When the Caregiver Needs Care: Self-Care, Suicide Prevention & Family Healing
Caregivers often carry the emotional, physical, and mental load for their families while neglecting their own well-being. This session will address caregiver burnout, the impact of chronic stress on the entire family, suicide awareness and prevention, and practical strategies for protecting mental health. Participants will leave with encouragement, actionable self-care tools, and trusted resources to support both themselves and their loved ones.
Date April 2, 2026
Hosted By WellMed Charitable Foundation
Kassandra Padilla
Kasandra Padilla is a military caregiver, advocate, and Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow dedicated to supporting veterans, first responders, and their families. Since becoming a full-time caregiver in 2012, she has provided care for her husband, a 26-year U.S. Army veteran with service-connected injuries stemming from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. A breast cancer survivor herself, Kasandra has transformed personal hardship into service, serving as a peer mentor with organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Operation Heal Our Patriots, and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, participating in national advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, and speaking publicly on issues including caregiver burnout and suicide prevention. She is also the founder of a nonprofit focused on advocacy for veterans and first responder families and continues to be a trusted voice and source of support within the military caregiver community.