About the authors

Victor Ashear, PhD, has worked with patients diagnosed with serious mental illness for over forty years. He has worked as a clinical psychologist for nearly thirty-four years at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, primarily at the VA Medical Center in Sheridan, Wyoming, where he focused on assisting veterans diagnosed with serious mental illness in residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Dr. Ashear serves on the Wyoming Board of Psychology. He currently has a private practice in Sheridan.

Vanessa Hastings lives in Sheridan, Wyoming, where she works as a technical editor/marketing assistant for national firm SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA). Before joining SWCA, Ms. Hastings served as the suicide prevention coordinator for her community and spearheaded the development of the Wyoming Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.