Most veterans who die by suicide never ask for help. This episode explains how to reach them before it's too late. Most suicide prevention efforts begin inside hospitals—but Dr. Keita Franklin explains why that's already too late for many veterans. Drawing on decades of leadership at the VA, Marine Corps, and Columbia Lighthouse Project, she shares how a simple six-question screening tool is helping communities identify veterans at risk before a crisis becomes a tragedy.This conversation moves beyond awareness and into practical action every veteran, family member, employer, and community leader can take.In this episode, you'll discover:• Learn the six-question Columbia Protocol and understand why anyone—not just clinicians—can use it.• Recognize why the first five years after military transition carry significantly higher suicide risk.• Understand how the Marine Corps reduced suicide rates by changing where they looked for veterans in crisis.• Discover why directly asking someone about suicide is one of the safest and most effective ways to help.About Dr. Keita FranklinDr. Keita Franklin is a nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention with more than 25 years of experience serving military and veteran communities. She helped redesign the Department of Veterans Affairs' suicide prevention strategy into a public health model and now serves as Vice President of Healthcare Strategy at TriWest Healthcare Alliance while co-leading the Columbia Lighthouse Project, expanding evidence-based suicide prevention worldwide.If this episode helped you, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Search VET S.O.S., scroll down, and tap Write a Review. It takes less than 30 seconds and helps another veteran find the lifeline they may need.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 — Introduction03:09 — Military Family Transition05:22 — How the Columbia Protocol Was Created12:13 — The Six Questions That Save Lives18:05 — Rethinking Suicide Prevention23:27 — Bringing Prevention Into the Community31:46 — Closing & ResourcesExplore the Full VET S.O.S. Network▶ VET S.O.S.▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Operation Startup▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Learning Lifeline▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: The Scoop▶ VET S.O.S. Presents: Testimony StrongConnect with VET S.O.S.Website: vetsospodcast.comTwitter/X: @vetsospodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastYouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcastFacebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcastInstagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast#VETSOS #VeteranPodcast #GrabTheLifeline #HeroesMediaGRP #MilitaryMentalHealth #VeteranTransition #SuicidePrevention #Veterans #MilitaryLife #MentalHealth

Why Veteran Suicide Prevention Must Start Before Crisis — Dr. Keita Franklin

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