Alabama Challenge encourages struggling veterans to fight isolation, ask for help
State Rep. Neil Rafferty was in the Marines from 2005 to 2009. It was there that he met John McGregor.
"John and I had a great friendship, as any veteran in here can probably talk about the camaraderie and fraternity that exists among our brothers and sisters in arms," Rafferty said.
Even after leaving the military, McGregor and Rafferty remained friends and in touch.
"John was really very smart, very passionate and he cared a lot about service, and he loved service to other people," Rafferty said.
McGregor began a career in social work, working at the firehouse shelter. He focused his efforts on homeless veterans, veterans with substance abuse problems and veterans with mental health issues.
"Unfortunately, John was facing his own demons," Rafferty said.
In February 2017, McGregor killed himself.
Rafferty shared his friend's story last week at a town hall discussing suicide among veterans. He reminded the crowd of about 50 people that although they were going to hear a lot of statistics, it is important to remember that behind those numbers is a person who had loved ones.
Alabama Challenge spreads awareness about veteran suicide
Alabama Challenge organized the town hall. The group is dedicated to spreading awareness about veteran suicide. It is a bipartisan effort to quell the number of veterans who die by suicide.
"There is hope, and suicide is preventable," said Maj. Gen. Paulette Risher, who moderated the event. Risher served in the Army.
At the town hall, 11 people spoke about the mission to end suicide among veterans. There are 400,000 veterans in Alabama, said Commissioner Kent Davis with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
Risher shared some statistics with the audience. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in America. Nationally, approximately 17 veterans die by suicide a day. About 18% of people who kill themselves in Alabama are veterans, but about 9% of Alabama residents have served in the military.
"Social connection and feeling that somebody sees you, cares about you, is interested in you, will check on you. That will save lives. What happens is people get isolated, 'No one cares. No one loves me. Nobody makes any difference, and I'm just better off not alive,'" said Risher, who worked as a psychologist for part of her career.
Risher talked about the importance of the safe storage of guns, as 83% of veterans who die by suicide in Alabama use a firearm.
"Now let me tell you right up front, this is not a Second Amendment thing. I'm a gun owner. I was raised in a household, my dad was a collector, but this is about safe storage," Risher said.
Seeking help despite the stigma surrounding mental health issues
Dan Shea is the director of psychological health for the 187th Fighter Wing in the Alabama Air National Guard. He credits the Department of Veterans Affairs with saving his life. When he was in the Army, he was brutally injured. He underwent five surgeries and had to re-learn how to walk.
After Shea recovered, he went back to the Army, "but I didn't last long. So here I am on the streets, and I struggle. Like many veterans, I say again like many veterans, waited too long," to seek treatment, he said.
"I finally made my way to the VA," Shea said. "Saved my life. Changed my life."
The speakers talked about the importance of getting help for mental health concerns despite the stigma surrounding the issue.
"It's not about strength, and it's not about weakness. Using resources is about being human, about being a veteran, about the adjustment It's about transition. It's about that we all have stuff It's about that some of us have pain," Shea said, dispelling myths about seeking mental health treatment.
In 2015, a friend of Cheryl Dodson's died by suicide. Dodson is now with the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition.
"He had tried to talk to me. He'd asked me to read his note, and I refused. I thought that if I talked with him about it that I would encourage him," Dodson said.
Dodson now knows that talking about suicide with people with suicidal ideations can help them get treatment.
"We're not ashamed to talk about diabetes. We're not ashamed to talk about high blood pressure. How about depression? How about anxiety? How about bipolar?" Dodson asked.
Mental health help
Dial 988 to receive help during a mental health crisis. The hotline connects people to mental health resources in their area.
Carastar is Montgomery's community mental health center. The center offers an array of outpatient services and is also the site of the Montgomery crisis center, where people can go when they are experiencing a mental health emergency. Contact the center at 334-279-7830.
Central Alabama VA Medical Center: The VA serves the approximately 400,000 veterans in Alabama. At the center, veterans can access outpatient and inpatient care. Get help at 334-272-4670.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or 479-926-9570.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Community rallies behind veterans, educates about risk of suicide
