The United States places a lot of cultural emphasis on the heroism of its veterans, and for good reason—many brave volunteers willingly risk their lives to defend the U.S. and its allies across the globe. When our servicemen and women enlist, however, they put more than just their physical health on the line. Many veterans consider suicide following their tours of duty, and Donna Chapman is determined to see them get the resources they need to recover.
In this episode of SecurityDNA, join SecurityInfoWatch Editorial Director Steve Lasky and Donna Chapman, Director of the A&E Program at HID Global North America and founder of Willpower for Veterans, for a discussion about her advocacy for the mental well-being of veterans, the necessity of destigmatizing emotional wounds, and the importance of raising awareness for this critical issue.
Chapman: “Family members, communities, businesses, and organizations need to understand that our military members and first responders are at the highest risk for service-related emotional wounds.”
Following the loss of her 24-year-old son, Army National Guard Sgt. William Davidson, to suicide, Donna Chapman has championed William’s cause in his stead. Her foundation, Willpower for Veterans, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. The Willpower for Veterans Fund contributes 100 percent of its donations to aid wounded and troubled veterans through awareness, resources, and financial contributions.
Outside of her mission to aid veterans, Chapman has spent 25 years in the security industry, specializing in physical security, architectural door hardware, and access control. She is the current Director of the A&E Program at HID Global North America and previously served as Director of Security Consultant Relations at ASSA ABLOY.
Find this episode of SecurityDNA here.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- The reality of statistics regarding veteran suicide and mental health,
- Why veterans might feel social or organizational pressures preventing them from advocating for themselves,
- How foundations like Willpower for Veterans and the Boulder Crest Foundation aid veterans in crisis,
- And what needs to happen to get veterans the support they need.
