About Today’s Guest: Amy Taft is the wife of retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ward Taft. Together they have 2 girls and live in Jacksonville, NC. Amy is the founder of Third Star Foundation, an organization that provides ongoing support to children who live in a house with a veteran or service member that hasRead more about STMSS44 – Dr. Amy Taft – Suicide Prevention in Children of Military Families[…]
Read more STMSS44 – Dr. Amy Taft – Suicide Prevention in Children of Military FamiliesAre You A Veteran, Care For One, or Work With One in Any Way?
If you served in the military, regardless of when, where, how long, or how you left, you’re a member of a unique group of individuals who hold a common set of values, like Honor. Integrity. Loyalty. Service. If you’re a family member of a service member…spouse, parent, sibling, significant other…then you served in a different way, but served all the same. Head Space and Timing is focused on providing veterans, their family members, and interested members of the veteran’s community with the awareness around all aspects of veteran mental health. Our intent is not only to have real and meaningful discussions about mental health and wellness, but to support and inspire veterans to be able to use the strengths they gained while they were in the military to make a positive impact on their community, in whatever way they want.
Mental Health from a Combat Veteran Perspective
The unique combination of 22 years of military experience and training as a clinical mental health counselor combine to provide a unique perspective on veteran mental health
Duane France (Now)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Duane France (Then)
Retired Army Noncommissioned Officer
Feedback on Head Space and Timing
Check out what people are saying about Head Space and Timing content
Jane S.
This Book is Incredibly Useful
Duane's understanding of the combat veteran experience is unparalleled. He does not however, assume that all vets or their experiences are the same, which is what makes this book so helpful to me as a provider who sees combat veterans in my work with horses. As a civilian, I am always hungry for resources that help me understand what's behind and beneath what we hear from veterans we meet, as well as resources to offer vets who see themselves as 'crazy'. This book is incredibly useful on both accounts. The distinctions Duane makes for vets to help them understand the dilemmas they may face coming home, as well as the distinctions he makes among the various 'categories' that define their inner landscapes are bound to help almost any veteran at any stage of readjustment to civilian life. The book is both a map and a compass (i.e. it's impossible to know how to get where one wants to go unless one knows where he or she is at any point in time). Another aspect of the book that is really important to us in our work, is that it de-stigmatizes the need for veterans to attend to their mental health. Going from the notion of mental illness to mental well-being is one of the biggest challenges both veterans and civilians need to do if veterans are going to become assets to their communities...and if we are going to fulfill our responsibility to truly serve those who have served us.
Joe M.
An Outstanding Read
Duane France is authentic. A combat veteran and clinical mental health counselor with a striking ability to articulate the thoughts of veterans. Several passages in this book are simply outstanding including Meaning, Purpose, and Veteran Mental Health; Moral Injury; The Doomsday Clock; Compliment or Criticism to name a few. Duane keeps things interesting throughout the book - some passages are contemplative, some have a twist of humor, and some contain good rules to live by as one transitions from the military. Duane’s authenticity is on display throughout the book, and it’s unmistakable to veterans in the following lines: 1. The problem is, a lot of the veterans I meet are carrying a load of personal accountability that is greater than they should. 2. As boring as this is, at least it’s not the sheer utter boredom of being stuck on an outpost with nothing but a pack of cards. 3. We keep thinking that someone is going to walk into their office and say, “Ha! Caught you! I know you’re just a grunt at heart! What are you doing here?” For mental health professionals who work with veterans the passage Eight Things a Mental Health Professional Wants a Veteran to Know is an insightful read and should be thoughtfully considered.
Daniele L.
A Veteran's Capacity for Stress
Fantastic explanation of how stress is affecting us without our awareness. I am a crisis counselor, working in the community with a multitude of different people, and I have found that my "emotional bucket" analogy to explain how stress/emotions can get backed up is effective across the age group. I have wrapped myself in circles trying to explain emotions to a rational person and all it does is agitate them further. What I have learned though is that awareness of our level of stress is paramount, because regardless of what we choose to believe we can handle our bodies cannot, leading individuals to be more susceptible to experiencing trauma, developing PTSD, increased risk from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, addiction... the list goes on and on. So while many people, especially Veterans, are able to push through and move on, in the long run, without the awareness of our emotional buckets, this can be damaging physically, mentally, and emotionally. Great article.
