My name is Anthony Harrison and I am a two-tour veteran and I know the struggles of returning home alone and substance abuse. This often leads a veteran to think life is not worth living and this creates friction in families and for the veteran. Unfortunately the mental health of the veteran is often not managed and they can become very unstable. The suicide rate of veterans is out of control and needs to be stopped at all cost. Our veteran’s families have gone through enough with their soldier gone on deployments too many times. The heartache that these families already have is too great. Now add in that their veteran commits suicide after reaching out for help.  

Mission Statement: To reduce the amount of veteran/ mental health suicides by implementing a program that trains veterans in being mediators or negotiators during a suicide event. These veterans can be part of the local crisis response team in their local community with the police. 

Goal: Veterans respond better to other veterans. It’s as simple as that. We know what the other has gone through. When a veteran has called into the crisis line he or she is obviously reaching out for help. The only problem is a bunch of police/swat show up and now every person has a weapon and the veteran goes back into combat mode. This is a very dangerous situation for all involved because the veteran sees no end. This is it for them. Its either going to be a shoot out with the police or the veteran will kill him or herself. Of course this is not always the situation, thank God, but it does happen. I couldn't find numbers on this but trust me I looked. If a veteran were properly trained in these tactics to stand in for the police as a negotiator this would drastically drop the number of suicides. Not only will this drop the suicide rate but give veterans jobs. This could be a whole new market for veterans looking to help other veterans and find a job. If this program never has to be used, perfect, if it saves one life then its doing its job and well worth it. I also believe if this gets out into the news that veterans whom are scared to call into the crisis line for help because they don't want legal consequence will start to call in when in need which will save even more live. My main purpose is to stop veterans from leaving their families behind to pick up the pieces. When a veteran kills himself or herself we as Americans weren't there for the veteran when he or she needed all of our attention and resources. They fought for our freedom and they deserve a lot more help then what they are getting. 

Thanks for your time and consideration. I hope this plan can be implemented into as many Police stations around the Nation as possible.

Sincerely Anthony Lee Harrison