>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW STUDY SHOWS HOW POLITICAL PARTIES PRIORITIZE POWER THROUGH ELECTORAL CODES AND ADMINISTRATORS AND LATER IN THE HOUR ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW PROPOSITION 310 WOULD CHANGE TAX RATES FOR FIRE DISTRICTS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

QUICKKARI LAKE REITERATED THAT SHE WILL NOT ACCEPT NOVEMBER'S ELECTION IF SHE DOESN'T WIN.

>> MY QUESTION IS, WILL YOU ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF YOUR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?

>> I'M GOING TO WIN THE ELECTION AND I WILL ACCEPT THAT RESULT.

>> IF YOU LOSE, WILL YOU ACCEPT THAT?

>> I'M GOING TO WIN AND I WILL ACCEPT THAT RESULT?

>> Ted: KATIE HOBBS APPEARED WITH DANA BASH AND HOBBS WAS ASKED TO CLARIFY HER POSITION ON ABORTION?

>> THE DECISION ON ABORTION SHOULD BE BETWEEN A PATIENT AND HER DOCTOR?

>> IT SHOULD ONLY BE DECIDED IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE?

>> GOVERNMENT MAKING THESE KIND OF MAN DATES MANDATES WITH THE CARE THE DOCTOR PROVIDES TO THE PATIENTS.

>> Ted: OF NOTE, WE WILL ASK QUESTIONS OF KATIE HOBBS ON TOMORROW NIGHT'S EDITION OF ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> THE U.S. HOUSE OVERSIGHT SHOWS THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION CHARGED SECRET SERVICE EXCESSIVE RATES ON DOZENS OF TRIPS WHILE TRAVELING WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY.

THE PANEL FOUND THE SECRET SERVICE WAS CHARGED $1.4 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS WITH AGENTS CHARGED MORE THAN $1100 A NIGHT OVER SOME PROPERTIES DESPITE THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION SAYING THEY WOULD STAY FREE OR AT COST.

>>> AND KANYE WEST IS BRANCHING OUT BETWEEN MUSIC AND FASHION AND PLANS TO TAKE OVER PARLOR OVER WEST WHO HAS CHANGED HIS NAME NO "YE" FOR A TWEET NAMED ANTI-SEMETIC.

IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT BEFORE IT'S DEEMED OFFICIAL.

>>> A NEW REPORT ABOUT VOTING OVERSIGHTS SUGGESTS THIS IS PARTISAN TO POINT THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE PRIORITIZING THEIR POWER THROUGH ELECTORAL CODES.

THE REPORT WAS RELEASED BY ASU CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY AND OPEN PRIMARIES.

JOINING US NOW, THOM REILLY, A CODIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT AND SUSTAINABLE DIRECTOR AND JEREMY GRUBER AT OPEN PRIMARIES AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THOM, THIS IS PARTISAN BY DESIGN.

TELL US MORE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT ELECTION CODES TO, OUR ELECTION ADMINISTERS SYSTEM HAS BEEN PARTISAN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A MAJORITY RUNNING THE ENTIRE STATE.

THAT WORKED WHEN MOST OF THE ACTORS LIKE SECRETARY OF STATES ACTED IN A NON-PARTISAN MAN EXPERTMANNERAND WHEN MOST WERE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

BUT WE'RE SEEING THE PROBLEM WITH THAT.

RIGHT NOW, WE SEE INCREASED POLARIZATION AND WE SEE THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT PART OF THE PARTISAN, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT AND THAT'S CREATING VULNERABILITIES IN THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM.

IN OUR REVIEW, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THE CODES THAT WERE GOVERNING IT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF STATES PROHIBIT NONAFFILIATE OR INDEPENDENTS FROM SERVING AS CANVASSERS FROM POLL WORKERS AND JUDGES AND RELY ON TWO PARTIES.

>> Ted: THIS IS 30 ODD STATES AND WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> WE LOOKED AT 30 STATES AND THE REASON WHY WE TOOK ON THIS REPORT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW INDEPENDENTS ARE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS IN OUR PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM.

SO WE WANTED TO SEE HOW ARE THEY TREATED IN OTHER IMPACTS OF THE ELECTORAL CODE AND AS WE POURED THROUGH THEM, I MEAN, WE WERE SHOCKED.

