Suicide is a major, yet preventable problem in the United States.
Sadly, Veterans comprise nearly a quarter of suicide deaths in the
U.S. According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual
Report, its estimated that between 17 and 22 veterans or service
members take their lives daily. On average each death affects 135
individuals - family members, coworkers, friends, etc. If you do some
quick math, this means nearly 3,000 lives are affected by veteran
suicide daily. Although veteran suicide occurs for a number of
reasons, there are several causes our community should be aware of in
order to help prevent these rates from rising even higher. Veterans
are most vulnerable in the first three months following military
service, although suicide rates among veterans remains elevated for
years after reintegration into civilian life. Veterans have reported
difficulty in several areas during their transition into civilian
life, including troubles with productivity at work, inability to
perform chores or take care of health needs, and complications while
interacting with spouses, family members, and friends. Veterans
frequently face unique challenges, including exposure to combat,
physical injuries or disabilities incurred during service, and the
stress of transitioning from military to civilian life that contribute
to higher incidences of depression compared to the general population.
There are multiple existing organizations that prioritize helping
Veterans in our community facing difficulties like these. The American
Legions Be The One program trains civilians to help veterans who may
be at risk of suicide. The program aims to reduce the stigma around
mental health treatment and encourage people to take action. The Be
The One program provides various resources to do so, like peer-to-peer
support and resources in local communities. The program aims to teach
individuals how to identify signs of risks and what to do if they see
a veteran who may be at risk. In order to raise awareness of these
issues that affect Americas veterans, I am partnering with the
American Legions Be The One initiative. This organization fights to
raise awareness of the problems veterans face and train civilians to
help them cope with the traumatic events of their past. They offer a
wealth of resources for veterans facing these struggles. The Be The
One 5K will take place on March 29th beginning at 10:00 am at Harnett
Central High School (2911 Harnett Central Rd, Angier, NC 27501). The
5K festivities will begin with the posting of the colors and the
National Anthem around 10:00 AM. We will have guest speakers briefly
discussing issues that are important to veterans, including
representatives from the Be The One initiative, WellCare services, and
veterans. We will then have a "Lap of Honor" led by the American
Legion post 436 to recognize all veterans present. Then, the 5K will
begin. Entry for the 5K will be $20.00 for nonveterans and free for
veterans. The registration will include a bib, t-shirt, bag, goodies,
and a post-race snack. Veterans must sign up through the website in
order to get a t-shirt. The race will be timed using a digital race
clock only.
Free time
76
Views
12/03/2025 Last update