For many military veterans, the transition back to civilian life can be challenging. After serving, some deal with feelings of isolation, post-traumatic stress or physical limitations from wounds. Sadly, suicide rates among veterans are 1.5 times greater than for Americans who have not served in the military.
“Veterans coming home can feel completely disconnected from their ‘people,’ and that can lead to depression,” said Mat Bergendahl, director of suicide prevention at StackUp, a non-profit veteran service organization. “There are many factors that can contribute to a veteran’s decision to kill him or herself.”
With the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation is addressing the challenge of veteran suicide through grants awarded to five community-based organizations including: StackUp, The Mission Continues, America’s Warrior Partnership, Arizona Coalition for Military Families and The Warrior Alliance. These grants help each group identify and evaluate their goals in suicide prevention.
Founded in 2015, StackUp brings both veterans and civilian supporters together through a shared love of video gaming. While some may picture gaming as a solitary pastime, 70 percent of gamers play with others present or in groups connected over the internet, bolstering a sense of community.
Multiplayer games bring people together,” Bergendahl said. “They set the tone for conversation, and that connectedness is really important.
Veteran receives games from StackUp.
StackUp's RedShirtRaiders, a group of veterans and civilians, coming together to make a positive gaming environment.
Active duty military receives games from StackUp.
Multiplayer games bring people together. They set the tone for conversation, and that connectedness is really important.
Through gaming, veterans can connect with others from their own homes, which for some is the first step in the process of readjusting. Dr. Melissa Brown, behavioral scientist at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which funded the grants, says that such an approach is in line with CDC’s effort to address issues of violence, including suicide, before they occur.
“The public health approach stresses the need to ‘meet people where they are’ to improve population health,” Brown said. “Stack Up’s model exemplifies this by reaching active duty and veterans where they are, online or in the real world.”
For Navy veteran Jason Clarke, who describes himself as a “dyed in the wool gamer,” StackUp opens doors to a community he felt he had lost since leaving the military. Diagnosed with PTSD and dealing with a range of physical limitations since his military service, Clarke says he regularly connects with a community of gaming friends through StackUp. The online, interactive format, he says, allows players to open up with others at their own pace, with no pressure or judgment.
“I love having this connection with these guys, knowing that I have someone who would really be upset with me if I didn’t reach out when I needed it,” Clarke said. “It’s comforting to know that somebody wants to hear from me when I need to talk.”
Though based in the United States, StackUp has a global reach. Trained volunteers, known as Stack leaders, can start chapters in their communities, organizing local gaming events to help connect veterans. Daniel Patterson, a civilian Stack leader in Puerto Rico, says he became interested in StackUp because of his own experiences with post-traumatic stress. Through gaming, Patterson says, he is able to give back to veterans in a meaningful way.
“I am just there to listen and help them find the answers,” Patterson said. “Because StackUp uses gaming, it’s an open door for them to talk.”
Opening those doors to dialogue is just one of the many unique roles that veteran service organizations can play in veteran care. Looking to work with a group that understood the dynamics of non-profits, Brown says, made partnering with the CDC Foundation a natural fit.
“CDC Foundation was an ideal partner due to their extensive network,” Brown said. “It’s especially exciting to see them applying their deep knowledge and commitment to the power of collaboration and partnership toward community organizations.”
Veteran receives video games from StackUp
Active duty military receives games from StackUp.
With the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation is addressing the challenge of veteran suicide through grants awarded to five community-based organizations including StackUp, The Mission Continues, America’s Warrior Partnership, Arizona Coalition for Military Families and The Warrior Alliance. These grants help each organization identify and evaluate their goals in suicide prevention.
Photos: StackUp