CBP Suicide Awareness and Prevention

A Border Patrol Agent Uses Meditation For His Mental Health: This month’s 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.

Your Physical Health Can Help Prevent Suicide: January’s Suicide Awareness and Prevention Podcast features the Program Manager for CBP’s “Healthier CBP” Program. As a nurse, she is an expert on health and wellness. She talks with Dr. Corso about 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

A Reality She Didn’t Ask For: CBP had four suicides in the Rio Grande Valley Sector during 2022. This month’s guest on the Suicide Prevention Podcast is Ms. Jane Doe, the wife of one of our Rio Grand Valley agents who ended his life. She describes her experience as a loss survivor and explains how she is living “A Reality She Didn’t Ask For.”

Examining Suicide From an Intelligence and EMT Perspective: Our November episode of the Suicide Prevention Podcast features Matt, a CBP supervisor who works for the CBP Watch. Matt explains his unique experiences with suicide in CBP and proposes we examine suicides from the perspectives of intelligence gathering and emergency medicine

You Never Schedule Later: Dr Corso and Cara talk 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.

Senior CBP Leaders Weigh In On Suicide Prevention: In support of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and CBP’s commitment to reduce suicides in our workforce, Dr. Kent Corso talked with Commissioner Magnus, Deputy Commissioner Miller and Acting Chief Operating Officer Huffman about what senior leaders can do to help reduce the risks, why suicide prevention is important to them, and what all employees can do to reduce their own risk and the risk to their coworkers.

Turning The Tables and Asking The Expert. : Dr Corso answers questions from the field and podcast producer Timothy Brien about the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program. Topics discussed are Dr Corso’s background and passion for helping CBP employees at all levels change the culture and ask those uncomfortable questions.

No Feeling Is Final: Ann, an agricultural specialist with CBP discusses her attempt and how she was able to turn her life around and focus on helping herself and others.

No One Is Better Off After A Suicide. Sometimes suicidal persons believe they are doing their loved ones a favor by ending their life. Our guest on this month’s suicide prevention podcast is Kate, a suicide loss survivor who explains why the loved ones who are left behind are NOT better off. She is also a regional supervisor in the intelligence field who describes through her personal experience, how seeking help does not mean automatically losing one’s security clearance.

Highlights of the First 11 Episodes. In this episode, we highlight 5 previous guests on the podcast who are loss survivors or who had thoughts about suicide and how they reached out for help in their time of need.

Being A Leader by Having Difficult Conversations About Suicide. In this episode we talk with Chief Clem about being a leader and having the difficult talk about suicide. Recently his team had an employee who reached out and was able to get help, another employee did not reach out and ended their life.

Losing A Coworker to Suicide. In this episode we talk with Zeus, a loss survivor, who recently lost a coworker to suicide and the impact it has had on his life.

The Relationship Between Safety and Suicide. In this episode, we discuss with Dave from OSH about the cost of injuries to CBP and how those injuries can lead to a loss of self and purpose and eventually suicide.

The Connection Between Substance Misuse and Suicide. Kimbra talks with Dr Corso about the connection between Substance Misuse and suicidal ideation and how she was able to overcome her challenges and make a fulfilling career at CBP. By using abstinence and a support network, she was able to not only help herself, but fellow CBP employees.

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A Story of Taking Back Your Life. 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. After he and his wife found help their lives changed for the better and their relationship has never been stronger as they tell their story and help others.

Going From Military To Civilian and Overcoming Those Challenges. Transitioning from the Military to a Civilian occupation brings about many challenges. In this episode Dr Corso and Chaplain Will talk about his challenges with his transition and how he was able to overcome them and thrive in the Federal Civilian Workforce.

Understanding The Nexus of Domestic Violence and Suicide. When an individual is in a domestic violence situation, they can feel like there is no way our and no one to help them. This can lead them to think that the only way out is to end their lives. In this conversation with Cristina, Dr Corso talks with her about her experience and how she got out of a bad situation and continued with her career.

No One Is Immune from The Effects of Suicide. Losing a parent to suicide is devastating. Being in a position of leadership does not make one immune to the effects, Commissioner Miller discusses his personal story of loss and how it makes him empathetic to those going through similar circumstances.

Keeping Your Ears Open Can Keep Someone Alive. An offhand remark alerted a coworker that something was off. Because of their concern and quick thinking a life was saved and help was obtained and career was saved in this conversation with Dr Corso and Sal

Seeing Something and Saying Something Saves a Life.
An overheard conversation and an alert supervisor saved a coworker’s life. Dr Corso and Paula talk about the resources she utilized in order to save a coworker’s life and avoid a suicide.

Getting The Phone Call That No Parent Wants to Get. A parent’s worst nightmare is when they receive the call that their child has taken their life. In this conversation Dr Corso talks with Terry about his recent loss and how he is dealing with being a loss survivor.