‘Long, hard road to recovery’: one post-9/11 veteran shares his experience overcoming suicidal ideation

Paid for by Wounded Warrior Project

U.S. veteran Phil Krabbe is no stranger to suicide. He has struggled both personally and helped fellow vets face the same mental health challenges. “When I hear of someone committing suicide, my heart breaks for them, because I know how dark and lonely that place is,” he says.

Krabbe, a husband and father, was able to overcome alcohol and drug abuse, severe sleeplessness and depression with the help of the veteran service nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project. Krabbe credits peer support from fellow warrior Ray Pizarro as helping to save his life. “You need to have the courage to forgive yourself for the things you’ve done in the past,” Krabbe says.

Watch the video above to see how Krabbe — and Wounded Warrior Project peer support groups — help post-9/11 veterans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

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From Wounded Warrior Project:

Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization established to support and address the physical and mental health needs of post-9/11 injured veterans and their families. To learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org. If you know a warrior that could benefit from Wounded Warrior Project, have them reach out. Visit woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/wwp-registration to learn more.

You can help wounded warriors reclaim their lives from trauma and injury. Give to Wounded Warrior Project today.

This article was sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project and co-created by Yahoo Creative Studios. Yahoo News editorial staff did not participate in the creation of this content.