WE WERE EXPECTING TO FIND SORT OF A DRY RECITATION OF RULES AND AT EVERY TURN, AT EVERY POINT IN THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE 30 STATES WE LOOKED AT, INCLUDING ARIZONA, WE FOUND INDEPENDENTS TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS AND THEY ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST EXPECT PARTIESAGAINST AND AT EVERY ASPECT OF THE PUBLIC'S INTERACTION WITH ADMINISTRATION OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM, INDEPENDENTS AND ANYONE OTHER THAN A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ARE SHUT OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN WORLD THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT NON-PARTISAN ELECTION AUTHORITY.

>> Ted: IT READS NO FIREWALL BETWEEN COMPETITORS AND ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT RAISES A BIG RED FLAG, DOES IT NOT?

>> IT DOES.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SECRETARY OF STATES, THEY RUN UNDER THE RADAR UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN WE HAVE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RUNNING IN VERY POLARIZED RACES AND RUNNING AS ELECTION DENIERS AND THEY RUN IN POLARIZED ELECTIONS AND AFTER HE OR SHE WINS, THERE SHOULD BE THIS VIEWED AS A NEUTRAL ARBITOR AND THAT'S ONE COMPONENT OF THIS POLARIZATION ABSOLUTE.

AS WE SEE THIS EXPLOITATION OF THE VULNERABILITIES OF THIS PARTISAN MANNER, WE NOW HAVE EXTREME GROUPS ATTEMPTING TO PUT POLL WORKERS IN THE VOTING BOOTHS THAT COULD SABOTAGE OR CREATE HAVOC.

IN OUR REVIEW, KEEP IN MIND, ALMOST ALL OF THE STATES WE HAD PROHIBIT INDEPENDENT OR NON-PARTISANS FROM SERVING THAT ROLE.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, THOUGH, AND THERE ARE EXTREMES ON BOTH SIDES, I WOULD IMAGINE, AS THOM MENTIONED, BUT IS IT NECESSARILY UNFAIR TO NOT HAVE INDEPENDENTS BUT TO HAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BEHOLDEN TO THE ELECTION PROCESS?

>> YOU HAVE A SYSTEM CONSTRUCTED BIPARTISAN AND BY DESIGN AND IT'S PARTISAN IN THE WAY EVERYBODY INTERACTS WITH THE SYSTEM.

INDEPENDENTS ARE NOW THE SEC GROUP OF VOTERS.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU INCLUDE THEM AND ALSO GET THE RANDOM REPUBLICAN AND THE RANDOM DEMOCRAT?

>> WE NEED A SYSTEM MORE FAIR AND WE NEED TO START BY MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING ON THESE ROLES ARE PROFESSIONALS, THAT THEY FOLLOW A STRICT CODE OF ETHICS AND WE HAVE TO BEGIN ROLLING BACK THE SYSTEM WE HAVE HAD, A SYSTEM THAT IS CURRENTLY BREAKING DOWN BECAUSE IT INCLUDED FAR, FAR FEWER PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE BUILD UP A SYSTEM THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF EVERY AMERICAN.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, THOM HERE, THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER, SECRETARY OF STATE, NON-PARTISAN STATUS, I MOON, CAN YOU BE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN AND HAVE NON-PARTISAN STATUS?

>> IF WE GO BACK TO THE ELECTION, WE'RE IN THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT ELECTS ELECTS A CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.

THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BUT THEY RUNS A NON-PARTISAN AND PLEDGE TO BE NON-PARTISAN AND THAT'S THE POINT.

IN THE PAST, INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACTED IN A NON-PARTISAN MANNER.

WE HAVEN'T HAD INDIVIDUALS RUNNING IN THESE POLARIZED, ELECTION DENIERS AND PROFESSING TO BRING INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL MESS WITH THE SYSTEM.

IT WOULD SEEM LIKE YOU WOULD WANT NON-PARTISAN EQUAL TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, IF NOT DOMINATING POLL WORKERS AND CANVASSERS.

>> Ted: JEREMY, YOU LOOK AT NON-PARTISAN COMMISSIONERS AND NON-PARTISAN AGENCIES BUT IF IT'S A COMMISSION, IS THAT DOWN THE RIGHT TRACK?

WE NEED NON-PARTISAN COMMISSIONS AND WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE AMERICANS ARE NON-TRUSTFUL OFTRUSTFUL.

IF YOU HAVE A SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS BASED ON PARTISANSHIP, IT'S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE WHY PEOPLE ARE SO CONFUSED WHETHER OR NOT THE SYSTEM IS FAIR.

WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE CAN TRUST THAT'S IMPARTIAL AND THAT'S HOW EVERY OTHER COUNTRY DOES IT.

WE NEED TO WORK TOWARD THAT GOAL.

>> Ted: IT'S AN INTERESTING STUDY.

JEREMY GRUBER AND THOM REILLY, THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, A NEW LAW HELPING VETERANS THAT SUFFER FROM A TOXIC EXPOSURE.

>> THE PACKED ACT IS A HISTORIC NEW LAW THAT WILL HELP DELIVER CARE AND BENEFITS FROM MILLIONS OF VETERANS SUFFERING FROM CONDITIONS RELATED TO TABERNACLE EXPOSURE AND WILL BRING GENERATIONS OF VETERANS INTO VA HEALTHCARE WHICH SHOULD IMPROVE VETERAN HEALTH ACROSS THE BOARD.

HERE IS MICHAEL WELSH, THE HEALTHCARE MEDICAL CENTER DIRECTOR AND CHRIS NORTON, THE DIRECTOR.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MICHAEL, WE'LL START WITH THE PACKETPACT ACT.

WHAT'S THAT?

>> COMPREHENSIVE TOXIC EXPOSURES FOR VETERANS IN THE MILITARY AND MAKING SURE WE GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE AS A PART OF THEIR SERVICE.

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS OR VETERANS BUT IT SUPPORTS THE VA AND WHAT OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THAT TO OUR VETERANS.

>> Ted: CHRIS, WHAT 280 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY AND WE'RE WORKING TO GET OUR VETERANS THE BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE WITHOUT MAKING THEM WAIT DECADES LIKE FROM OUR VIETNAM ERA.

>> Ted: CHRIS, WE'LL STAY WITH YOU.

PRESUMPTIVE CARE AND BENEFITS FOR TOXIC AND PREEMPTIVE CARE AND TELL US MORE.

>> WELL, PRESUMPTIVE, FROM A BENEFIT'S PERSPECTIVE, CURRENTLY, OR UP UNTIL THE PACT ACT, THEIR DISABILITIES WERE RELATE TORELATERELATEDTO SPECIFIC INCIDENT IN SERVICE.

BY THE PRESENCE IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND THE SPECIFIC DISABILITIES, WE'LL CONNECT THOSE TWO.

THE ANALOGY WOULD BE AGENT ORANGE, WE KNOW THAT LEADS TO LUNG CANCER, DIABETES.

WE DON'T MAKE THAT VETERAN PROVE THAT.

WE ASSUME THAT.

MAKES THE PROCESS MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Ted: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE AND IF THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER MAY HAVE AFFECTED YOU.

>> AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US AS A HEALTHCARE AGENCY AND THE BENEFIT BECAUSE WITH THAT PRESUMPTIVE,PRESUMPTIVE, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AS SOON AS VETERANS ENROLL AND SCREAMEDSCREENED POSITIVE, WE TAKE CARE OF THEM FROM A HEALTHCARE POINT.

>> Ted: THIS WAS IN THE NEWS AND WHAT ARE BURN PITS?

>> AS A MILITARY VETERAN, I WAS AROUND BURN PITS, BUT THEY WERE BURNING OIL AND OUR VETERANS WERE AROUND THOSE AREAS AND THEY HAD TO INHALE THE BURN EFFECTS OR BE WITHIN THAT TOXIC EXPOSURE.

>> Ted: CHRIS, THOSE VETERANS HERETOFORE, WHEN THEY WENT FOR CARE, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, YEAH, BUT?

OR HOW WERE THEY HANDLED?

>> WE WOULD SAY YES, HOW IS YOUR CONDITION RELATED TO THAT EXPOSURE.

AND THAT COULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

THE SCIENCE WASN'T SPECIFICALLY THERE AND ONE THING THE ACT DOES IS TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THAT SCIENCE AND MAKE THESE ACTIONS QUICKER THAN PREVIOUSLY.

