WCPO: UC expert, former police sergeant touring country to help stop veteran suicides

The University of Cincinnati's Kate Chard and former Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) sergeant Dave Corlett spoke with WCPO about their work to prevent veteran suicides through training tied to workplace stress and PTSD in law enforcement and the veteran community.

Corlett ran CPD's Military Liasion Group with a goal to use the military backgrounds of more than 200 officers to help community members who served and are dealing with post-traumatic stress. The work expanded with a goal to prevent veteran suicides, and Corlett has partnered with Chard to provide trainings to first responders and the veteran community through CopOp LLC.

“The doctor and I met during crisis intervention training one time, and she listened to me teach the basics and then I listened to what she taught. And we kind of decided that it went together,” Corlett told WCPO.

“I talk about PTSD and what the research shows and I educate them, but Dave puts a real face to it," said Chard, PhD, University of Cincinnati professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience and director of PTSD programs at the Cincinnati VA. "He helps them realize that the things they thought were just everyday things that shouldn't be affecting them are things that absolutely can affect you."

Following a successful partnership in Cincinnati, Chard and Corlett are taking part in a 24-city speaking tour with nonprofit Hope for the Warriors to reach more veterans across the country.

“To have Dr. Chard and Dave Corlett, who have been doing this work in Cincinnati and had tremendous success and supporting the veteran community, to have them come in and align with Hope for the Warriors and bring that knowledge and expertise to different states and cities is a measurable impact for the veteran community,” said Emma Walsh, chief impact officer of Hope for the Warriors.

Watch or read the WCPO story.

Featured photo at top of Kate Chard. Photo/University of Cincinnati.