Dr. Andrew Moon and Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton discuss grief resources for military-connected children, parents, and providers.  This important conversation covers how to talk to young children about death by suicide or grieving the loss of a person, how both children and adults can care for themselves during grief, and where to find critical support throughout the process. 

This podcast is made possible by generous funding from BAE Systems, Inc.  To learn more, visit https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home. 

Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. 

Show Notes: 

Resources: 

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988  

Free eBook, TAPS Grief to Growth: Healing after a suicide loss: https://www.taps.org/suicide/2021/guidebook 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: https://www.taps.org/ 

National Military Survivor Helpline: 800-959-TAPS (8177) 

Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 

Center for Loss and Life Transition: https://www.centerforloss.com/  

Defense Suicide Prevention Office: https://www.dspo.mil 

DoD Casualty Assistance: Gold Star Families & Casualty Assistance | Military OneSource 

The Military Child Well-being Toolkit: https://www.militarychild.org/wellbeingtoolkit

Bios: 

Dr. Andrew Moon, is a dynamically oriented, clinical psychologist, with a career focus on trauma, suicide prevention, and the emerging adult population, and has a passion for supervision, education, and training. Dr. Moon received his doctorate from Loyola University Maryland, where he benefitted from a variety of clinical experiences, including work in college counseling, community mental health, and the prison system. Dr. Moon went on to complete an accredited internship with James Madison University and a fellowship with The George Washington University. Prior to his current role with the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office, he gained experience in the field as lead for education and training in VA’s National Suicide Prevention Program and through clinical positions with Peace Corps and the Washington DC VA Medical Center, both focused on treatment after traumatic events. Dr. Moon has also taken various leadership opportunities in these roles related to training, education, and operations. His current role, Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Engagement, and Education, allows him to focus his day to day efforts on increasing the quality and reach of the projects and programs developed by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, as well as increase the collaboration with internal and external partners. Dr. Moon is a DC area native and enjoys all things food and culture, making DC an ideal place to call home. 

Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, serves as the Senior Director of Suicide Prevention & Postvention at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), where she oversees programs and services provided to military community members and families after a suicide loss. She is a suicidologist and subject matter expert in the areas of grief, trauma, and suicide prevention, intervention, and Postvention, is a registered ASIST trainer in suicide first aid, and is trained in Psychological Autopsy Investigations and Crisis Response Planning. Dr. Stumpf Patton holds a B.S. in Psychology, an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Guidance Counseling, and a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology. Her dissertation research focused on military families bereaved by suicide and was a key contributor in the development of the TAPS Suicide Prevention Model™. Dr. Stumpf Patton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Fellow Thanatologist, a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Florida Qualified Supervisor, and a counseling educator in higher academia. She is the surviving spouse of Sergeant Richard Stumpf, an Active-Duty U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor and Gulf War Era Combat Veteran who died by suicide in 1994, several days before their only child was born. She is remarried to a retired U.S. Marine, who was also a suicide survivor widower, with whom she shares five children.