Share

cover art for Reducing the Veteran Suicide Rate

Security Clearance Careers Podcast

Reducing the Veteran Suicide Rate

•

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental health are critical issues that affect many veterans and the veteran suicide rate. The experiences and environments faced during military service can lead to enduring psychological impacts that require attention and care.


Greg VanDyne is a former Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) who served with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He co-founded the Vetrepreneur Collective which is a community that takes the skills the military diligently taught veterans and gives a step-by-step guide to start your own company through Mentorship, coaching, guidance, and advice all through a like minded veteran community. Greg believes “the military should be throwing the kitchen sink at reducing soldier suicide”, making Suicide Safety Plans an annual requirement for the military retirement and transition process.


He joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to discuss his own transition and why destigmatizing mental health is so important to him.


PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. For veterans, these events may include combat, military sexual trauma, or other life-threatening situations. Symptoms of PTSD can include:

  • Intrusive Memories: Recurrent, distressing memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
  • Avoidance: Steering clear of places, activities, or people that remind them of the trauma.
  • Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: Feelings of hopelessness, memory problems, or difficulty maintaining close relationships.
  • Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: Being easily startled, having trouble sleeping, or experiencing irritability and anger.


Addressing mental health is vital for veterans to lead fulfilling lives post-service. Mental health care can involve:

  • Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are effective treatments for PTSD.
  • Medication: Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can help manage symptoms.
  • Support Groups: Connecting with peers who have similar experiences can provide emotional support and a sense of community.
  • Self-Care: Engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation can improve overall well-being.


Veterans may face unique challenges in seeking mental health care:

  • Stigma: There can be a stigma associated with seeking help, which may prevent veterans from accessing necessary services.
  • Access to Care: Navigating the VA healthcare system or finding mental health professionals who understand military culture can be difficult.
  • Transition to Civilian Life: Adjusting to civilian life can be stressful and may exacerbate mental health issues.


Supporting veterans in their mental health journey involves:

  • Awareness and Education: Promoting understanding of PTSD and mental health issues among the public and within the veteran community.
  • Access to Resources: Ensuring veterans have information on and access to mental health services, both through the VA and private providers.
  • Community Support: Encouraging community programs and initiatives that support veterans and their families.


More episodes

View all episodes

  • Advice Recruiters Wish They Could Tell You

    24:20|
    The unfiltered guidance recruiters talk about internally—but don’t always say publicly.Recruiters spend their days reviewing resumes, navigating hiring manager expectations, managing candidate emotions, and balancing timelines that rarely cooperate. In between interviews and offer letters, there are quiet conversations recruiters have with each other — the honest, unfiltered kind.Tune in to this episode where the Director of Talent Acquisition and HR at STEMBoard, Casey Talley, shares some of the advice recruiters wish they could give every candidate.

  • Navigating the Federal Workforce Reset

    22:20|
    What happens when the federal career you expected no longer exists?Lindy Kyzer speaks with Love Rutledge, host of the FedUpward podcast and longtime advocate for federal employees, about navigating unexpected career transitions in government.Love shares her own experience retiring earlier than planned through deferred resignation — and the identity shift that comes with stepping away from lifelong civil service. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial realities of leaving federal employment, how to translate federal resumes for private-sector roles, and why outcomes matter more than duties in today’s job market.They also highlight grassroots resources supporting transitioning federal employees, including community-led initiatives, networking strategies, and professional organizations that are helping fill gaps left by traditional support systems.Finally, they discuss an important countertrend: federal hiring isn’t gone. Agencies are rehiring. Budget cycles still drive opportunity. And for some professionals, the next move may be a return to government service — this time with clearer strategy and broader perspective.If you’re transitioning, underemployed, job searching, or simply reassessing your path in public service, this episode offers clarity, realism, and practical next steps.

  • Recruiting Subject Lines That Can Increase Your Email Open Rates

    22:54|
    Your first impression often isn’t a handshake. It’s a subject line.Recruiters spend hours crafting the perfect message to candidates, only to see it go unopened. The truth? Even the most compelling opportunity won’t matter if your email never gets clicked. A strong subject line can be the difference between a missed connection and your next great hire.Jay Schwedelson, founder and CEO of GURU Media Hub, has built and led businesses that have generated over $400 million in revenue, all by doing what most marketers are too afraid to try: breaking the so-called “best practices.” He joins the podcast to talk about what subject lines actually increase open rates and what best practices you should ignore.

