Veteran and Active-Duty suicide rates increasing around the holidays

SALISBURY, Md. — The holidays can be a wonderful time for many, but for active-duty military members and veterans, it can also bring isolation, misunderstanding, and difficult memories. This time of year can create a disconnect between the military life and civilian world.

Local veterans spoke about how the holiday season can bring painful emotions and how a support system can make all the difference — even saving lives.

Chris Hardy, a local veteran, said, “Being in the military, you’re always away from home. A lot of times you’re deployed somewhere overseas, in a different country.”

He explained that active-duty military members can be anywhere in the world during Christmas, and being away from family can be hard enough.

“We left on deployment, came back, and Dad’s not right. Or Dad’s, you know, husband or wife is acting different, or just kind of isolated or quiet,” Hardy said.

When they return to civilian life, those difficult memories can resurface.

“Being deployed or away for so many years during the holidays, you don’t have that holiday spirit. It’s not there anymore. You lose the feeling of celebration and time with family and friends,” Hardy said.

Branden Zeitler, an Irreverent Warriors veteran, never deployed but served on a temporary duty assignment (TDY). He shared that the transition from military to civilian life can be jarring.

“Just being away for a couple of weeks with your brothers and sisters and coming home, where you’re not waking up beside them in a bunker or cot, changes everything. You get so mentally focused on protecting your brothers and sisters, and then you come home and think, ‘What do I do now?'” Zeitler said.

Some veterans struggle with the transition and long to be with their fellow military members because they understand what they’ve been through.

“Some veterans wish they were still with their brothers and sisters because they haven’t transitioned the way they wanted to from military to civilian life. At the end of the day, you’re like, ‘I really don’t want to be here,'” Zeitler said.

He also emphasized the alarming suicide rates among veterans.

“Right now, it’s 22 veterans a day committing suicide. During the holiday season, that number rises to the 30s, starting in November and going through February and that’s scary,” Zeitler said.

His advice to those struggling? Follow the “8-minute rule.”

“I go straight to, ‘Do you have eight minutes? Text, call, email, message. Connection is what saves lives. That’s what we’re doing with the Irreverent Warriors,'” Zeitler said.

Along with the 8-minute rule, Zeitler recommends reaching out to five friends daily to check in. It could make all the difference.

“I just reach out and say, ‘Hey, how’s it going? What are you doing?’ One-word answers aren’t going to cut it. You’re going to have to give me some words,” he said.

Veterans also encourage others not to be afraid to ask for help.

“Ask for help — it’s one of the hardest things to do. In the military, you’re trained not to show weakness. You’re taught to be strong, to show your strengths mentally and physically. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Hardy said.

He added that if a family member notices a loved one struggling, they should encourage them to seek help.

“Know it’s tough, but try to be understanding of what the veteran or active-duty person is going through. Sometimes, you might even have to ask for help on their behalf. But be strong, stick together. Family is everything,” Hardy said.

Both organizations urged anyone in need of support to reach out.