Arkansas American Legion helps fight veteran suicide
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Suicide remains the number one issue facing the veteran community today -- but the American Legion is taking action to change that.
On Thursday afternoon, the organization hosted a training session at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock, aimed at educating veterans and the public on how to recognize warning signs and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
According to the Department of Defense, 22 service members die by suicide every day.
“Us in the veterans affairs world think that is far too many,” John Petrichko, Veteran and Training Coordinator for the Department of Arkansas American Legion, said.
The American Legion’s ‘Be The One’ initiative is at the heart of this effort. The training program challenges individuals to be the one who notices, be the one who listens, and be the one who takes action before it’s too late.
“We just feel that awareness is the best way to do that,” Petrichko said. “The more people that understand the needs of those people that think suicide is the best solution…we hope we can change that.”
This initiative is helping create a shift in culture, encouraging veterans to talk openly and ask for help and training others to recognize when something is not right.
“Especially in our veteran community,” Petrichko said. “It’s really the feeling of isolation and the inability to be able to communicate how they feel.”
To date more than 20,000 members of the American Legion Family have already been trained. The goal: to ensure no one feels alone and that warning signs do not go unnoticed.
“Also engage people that they may not have talked to before,” Tony Cross, ‘Be The One’ Manager at American Legion Headquarters, said. “That's really the goal: get people much more educated to say and do what’s important for someone.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
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