Episode 40: Preventing Soldier Suicide

Episode 40 of the 18th Airborne Corps Podcast is a somber episode focused on a very heavy subject. Dr. Eren Watkins, a supervisory epidemiologist and Division Chief of the Behavioral Health at the U.S. Army Public Health Center, joins host Joe Buccino to discuss her work in studying soldier suicide. This is a deeply important episode, and Dr. Watkins’ is a voice that should be heard by leaders throughout our Army. She’s been studying soldier suicide for years and, in this candid discussion, offers indicators, trends, and causes of soldier suicide. She also describes what leaders can do to build positive organizational environments, reduce the factors for suicide, and seek out signs of trouble. Soldiers are resilient. There are actions leaders can take to build up soldier resilience and to drive down risk factors. Dr. Watkins offers these insights in a thought-provoking conversation. Dr. Watkins has a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health, a Master's in Public Health in Epidemiology from Eastern Virginia Medical School, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a concentration in Human Biology from Temple University, and a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She began her service at the U.S. Army Public Health Center in January 2011 where she leads a multidisciplinary team of public health professionals that monitor behavioral and social health trends among Army units. Dr. Watkins has published a number of studies on Soldier suicide in scientific journals. This is a critically important and urgent episode of the 18th Airborne Corps Podcast. There is a great deal of wisdom in this discussion with one of the Nation’s leading experts on soldier suicide. The 18th Airborne Corps Podcast is the official podcast of the U.S. Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps. Recorded on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the program releases new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.