MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Many veterans face a battle that doesn’t end when they return home. For some, the emotional toll of military service claims more lives than combat itself.
"In the veteran community, suicide rates are on the rise, and I personally think it's time we stopped shying away from talking about it and fix it," said Chris Bryant, founder of the Rocky Top Veterans Foundation.
The East Tennessee-based nonprofit is dedicated to supporting veterans, with a particular focus on suicide prevention. Through specialized training, the foundation teaches members how to recognize and intervene in suicide crises.
“We train our members in techniques to question a person's intent to live, persuade that person to live, and refer them to the help they need,” said Bryant.
For many members of the foundation, suicide is a deeply personal issue.
"I have seen a lot of suicide in my life," said Nan Ziegler, a veteran who has lost family and colleagues to suicide. "Whether it's been in my family or, unfortunately, people I supervised while in the Air Force—it's all around, and we've got to do something now."
Ziegler’s experience with the foundation’s training proved crucial just days after completing a session.
“Six days later, a friend called me, saying the words you don’t want to hear, 'You need to talk me down right now, or I’m going over this bridge.' Everything I had just learned came back to me, and I knew what to do to save him," said Ziegler.
The Rocky Top Veterans Foundation is turning awareness into action, one life at a time.
"We've all had suicide awareness classes, and that's the last thing that we actually need. We need suicide prevention classes. And that's what this one does," said Bryant.
By equipping veterans with life-saving tools and creating a support network, the foundation hopes to reverse the tragic rise in veteran suicides in East Tennessee and beyond. For more information on how to sign up for training and get involved with the Rocky Top Veteran Foundation, you can visit their website.