Latest Content
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Nov, 10
STMSS43 – Cpt Michael Kanaan – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Suicide Prevention
About Today’s Guest: Michael Kanaan was the first chairperson of artificial intelligence for the U.S. Air Force, Headquarters Pentagon. In that role, he authored and guided the research, development, and implementation strategies for AI technology and machine learning activities across its global operations. He is currently the Director of Operations for Air Force / MITRead more about STMSS43 – Cpt Michael Kanaan – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Suicide Prevention[…]
Read more STMSS43 – Cpt Michael Kanaan – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Suicide Prevention -
Nov, 3
STMSS42 – COL(R) Rob Swanson – Life Worth Living After a Non-fatal Suicide Attempt
About Today’s Guest: Colonel Robert “Rob” Swanson retired from active duty after serving nearly 35 years. Since retirement, he completed an Executive MBA from the Shidler School of Business and has been actively involved as keynote speaker, senior mentor and advisor for the award-winning Fight For Each Other suicide prevention program in Hawaii. Prior toRead more about STMSS42 – COL(R) Rob Swanson – Life Worth Living After a Non-fatal Suicide Attempt[…]
Read more STMSS42 – COL(R) Rob Swanson – Life Worth Living After a Non-fatal Suicide AttemptOct, 27
STMSS41 – Kim Donohue – Suicide Prevention at the State and Local Level
About Today’s Guests: Kim Donohue has worked for the Nevada Department fo Veteran Services as the Suicide and Homelessness Prevention Program Manager and Organizational Integrator since January 2018. Kim has been actively participating in the SAMHSA Mayor’s Challenge Teams, which is a suicide prevention initiative that fights against suicide among service members, veterans, and theirRead more about STMSS41 – Kim Donohue – Suicide Prevention at the State and Local Level[…]
Read more STMSS41 – Kim Donohue – Suicide Prevention at the State and Local Level -
Oct, 20
STMSS40 – David Bachmann – Peer Support in Suicide Prevention
About Today’s Guests: David Bachmann is a Marine Corps Infantry combat veteran. He served with E Co, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines from 2001-2005. After being discharged from the Marine Corps he began to ride and build motorcycles. He currently resides in Texas where he raises cattle and Quarter horses. David is active in an ongoing healingRead more about STMSS40 – David Bachmann – Peer Support in Suicide Prevention[…]
Read more STMSS40 – David Bachmann – Peer Support in Suicide PreventionOct, 13
STMSS39 – Dr Jeff Smith and Dr Michael Doidge – Historical Aspects of Military and Veteran Suicide
About Today’s Guests: Dr. Jeff Smith: Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He has published historical analyses of military mental health, psychology, and suicide in academic journals and commentaries on his research in the New York Times, Time, and Washington Post; and hasRead more about STMSS39 – Dr Jeff Smith and Dr Michael Doidge – Historical Aspects of Military and Veteran Suicide[…]
Read more STMSS39 – Dr Jeff Smith and Dr Michael Doidge – Historical Aspects of Military and Veteran Suicide -
Oct, 6
STMSS38 – Congressman Scott Perry – Legislative and Policy Approach to Suicide Prevention
About Today’s Guest: Scott Perry was elected as the U.S. Representative of the 4th Congressional District (York, Adams and Cumberland Counties) in 2013. He earned re-election in 2018, and due to congressional redistricting, now serves the 10th Congressional District (Dauphin, Cumberland and York Counties). Congressman Perry presently serves on the House Committees on Transportation &Read more about STMSS38 – Congressman Scott Perry – Legislative and Policy Approach to Suicide Prevention[…]
Read more STMSS38 – Congressman Scott Perry – Legislative and Policy Approach to Suicide PreventionSep, 29
STMSS37 – Dr Pete Gutierrez – Research on Community Based Suicide Prevention
About Today’s Guest: Peter M. Gutierrez, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist at the VA VISN 19 Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC). Dr. Gutierrez’s clinical training was in child and adolescent psychology, with an emphasis on serious psychopathology and suicide. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.Read more about STMSS37 – Dr Pete Gutierrez – Research on Community Based Suicide Prevention[…]
Read more STMSS37 – Dr Pete Gutierrez – Research on Community Based Suicide Prevention -
Sep, 22
STMSS36 – Sgt Maj Bryan Battaglia – Suicide Prevention at the Senior Enlisted Leader Level
About Today’s Guest: Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia is the former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was the senior non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Armed Forces. In this role, he served as the principal military advisor to the Chairman and the Secretary of Defense on allRead more about STMSS36 – Sgt Maj Bryan Battaglia – Suicide Prevention at the Senior Enlisted Leader Level[…]
Read more STMSS36 – Sgt Maj Bryan Battaglia – Suicide Prevention at the Senior Enlisted Leader LevelSep, 15
STMSS35 – Mike Richardson and Dr Roger Brooks – Wounded Warrior Project
About Today’s Guests: Michael Richardson: As the independence services and mental health vice president for the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), Michael Richardson is responsible for the Independence Program (IP) and Long-Term Support Trust (LTST), as well as the Combat Stress Recovery Program (CSRP). Michael began his military service in 1981 as a 17-year-old private andRead more about STMSS35 – Mike Richardson and Dr Roger Brooks – Wounded Warrior Project[…]
Read more STMSS35 – Mike Richardson and Dr Roger Brooks – Wounded Warrior Project