SOUTHWICK—Imagine feeling jumpy, aggressive, distant. These feelings persist in you constantly and you can’t find any way to numb them or turn them off. They continue to boil under the surface and scratch at you. These feelings are so strong and persistent, in fact, that you want to kill yourself.
This is what it can be like for an estimated 4 million Americans each year with PTSD. And many of them are military personnel or first responders, such as EMTs, police officers or firefighters.
For the people who are trying to cope but can’t, a new nonprofit organization called “One Call Away” has been established and will be making its debut at the Southwick Days, on Sunday, July 24, to help those struggling.
For David Sutton, founder of One Call Away and a veteran, the key is to keep those who seek help confidential.
“These guys need an avenue to deal with these issues anonymously to get the help they need without risking their careers or well-being,” Sutton said.
Sutton said that many veterans feel that if they admit they have issues like PTSD, then the military will catalogue it in their personnel files. From there, Sutton said it could follow them and hinder their chances to get jobs and veterans believe it could also impact their right to bear arms.
But in Sutton’s program, veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD or other mental issues can remain anonymous and meet with others who have gone through similar struggles. They would meet in group settings similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.
“These are the guys that know. They know exactly what works and don’t and sharing that information will help others too,” Sutton said. “A burden shared is half the burden.
“They come to anonymous meetings. It is veterans and first responders helping each other; it’s experience, help and hope,” he said.
Sutton said that the group will provide more than just anonymity and meetings, though. One program they are establishing is a financial assistance program.
“We will never give them a check, but if they are getting their lives back into focus–since they’re losing their jobs like crazy, but have kids, a family—we will help them,” Sutton said.
This financial assistance, he said, may come in the form of helping PTSD sufferers catch up on late rent payments, back electric bills or may be gift certificates to local grocery stores so that they can eat.
He feels that those suffering don’t try to seek help because they also don’t want to seem like they cannot do it on their own, which is why One Call Away offers what they offer.
“They don’t want to be picked up and carried, they just want help standing back up,” Sutton said.
Also, Sutton and One Call Away want to create a network of veteran’s groups that are attempting to help those afflicted. He is attempting to create connections with groups like Warrior’s Art Room and Lift for the 22, and has also connected with the Veteran’s Administration out of Springfield.
“In our dealings and our discussions with different members of different organizations, there’s a bunch of little shops opening up and trying to do amazing things,” Sutton said, “we’re trying to bring them together and get them what they need.”
Sutton said his idea for the group came from two sources. First, when a motorcycle group he belonged to called the Patriot Guard Riders would attend veteran funerals as flag holders, too many of those being buried died because of suicide.
Second, Sutton’s own son also dealt with mental health issues as a veteran.
“I have a son who did three tours between Iraq and Afghanistan and he suffers from PTSD and managed to work his way through it and get back into college and is doing great, but it was a hard ride,” so Sutton said that he became inspired to help those who come back the same way, or that deal with it in every day emergencies.
From there, his own ride began in Oct. 2015, when he first ran the idea by the members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
“I brought this concept to my fellow riders, and I shared it with them,” Sutton said. “I shared my passion about it, I explained to them why I’m doing it, and these guys saw it; as soon as I told them, they saw it and they all jumped on board.”
Sutton eventually received nonprofit status for the group with the help of members from the Patriot Guard Riders, and Southwick Days will be the organization’s official opening.
However, it won’t be the first time that they will be open for business.
“We had someone from New Hampshire who was done, ready to check out,” he said. “He was done and his friend saw a post about us on Facebook and brought him to us.”
Sutton said that they were able to intervene and help the man find the help he needed, including assistance from the Veteran’s Administration.
Still, the group will be private until Southwick Days; until they go on stage and announce their group and intentions after the group’s motorcycle ride.
If you want to help, the group will be starting with a motorcycle ride and cookout to help raise awareness this Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Registration to ride is $20 for a rider, $15 for a passenger, or to simply enjoy the cookout—which will include smoked pulled pork sandwiches, homestyle baked beans and Southern style coleslaw—the cost is $10.
All proceeds will go to benefit local veterans.
