During this week’s radio show you will learn about:

• The Difficulty in Talking About Suicide
• The Global View of Suicide
• Finding Peace After Suicide
• The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act
• How the SAV Act will Draw Attention to Military and Veteran Suicide and Mental Illness

Adele Ryan McDowell, Ph.D., is a psychologist, teacher, and writer who likes looking at life through the big view finder. Dr. McDowell specializes in transformational work using psychoneuroimmunology (mind-body medicine), energy medicine as well as cognitive, behavioral, transpersonal, and positive psychologies.

With over 30+ years as a psychotherapist, Adele’s work has encompassed suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault crisis hotlines; director of an urban substance abuse clinic; founder/director of  a holistic psychotherapeutic center; crisis response with survivors of Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, the Joplin Tornado, and the Newtown shooting; and private practice.

Through her writing, speaking, and teaching, Adele helps others refind their balance, deal with overwhelm, make peace with their wounds, and find light in their darkness.

Dr. McDowell is the author of Making Peace with Suicide: A Book of Hope, Understanding, and Comfort and Balancing Act: Reflections, Meditations, and Coping Strategies for Today’s Fast-Paced Whirl.

You can learn more about Dr. McDowell here.

As Legislative Associate for IAVA, Christopher Neiweem maintains Congressional relationships and supports advocacy programs. Chris spent 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military police NCO and served an honorable tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom detaining Enemy Prisoners of War (EPWs) and performing base security and customs in 2003 during the Iraq war. He completed a Bachelors Degree in political science from Northern Illinois University in 2007 and served as a congressional intern for Congressman Donald Manzullo who previously represented Illinois’ 16th congressional district. He completed a Masters Degree in 2011 from the University of Illinois at Springfield in political affairs; during this period he completed an internship with the lobby firm Cook Witter Inc. His work at Cook Witter ranged from tax policy, agriculture issues, healthcare, and legislative engagement with lawmakers.

You can learn more about Chris and IAVA here.