September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 6,000 American veterans took their own lives in 2020.
The VA is teaming up with organizations across the country to help connect veterans who may be struggling with resources. In Syracuse, there is an effort to encourage veterans in need of help to get it in part by reminding them that they aren’t alone.
Donovan Garcia is communications coordinator for Clear Path for Veterans. He’s an Air Force and Marine Corps veteran and has also worked as a peer mentor for veterans struggling with mental health. He’s participating in what’s known as “SPEd Talk,” an opportunity for veterans and their families to explore resources like those offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs at Syracuse University and other organizations.
“Making it normalized is probably the biggest thing,” he said. “You don’t have to talk about it right now, but just knowing that we’re here to talk about anything with you is what we need to keep embarking on together.”