SARASOTA – Across the nation, the number of suicide deaths has been steadily increasing since 2005. The Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention reports the suicide rate for Veterans was one point five times the rate for non-Veteran adults.
Coping with our mental health amid the global health pandemic has been hard enough, but one group in particular has been affected the most.
“Isolation has been a problem in the veteran community…COVID has obviously exasperated increase isolation bot only among veterans but among all people,” said Garret Cathcart.
Cathcart, Executive Director of Mission Roll Call, knows all too well the struggle some veterans face when it comes to taking care of their mental health. A former Cavalry Scout with the U.S. Army Cathcart help founded the nonprofit whose mission is simple…
“When you think of a veteran, a lot of folks think of someone broken, or has post traumatic stress,” said Cathcart. “We want people to see veterans as assets to the communities.”
This past year the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that 20 veterans die by suicide each day. The highest suicide rate is among veterans, ages 18 to 34.
So he sought the help of Veteran and Florida Congressman Michael Waltz to launch a new national campaign “From My Frontline to Yours.” The movement aims to raise awareness on mental health issues and aiding in suicide prevention for veterans but also the frontline healthcare workers affected by pandemic.
“Every single day that I wake up, I think about Matt Pacino and the other green berets I didn’t bring back,” said Congressman Waltz. “And I look in the mirror, every single day that I come to the capital I look int he mirror and say you’re worthy.”
“From My Frontline to Yours” focuses on three goals. Remind us to check in on family and friends and ask about their mental health. Focus on ways to heal after trauma. And improve mental health services for veterans during a time of isolation.
“You literally jumped out of a helicopter, kicked opened doors, and fought bad guys. You should go talk to somebody, it’s scary but you’ll be better off when it’s over.” said Cathcart.
The campaign is also pushing for the US House to pass SB 785, which will expand veterans’ access to mental health services.