SO WE KNOW THAT A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT CANCERS, OF VETERANS FOLLOWING OUR INTERACTIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

WE KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP IS THERE AND WE'RE TAKING THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AWAY AND JUST SAYING YOU HAVE THIS EXISTS MORE SO THAN IT DOES IN THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, ESTABLISHING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND GET YOU YOUR MEDICAL CARE AND COMPENSATION RATHER THAN HAVE YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE GOVERNMENT AND PROVE THESE TWO THINGS ARE RELATED.

>> Ted: MIKE, IT SOUNDS LIKE GULF WAR SYNDROME, ONE WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH BUT SOME THE GENERAL PUBLIC ISN'T AWARE OF AND MAYBE SOME VETS AROUND AWARE OF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SCREENING PROCESS, HOPENY, WILL HELP VETERANS TO SEE IF THEY ARE SCREENED AS POSITIVE.

SO THE QUESTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO TRY TO GET THAT OUT OF OUR VETERAN POPULATION EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SURE AND THEY ANSWER YES AND WE'LL MOVE THAT FURTHER TO RESUME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THAT CARE TO OUR VETERANS.

>> Ted: WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH CHANGE.

ACCORDING TO THE VA, 80% BETWEEN 2007 AND 2020 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW AND DO THOSE NUMBERS RING TRUE TO YOU?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUT I KNOW THAT IT TAKES AWHILE FOR THE SCIENCE TO CATCH UP.

WE KNOW THAT THE START OF THE GULF WAR IN PARTICULAR STARTED 30 YEARS AGO AND WE STARTED HAVING CLUSTERS OF VETERANS REPORTING SYMPTOMS AND THOSE SYMPTOMS, THAT PATTERN DIDN'T DEVELOP UNTIL AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

IT TAKES AWHILE FOR THE SCIENCE AND LESS TO CATCH UP TO ALLOW US TO MAKE THAT GRANT.

IT ESTABLISHES A RELATIONSHIP, GIVES THE BENEFIT TO THE VETERAN AND ELIMINATES THAT BACK AND FORTH OF YOU MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THAT SERVICE.

>> Ted: BECAUSE OF THIS, THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE A LOT OF VETS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE VA OR GETTING THE HEALTH SERVICES THEY NEED, THEY'LL START SHOWING UP.

>> THEY ARE AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

401(K)S ISPHOENIX IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE ANOTHER 30,000 POTENTIAL VETERANS COME INTO OUR DOOR AND WE'RE EXCITED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THEY DESERVE.

>> Ted: THAT'S AN ELEMENT OF ALL OF THIS, IS IT NOT?

I MEAN, MORE PATIENTS COMING IN.

>> WE'LL BE SERVING AN HISTORIC INFLUX OF VETERANS.

I'VE HEARD THIS CAN MUCH MEDICAL BENEFITS OR COMPENSATION BENEFITS, ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE LIVING VETERAN, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HUGE.

SO ON THE BENEFIT'S SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WE'VE HIRED UP AN ADDITIONAL 1600 DECISION-MAKERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR TO PREPARE US FOR THIS.

WE'LL BE DOING MORE OF THE SAME AND STARTING TO USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO AUTOMATE THE NON-VALUE-ADDED WORK OUR DECISION-MAKERS TO DO TAKE A PROCESS THAT TAKES US FIVE MONTHS TO GET THAT DOWN TO A COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> Ted: IF A VETERAN IS WATCHING RIGHT NOW, FAMILY, LOVED ONE OF A VETERAN AND WANT TO KNOW MORE, HE'S NOT GOING TO THE VA, HE NEEDS TO GO, OR SHE, WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> IT'S VA.GO, OR 400-MY VA.GO.

>> VA.G YORK/PACT OR 80-MYVA >> Ted: OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUICIDE AND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HOW PREMEDITATION, MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAN AFFECT THIS KIND OF DOMES.

DOMESTIC.

WE HAVE CHARLES KATZ.

>> IT'S ONE OF THREE OR FOUR FACTORS IN UNDERSTANDING ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO SUICIDE.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE VERBAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE, IT SHOULDN'T BE AS SURPRISING AS IT IS.

>> Ted: IT SHOWS MORE THAN A QUARTER OF ARIZONA SUICIDES WITH THE VICTIMS INTIMATE PARTNER AND THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT.

>> IT'S 25% WITH INTIMATE PARTNERS AND 10% WHEN YOU INCLUDE FAMILY AND FAMILY RELATIONAL PROBLEMS AND A THIRD OF ALL SUICIDES RELATED TO THE INTIMATE PARTNERS IN OUR LIVES.