  • Want Better Cleared Candidates? Start Here (Before Your Competitors Do)

    27:53|
    If you’re hiring cleared talent, you already know the market is moving fast—AI, clearance timelines, technical recruiting pressure…Today we’re breaking down why ClearanceJobs Connect West is the event recruiters should prioritize this year. Tune in to learn about Connect West in one word and what kind of recruiter gets the most value from attending.

  • Human Judgment in a Machine-Speed World

    26:44|
    Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping national security missions—but real AI readiness goes far beyond adopting new tools.On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, for a deep dive into what it truly means for the federal government to be AI-ready.Together, they explore why AI readiness must start with mission readiness, not technology procurement; why digital literacy is no longer optional for the federal workforce; and how human judgment, accountability, and ethical decision-making become even more critical in an AI-enabled environment. The conversation also examines the growing overlap between AI and cybersecurity, the cultural and bureaucratic barriers slowing adoption, and the risks government faces if it fails to adapt.This episode offers practical insight for clearance holders, hiring leaders, policymakers, and technologists navigating the realities of AI, governance, and workforce transformation in national security.

  • Cyber and AI Career Pathways

    31:04|
    Breaking into cybersecurity or AI can feel overwhelming—especially with so much conflicting advice online. In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with Dr. Gerald Auger, a cybersecurity leader, educator, and founder of the Simply Cyber community, to cut through the noise and focus on what actually works.With over 20 years of experience across cybersecurity operations, leadership, and higher education, Dr. Auger shared practical guidance for anyone looking to launch or level up a technical career. We talked about the foundational skills employers care about most, how AI is reshaping cybersecurity roles, and why hands-on experience and community involvement often matter more than chasing every new certification.Dr. Auger also offered honest insights into common mistakes job seekers make—from relying too heavily on job boards to underestimating the power of personal branding and networking. For veterans and career switchers, he emphasized translating experience into business value and treating the job search like a mission with clear objectives and accountability.Whether you’re just starting out, transitioning from the military, or navigating the next step in your tech career, this episode delivers clear, actionable advice to help you move forward with confidence.🎧 Listen to the full episode to learn how to build a cybersecurity or AI-adjacent career that lasts.

  • Defense Contractors Offering Cleared Remote Work

    25:40|
    Remote work is a major factor in how professionals choose roles, companies, and even long-term career paths. But for cleared professionals, the remote work conversation comes with a unique set of questions: Is remote work even possible with a clearance? Which roles can actually be done off-site? How do you find real remote jobs, and avoid the ones that aren’t what they seem?A recent FlexJobs report, Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2026, includes several major defense contractors, and that’s a signal worth paying attention to. While many cleared roles still require on-site work, the presence of defense employers on a remote-focused list shows that flexibility is becoming part of the broader defense hiring conversation.In this episode, we break down what remote work really looks like in the cleared space, what job seekers should know before applying, and how to stay competitive as hiring trends evolve.

  • A New Era of Security Clearance Insecurity: New Legal Voices, Real-World Guidance for 2026

    28:37|
    The Security Clearance Insecurity podcast welcomes new legal contributors Elisabeth Baker-Pham of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. and John Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC to the mic. In this episode, the panel breaks down how security clearance decisions intersect with employment law, why agencies handle cases differently, and what cleared professionals should know before filling out an SF-86, responding to investigators, or facing a statement of reasons. A must-listen for anyone navigating the cleared workforce this year.

  • Stories from Inside the CIA

    24:59|
    In the male-dominated world of international espionage, the stories of the women who quietly shaped history have too often been overlooked. Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg brings those stories into the spotlight, revealing how courage, resilience, and grit helped women redefine what it means to be a spy.A New Lens on Intelligence HistoryFor decades, popular culture has portrayed female spies as glamorous sidekicks or exotic figures. But the real history of women in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tells a very different story: one of trailblazers who fought systemic bias, navigated dangerous operations, and forged paths in one of the most secretive institutions in the world.Agents of Change charts that history from the 1960s “secretarial era” through decades of steady progress toward leadership and influence. Along the way, Hillsberg weaves together firsthand accounts from female CIA officers who broke barriers, tackled espionage missions, and reshaped the agency from within.