Ideas worth spreading

How the US can address the tragedy of veteran suicide

2,129,626 views | Charles P. Smith • TED@WellsFargo

Veterans in the United States take their own lives at an alarming rate. Suggesting new ways to prioritize mental health in the military, veterans advocate Charles P. Smith offers a data-driven plan to help prevent suicide and ensure service members get proper care before, during and after active duty.

Veterans in the United States take their own lives at an alarming rate. Suggesting new ways to prioritize mental health in the military, veterans advocate Charles P. Smith offers a data-driven plan to help prevent suicide and ensure service members get proper care before, during and after active duty.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Wells Fargo. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

Participate in FOCUS, a program for marines in various stages of transition and recovery.

Learn more about Grey Team, preventing veteran suicides across South Florida.

Journey forward with Veteran's PATH, reconnecting veterans with strength and service.

Learn more about Objective Zero, which connects the military community to peer support, wellness and mental health resources.

About the speaker

Charles P. Smith

Veteran's advocate

See speaker profile

Charles P. Smith is a branch manager with Wells Fargo. He is also a veteran’s advocate with more than fifteen years of military experience, including four years as a Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy.

US Department of Veterans Affairs | Explore

Veteran Suicide Data and Reports

Learn what the suicide epidemic looks like. It affects people without regard to race, color or creed — and, in the veteran community, it can be at as much as a 50 percent higher rate than the general population.

US Department of Defense, 2020 | Article

Casualty Status Report

Behind every number, there is a name that gave their life in a belief system that is inherent with military service. All gave some, some gave all.

Veterans Administration | Explore

S.A.V.E.: VA Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training

See what training you can take to get involved and become an active part of the conversation in order to save a life.

Sebastian Junger | Twelve, 2020 | Book

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

Sebastian Junger, a journalist, took his experiences of writing in combat zones and applied his lessons to what it’s like for a veteran to leave elite and cohesive units and transition to a civilian world that seems chaotic, unfocused and without a purpose. He does a wonderful job of weaving his personal experiences into his observations and expressions of how to better understand veterans and what they go through as they try to assimilate into the civilian population.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Wells Fargo. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about the TED Institute.

Participate in FOCUS, a program for marines in various stages of transition and recovery.

Learn more about Grey Team, preventing veteran suicides across South Florida.

Journey forward with Veteran's PATH, reconnecting veterans with strength and service.

Learn more about Objective Zero, which connects the military community to peer support, wellness and mental health resources.