>> Ted: HAS THAT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

>> IN ARIZONA, IT'S HELD STABLE WITH OUR SUICIDE RATE AND IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT AS PEOPLE ARE MORE VULNERABLE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.

>> Ted: 60% OF VICTIMS HAD A HISTORY OR KNOWN HISTORY OF THOUGHTS, SUICIDE THOUGHTS, SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND THAT COMES INTO PLAY FOR PRE- PRE-EPHTION.

>> THEY'VE TRIED IT IN THE PAST AND THOSE ARE KEY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO INTERVENE.

>> JUST BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE.

>> MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE AND SO HARD TO TALK ABOUT WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE OR CARE ABOUT OUR PEOPLE AT WORK.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST INTIMATE DETAILS AND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING, IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION OR MOVING IT PASSED DISCUSSION AND TAKING ACTIONS TO PREVENT IT.

>> Ted: YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM OR OBVIOUSLY A DIFFICULT EXISTENCE WORSE.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS SOMEBODY OR MAKE SOMEBODY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE NEED TO REACH OUT AND GET PEOPLE THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.

>> Ted: THE REPORT SHOWS 50% OF SUICIDES USE A FIREARM AND THAT SUGGESTS DIFFERENT WAYS OF GETTING GUNS OUT HANDS OF THOSE WHO ARE SHOWING THESE TENDENCIES AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT AND MOST WHO COMMIT SUICIDES ARE MALES AND MALES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO USE A GUN TO KILL THEMSELVES.

THIS REQUIRES ONE, A CONVERSATION AND MAYBE A BIT MORE OF A CONSIDERATION AND THAT COMES WITH INTERVENTION.

EITHER THOSE THAT ARE CLOSE TO THEM, LOVE THEM, PARTNERS OR DOCTORS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM, WHETHER THAT'S PSYCHOLOGISTS AND WHETHER IT'S THEIR PERSONAL CARE OR PHYSICIAN.

BUT IT'S GETTING TO POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO KILL THEMSELVES.

>> Ted: BEING AGGRESSIVE, THE ONOPERATIVE PHRASE.

63% HAD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THAT'S NOT TOO SURPRISING, IS IT?

>> NO.

AND WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE ONE THING THAT IS MISSING IS THAT WHEN WE COMBINE MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS PHYSICAL HEALTH AND TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THE SUICIDE THAT TAKES PLACE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE FOR THOSE EDERLY, 65 AND OLDER AND ROUGHLY 50% ARE BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> Ted: AND THEN 32% INDICATED AN ADDICTION PROBLEM, AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY UP.

I DON'T KNOW, HAS IT INCREASED?

>> OPIATES ARE A CRUSHING PROBLEM TO SOCIETY.

THAT GOES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, MIDDLE AGED, EDERLY AND MEDICATION AND THEY BECOME ADDICTED AND SO EASY TO MOVE.

IT'S NOT LIKE MARIJUANA OR COCAINE BUT IF TINY, TINY BITS AND PILLS AND VERY DANGEROUS.

>> Ted: ALL OF THESE RUBRICS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A KEY PROBLEM.

IF WE REDUCE SUICIDE, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PARTNER VIOLENCE.

>> Ted: WHAT DO WE DO?

>> A LOT OF THINGS WE'VE LEARNED TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHEN WE INTERVENE IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S HOUSEHOLD, ARREST MAY BE A GOOD OPTION OR MAYBE A BAD OPTION.

ARREST CAN BE INCREASED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNEMPLOYED OR IF THEY'RE EMPLOYED, THINGS MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

BUT WE NEED MORE EMPHASIS ON INTERVENTION AND THAT MEANS WHEN VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE ARE TAKING PLACE, THAT WE'RE INTERVENING WHEN THE FAMILIES BEFORE IT ESCALATES TO PHYSICAL ABUSE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THE STUDY?

TO BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE FROM PREVENTING SUICIDE WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE CONTEMPLATING IT AND TAKING ACTION IS IMPERATIVE.

>> Ted: CHARLES KATZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMON INTERESTS THANKS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP ON ARIZONA PBS, TRACKING THE POPULATION OF DESERT TORTOISES IN THE WILD.