Ep. 47 - Talking With Henry Angulo From The Fire Watch: Saving Lives, The Firewatch Approach to Veteran Suicide Prevention
Manage episode 472969525 series 3564444
Henry Angulo returns to share how The Firewatch is creating a measurable impact on veteran suicide rates across Florida through their community-based approach. As Regional Programs Director for South Florida, Henry reveals the powerful statistics behind their work – including a consistent 27% decrease in veteran suicide in Northeast Florida since their program began.
The conversation takes a powerful turn when Scott shares a personal story of using his Firewatch training to help a veteran in crisis, highlighting the effectiveness of their "Veterans Safe Place Program." This free 45-60 minute training provides participants with a wallet card containing critical resources and a step-by-step process for handling crisis situations – a simple tool that literally saves lives.
Henry explains how The Firewatch is expanding across Florida through county grants and their Ambassador program, which allows passionate volunteers to become certified trainers. We learn how states like California and Alaska have expressed interest in implementing similar programs, showing the potential for this Florida success story to develop into a national movement.
What makes The Firewatch's approach unique is their focus on creating "connectors" throughout communities – regular people equipped to recognize warning signs and guide those in crisis toward professional help. Their model acknowledges that suicide affects everyone, with approximately 135 people impacted by each suicide, making prevention truly a community-wide responsibility.
Ready to make a difference? Visit thefirewatchorg.org to request training for your organization, become an Ambassador, or support this vital mission through donations that help keep these life-saving resources free and accessible to all.
Chapters
1. Ep. 47 - Talking With Henry Angulo From The Fire Watch: Saving Lives, The Firewatch Approach to Veteran Suicide Prevention (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to Firewatch (00:01:17)
3. Understanding Suicide Prevention Data (00:10:09)
4. The Ambassador Program (00:19:21)
5. Training Process and Real-World Impact (00:27:54)
6. Statewide Expansion Efforts (00:34:41)
7. Becoming a Veteran Safe Place (00:42:04)
52 episodes