Overview
The CBP Suicide Awareness Podcast series are full of inspiring stories from employees and family members impacted by suicide. These are powerful stories from within CBP. They are unscripted conversations about firsthand experiences with suicide, its risk factors, and aftermath.
Check out the CBP Suicide Awareness Podcast Playlist to view the entire series or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Limited episodes remain available through YouTube - Shine a Light. CBP employees or family members who have lived experiences or would like to be a guest on a suicide prevention podcast can email cbpsuicideprevention@cbp.dhs.gov.
Now available wherever you get your podcasts!
This Suicide Prevention and Awareness Podcast features a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who found relief in a place he least expected it—inside himself. Adolfo walks us through his struggles and how meditation trained him to endure things that previously would have put him over the edge.
Dr. Corso talks with CBP's HealthierCBP Program Manager during Episode 20. As a nurse, she is an expert on health and wellness. During the episode, they discuss how we can reflect on what’s important to us in the New Year regarding our life, health and wellness. Taking care of yourself and making important life changes are one key to suicide prevention.
CBP had four suicides in the Rio Grande Valley Sector during 2022. In Episode 19, the wife of one of our Rio Grande Valley agents who ended his life, Ms. Jane Doe, describes her experience as a loss survivor and explains how she is living “A Reality She Didn’t Ask For.”
Matt, a CBP Watch supervisor, explains his unique experiences with suicide in CBP and proposes examining suicides from the perspectives of intelligence gathering and emergency medicine.
Dr. Kent Corso talks with Cara about her experience as both a loss survivor and as someone who has struggled with depression since an early age. Cara shares how she is able to cope with these challenges with a strong support system.
In Episode 16, Dr. Kent Corso talks with Commissioner Chris Magnus, Deputy Commissioner Troy Miller and Acting Chief Operating Officer Benjamine "Carry" Huffman about how senior leaders can help reduce the risks of suicide, why suicide prevention is important to them and what all employees can do to reduce their own risk and the risk to their coworkers.
During Episode 15, podcast producer Timothy Brien interviews Dr. Kent Corso about his background and the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program. Dr. Corso answers questions from the field and discusses his discusses passion for helping CBP employees at all levels change the culture and ask those uncomfortable questions.
Ann, an agricultural specialist, discusses her attempt and how she was able to turn her life around and focus on helping herself and others.
Sometimes suicidal persons believe it is doing their loved ones a favor by ending their own life. Kate, a suicide loss survivor, explains why the loved ones left behind are NOT better off. From the perspective of a regional supervisor in the intelligence field and through her personal experience, she describes how seeking help does not mean automatically losing one’s security clearance.
Dr. Kent Corso talks with five previous guests, all CBP employees who are loss survivors or who had thoughts about suicide, on suicidal ideation and reaching out for help. Employees share their personal experiences on seeking help in their time of need or providing support when it was needed most.
In Episode 11, Dr. Kent Corso talks with U.S. Border Patrol's Chief Patrol Agent Chris Clem about being a leader, having the difficult talk about suicide and how stress impacts CBP employees. Chief Clem offers personal stories and first-hand experiences on juggling work and family as well as the leadership perspective on the importance of support in the workforce. He shares his recent experiences within his own team and how one employee who reached out was able to get help, while another employee, who did not reach out ended their life.
In Episode 10, Dr. Kent Corso focuses on loss survivors, some who has lost a friend, family member, or co-worker to suicide. Dr. Corso talks with Zeus, a CBP employee who lost a fellow agent to suicide in February 2022.
Episode 9 assesses the relationship between employee injuries and suicide. Dr. Kent Corso talks with Dave, a supervisor with CBP Occupational Safety and Health, about the cost of injuries to CBP, how those injuries can lead to an employee's loss of self and purpose and eventually result in suicide. Dr. Corso and Dave discuss the importance of improving workplace safety and its role in suicide prevention.
In Episode 8, Kimbra, a CBP employee who has recovered from addiction, talks with Dr Corso about the connection between substance misuse and suicidal ideation. She explains how addiction can lead to suicidal thoughts and what she did to overcome her challenges and have a fulfilling career with CBP. By using abstinence and a support network, she was able to not only help herself, but also fellow CBP employees.
In Episode 7, Dr. Corso talks with Border Patrol Agent Cody about an on-the-job incident that led to thoughts of suicide. Agent Cody discusses the incident that led him to find help for himself and his wife as they struggled with depression, post-traumatic stress and thoughts of suicide. He and his wife were both able to use CBP resources to find help, changing their lives for the better and strengthening their relationship. This inspiring story is shared to help others.
In Episode 6, Chaplain Will and Dr. Kent Corso discuss Will's transition from military to civilian life, how he overcame the challenges and thoughts of suicide to thrive in the federal civilian workforce.
When an individual is in a domestic violence situation, they can feel like there is no way out or that no one to help them. This can lead them to think the only way out is to end their lives.
In Episode 5, Dr. Kent Corso speaks with CBP instructor Christina about her experience with domestic violence and how being in an abusive relationship can trigger thoughts of suicide. Christina discusses what she did to get out of a bad situation and continue her career with CBP.
Losing a parent to suicide is devastating. Being in a position of leadership does not offer immunity to the effects.
In Episode 4, Dr. Corso speaks with CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller about his experience losing his father to suicide and how it makes him empathetic to those going through similar circumstances.
In Episode 3, CBP employee Sal talks about the time he considered suicide and how an offhand remark alerted coworkers something was wrong. Distraught with grief over events in his personal life, Sal showed several warning signs of suicide and his coworkers noticed. He discusses how their intervention saved his life and the events that followed as he got help and saved his career.
An overheard conversation and an alert supervisor saved a coworker’s life.
In Episode 2, Dr. Kent Corso speaks with Paula, a CBP supervisor who learned that one of her employees was considering suicide. She used resources available to all CBP employees as well as her personal experience to connect with that employee and assist in their time of need.
In Episode 1, Dr. Kent Corso speaks with Terry, a Border Patrol agent who recently experienced every parent's worst nightmare: a phone call that his child had taken his own life. Agent Terry discusses his experience and how is coping with being a loss survivor.