COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Everyday, 20 U.S. Veterans take their lives in this country.
Throughout September, recognized as National Suicide Awareness Month, the Ohio Department of Veterans Services is putting suicide in the spotlight and trying to save lives.
Jhan Corzine continue to grapple with the loss of his youngest son, 29-year-old Army veteran Holden Corzine.
“He was such a good kid, full of life but in the end what he was wrestling with was too big to overcome,” said Corzine.
On April 6th, Holden shot himself in his parents basement.
“We saw some things but I really thought he was doing not terribly bad,” Corzine says.
Holden grew up in Chillicothe, attended Ohio State University and was a charmer his father said. But that would later mask his inner demons.
“His successful suicide wasn’t his first.”
In 2009, Holden was arrested for drunk driving. Two days later, his parents found him passed out on their basement floor, gun in hand and a suicide note.
His parents took him in for treatment, and in 2012 he would enlist in the army. Two years later he was diagnosed with PTSD.
“They had given him Vivitrol in the service, which he said helped him a great deal,” said Corzine.
Returning home from Afghanistan drinking heavier than ever, Holden continued to battle those demons. He would later seek treatment at the Veteran Affairs hospital in Chillicothe.
“Looking back it is easy to connect the dots. It’s not so easy when you are in the middle of things.”
Since his son’s death, Jhan is now speaking out as an advocate for veterans and families. He says he doesn’t want what happened to his son, happen to another veteran and family.
There are resources available to prevent suicide. A recent study by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs found an average of 20 veterans take their lives every day. The study also found veterans make up 18 percent of suicides among adults.
In recent years, the military has made an effort help veterans and to educate families and loved ones on the warning signs of suicide. Something key to look for is a change in a person’s behavior; some often feel hopeless and helpless.Warning signs
- Change in personality
- Agitation
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Withdrawing from activities and interactions with others
- Poor self-care
- Hopelessness
- Sleeping too much or too little
“The VA has a crisis line and it’s a very good crisis line that’s open 24 hours a day,” said Director of The Ohio Department of Veteran Services Col. Chip Tansill, U.S. Army, retired. “A lot of people think only the veterans can call that crisis line and that is so untrue. That number is there for anyone to call to help prevent any veteran from completing a suicide.”
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or facing a life crisis, call 1-800-273-8255.
