Suicide claims thousands of lives every year and affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities. The rate for Military and Veteran Suicide is double that of the civilian sector. Risk factors such as PTSD, MST, TBI, depression, chronic pain, as well as family history often lead to these many deaths.

Family and friends are often the first to recognize that a loved one may be contemplating, considering, or even planning suicide.....

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Feeling frightened after a scary, life-threatening, or extremely stressful event is normal. Most people recover over time without too much of an effect on their daily lives, for others, recovery does not come so easily, and they continue to feel frightened, stressed, or anxious, even though all is well in their lives.

For these people, a psychiatrist or psychologist will diagnose them with PTSD.....

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem in the United States. Each year, TBI contributes to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. In 2014, there were approximately 2.87 million TBI related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US, including over 837,000 of these health events involving children.

A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain.....

Sometimes, people turn to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to relieve stress or the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, or other mental health conditions. Misusing alcohol and/or drugs can lead to substance use disorders (SUD) and serious health, relationship, employment, and legal problems.

Some symptoms of SUD include.....

Our veterans are the blood and sweat of America’s freedom. Our country was forged on their sacrifice and call to duty.

Veterans deserve all the respect and honor our nation can give them, and it is the goal at Project Roll Call to create a Clearing House of organizational assets to benefit our veterans, assist them in their transitions into civilian life, and to protect them and their futures.....

The term Gold Star Family is a relatively modern reference that originated from the inception of the Service Flag. These flags/banners were first flown by families during World War I and included a blue star for each immediate family member serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which we were engaged. If that loved one died while serving on active duty, the blue star was replaced by a gold star. This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom...