The Power of Connection and Why It Saves Lives | Security Halt! Podcast

The Power of Connection and Why It Saves Lives

In this solo episode of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero discusses the importance of connection in combating loneliness, improving mental health, and preventing suicide.

This episode highlights the responsibility we all have to check in on others and build stronger communities.

In This Episode

• Why connection is critical for mental health and suicide prevention
 • Practical ways to build daily outreach habits
 • The role of community and shared environments
 • Why uncomfortable conversations are necessary
 • How helping others strengthens your own mental health

Chapters:
00:00 Why Connection Is Critical for Mental Health
 05:03 Building Strong Support Networks and Community
 07:27 Daily Outreach Habits That Can Save Lives

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Transcript

hy Connection Matters

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Welcome back to another episode of Security Hell Podcast. I am your host, Denny Caballero. Today, talking about connection. No, I'm not talking about memes or connecting with your friends on social media. I'm talking about the personal phone call, the intentional meetup, the one-on-one interactions that are actually saving lives. Veteran suicide is constantly being propped up and promoted as an issue that's going to be solved by an organization, a giant nonprofit, or just by pumping enough cash into the problem. And everything I've seen since I've gotten in the space tells me otherwise. But there's hope. And the one thing that I've realized that works more often than not, it's just being present for each other. And I know, I know, it sounds very simple, right? But what if we made the intention, the pledge, to connect with at least three people on a daily basis? Reach out, talk. No, life's not simple. We're all dealing with a lot of complex issues. We got wives, we got kids, we've got giant goals and ambitions and businesses to run and promotions to worry about.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

But I bet you're a lot like me.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

And the the thought of doing one more funeral, the thought of losing one more friend, i is just sickening.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

And you're at least willing to try one more thing. I think that thing is simple enough. Just reach out. We focus a lot on covering the stats, covering the issues, covering the signs. But that's reactive. We we need to get ahead of this problem.

oneliness After Losing The Tribe

SPEAKER_01 2:08

If we can stay plugged in, if we can force each other to have the uncomfortable conversations of, yeah, I'm going through a divorce, or yeah, I filed for bankruptcy. My kids are assholes and they're getting in a lot of trouble. And it's costing me a lot of mental duress. If we can just have those uncomfortable talks a lot more and realize that we're not alone, realize that difficulty is a part of life, maybe we can help each other find the answers, or at least for a moment not feel so alone.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

I know. Again, this seems simplistic, but the data's out there.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

Recent VA study says that 68% of veterans polled feel lonely, and 71% feel a lack of companionship. The transition is more than just the loss of a paycheck.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

It's the loss of a tribe. The loss of an identity, and it creates this idea that our best days are behind us. And that couldn't be further from the truth.

uilding Goals With Your Network

SPEAKER_01 3:30

So you have something to look forward to. And one of the comments underneath it just kind of struck me as somebody that was suffering. Like, why do we have to continue growing as people? Why can't we just settle? Like, dude, that's part of the problem. Identify that within each other. Look at your friends. Be willing to stop and ask, like, what do you got going? What's developing? What's on the horizon for you? Having goals is a huge factor. And maybe if we start getting more plugged in, we can start talking about this, building things together. It doesn't have to be a new business. Maybe it's just going on a camping trip, planning for something. Having something on the horizon gives us something to look forward to.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

I challenge you to build that with your group.

imple Ways To Plug In

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Build that with your friend network. If you're at home, you're isolated, understand that you have to do some of that work too. You have to do the uncomfortable work, reaching out, finding new friends, building new relationships. I know it's not easy. I know it's very uncomfortable. But trust me, it's one of the things that is 100% going to help you get out of that pit of despair. It helps restore your purpose. Connection leads to community. Community inevitably will lead to a new mission. When you get out of the worst slump, turning back around helping somebody else is a foolproof way of feeling better. It helps you feel that need of being part of a team. Now, like I said before, building the connection isn't easy. It can be really uncomfortable, especially if you've been isolating for a long time.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

So maybe it's you that needs to take that first step. Make that call. Reach out to one guy today. Plug into a community.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Team Red, White, and Blue, Window Warrior Project, your local CrossFit Gym, Mission 22. These are all real, real resources that are probably within your community right now or within a Google search to get plugged into that can help you get connected today. Create a routine of connection. Now, that doesn't mean get on Xbox Live or get on Discord. Yes, those are what I would like to call supplemental sources of connection. But try to get out. Meet people, engage in a weekly meetup. Get out there. You know, another organization I want to throw out there is a VFW. It's within a lot of our communities, and it's worth a shot. Be willing to try it out. Look, your days of being responsible and being a leader aren't over. Find your courage. Reach out to your friends. Reach out to your old squad mates.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

People want to hear from you. They want to know how you're doing. And then start growing your network again.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

Like I've said before, we don't have to be 100% healed, and that idea is largely a fallacy. I think all of us are going to be on a journey for the rest of our lives, getting better, adapting, becoming.

entor Others And Lead Again

SPEAKER_00 6:51

But when you feel like you're at least 70%, you're no longer struggling on a day-to-day basis, turn around. Help somebody else. Guide them, coach them. Mentor them towards getting more help and getting better.

aily Battle Rhythm And Closing

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Then add them to your fire team. Grow your little L GOP. Stop being isolated. Even our strongest leaders, even our strongest veterans, when they isolate, when they go inward, they struggle. So get ahead of it. Build your team of three, or four, or even five. Call them, text them, engage daily, because I'm telling you, connection saves lives. It's what's going to keep us around in the fight longer. That's it. That's all I got for today. I'd like to remind you if you're a member of the Green Bray community, Special Forces Foundation is rolling out a connection campaign here shortly, as soon as we come up with a name for it. So we're going to be pumping that up through our media channels and letting you guys know that connection's not a one off time thing. It's a daily battle rhythm. Connect. All right. Thank you guys for tuning in. We'll see y'all next time. Till then, take care.