With a rise in veteran suicide, a local organization works to provide help.

By Mary O’KEEFE

According to a study by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, in 2014 about 65% of all veterans who died by suicide were age 50 or older. After adjusting for differences in age and sex, risk for suicide was 22% higher among veterans when compared to U.S. non-veteran adults. The risk was 19% higher among male veterans than non-veterans and 2.5% higher among female veterans than non-veterans.

According to Wellness Works Glendale, 22 veterans lose their battle with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) every day. Most veteran organizations agree that PTSD contributes to suicide.

In a veterans’ study led by VA’s National Center for PTSD, more than 2,000 veterans were asked twice, once in 2011 and again in 2013, whether they had experienced suicidal thoughts in the prior two weeks. About 14% reported they had.

Currently there are more veteran deaths attributed to suicide than the number killed in action in both wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Wellness Works.

This past weekend’s event Not On Our Watch organized by Wellness Works Glendale put faces to these statistics.

“This was a fundraiser but it was more an event to bring awareness,” said Camille Levee with Wellness Works Glendale.

Wellness Works Glendale is a non-profit organization that serves veterans, active duty military and their families through various programs. The event this past weekend brought together both the community in support of veterans and active military personnel.

The opening and closing ceremonies were moving with first hand stories told on how veteran suicide has affected lives.

The Watch was an event held Sept. 12-15 at Verdugo Park. Participants walked the three days to bring awareness to not only PTSD and suicide, but other stresses that veterans grapple with. Information booths shared information on programs that are available to help veterans, active duty military and their families.

This was the fourth year for the Not On Our Watch event and it is the first year it was held in Glendale, which was appropriate since Wellness Works is based in the city.

“It was like a homecoming,” said City Councilwoman Paula Devine.

Although it was and is heartbreaking to hear the statistics of veteran-related suicide, Devine said the event was heartfelt and uplifting.

“We want to make sure that veterans in Glendale, and everywhere, are taken care of,” she said. “We want to give them hope and help. What Wellness Works is doing is fantastic.”

City officials worked closely with the organizers and Devine hopes to see the event in Glendale next year.

That seems likely. Levee said the location gave them more exposure to the general public.

“People who were driving by stopped [to see what was going on],” she said.

There was more foot traffic in the park, too, that brought more spectators, which meant more people knowing about the issues and the organization. Wellness Works is based at 540 W. Broadway. For information on its programs, visit wellnessworksglendale.org or call (818) 247-2062. Donations can be made on its website.