On this week’s Home Base Nation, host Dr. Ron Hirschberg interviews the interviewer at NPR Studios in New York City, with the award-winning correspondent and author, Quil Lawrence. Quil has been walking the walk with correspondence on war, government, culture and more for more than 25 years, down range during OIF and OEF, and NPR's Bureau Chief in both Baghdad and Kabul beginning in 2009. Since returning home in 2012, Quil covers veterans’ issues, in addition to national security, and climate for NPR News.

• This week, September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September is National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background but there are certain groups of people who are at higher risk of suicide. Suicidal thoughts, although common should not be considered normal and often indicate a more serious issue. 
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7. Calls are confidential, available to any person in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, and supports people calling for themselves or with concern for loved ones.  The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as family members or friends, with qualified VA responders through a confidential call, online chat, or text. Veterans can Dial 988 and Press 1 to talk, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. And remember, You can make a difference by learning warning signs and knowing the risk factors of suicide Learn more with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at www.afsp.org

Thank you Quil Lawrence for joining the conversation on serving our veterans and military families in your own way, on reporting and connecting with so many, and for making a difference in this space for more than 20 years. 

For more information and his Story Archives, you can simply go to NPR website and search for Quil. His latest report on September 1st is a timely piece Marking 2 years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, on all the efforts to an ongoing crisis of inability to evacuate Afghan allies, on the moral injury to our troops and the politics behind the issue. In addition to his work as a correspondent and journalist, Quil is the author of Invisible Nation: How the Kurds' Quest for Statehood is Shaping Iraq and the Middle East,and editor for Pictures on the Radio, a book of the late photographer David Gilkey's work for NPR News.

Thank you to colleague Colonel Dan Arkins, US Army, Retired - Director of Development at Home Base, who first introduced us to Quil Lawrence and his great work with veterans and much more.

This episode was recorded and edited by Chuck Clough, of Above The Basement Productions.

If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org.

To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.

• Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler Frogs
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• The Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.
• Producer and Host: Dr. Ron Hirschberg
  Assistant Producer, Editor: Chuck Clough
  Chairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter Smyth

Home Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/podcast

The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.