards! We've also been featured in multiple media outlets including Legacy Magazine, https://digital.usveteransmagazine.com/US-Veterans-Magazine-Spring-2021/46 (U.S. Veterans Magazine),... Support this podcast