Veterans face a number of challenges in their lives following their service and live with the scars of battle civilians can’t fully understand.

Because of this, approximately 22 veterans take their own lives every day.

That number is staggering, but the wounds some veterans carry are deeper than what we can see on the outside.

Their smiles hide the effects war had on their mental and physical health.

They are strong, but yet very fragile.

They are the greatest heroes, yet they feel broken.

Carbon County is trying to help area veterans get the help they need before it is too late.

On Thursday, Christine LeClair, the county Veterans Affairs director and an Army veteran, announced that Carbon County is beginning the Together with Veterans initiative, a community-based suicide prevention program aimed at helping rural veterans through partnerships with the community.

The program is a three-year, $100,000 initiative funded through the Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health and supported by the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

LeClair said that it aims to enlist rural veterans with local partners to reduce the number of veteran suicides. Partners include Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health/Developmental Services, the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center’s Suicide Prevention Team, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Department of Military Veterans Affairs, Northeast Pennsylvania Health Education Centers, local veterans organizations and more.

“We have fantastic mental health help in our community and it is our hope that this program will help strengthen our services that are available when it comes to veterans and their needs,” LeClair said. “This program will not only equip local veterans with the tools they need to best help their brothers and sisters, but it will also help our community partners understand the warrior mentality and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our local veterans.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich, who is also a veteran, thanked LeClair for taking the steps needed to make this initiative a reality.

He then pointed out that of the 22 veterans who commit suicide a day, 14 of those never seek assistance.

“The program that Christine spoke about will help further identify and connect veterans to services that are critical to reduce suicide among veterans,” he said.

Carbon County recently experienced the death of one of its participants in its Veterans Treatment Court.

Rick Parsons, chief adult probation officer, said that the participant was doing really well, but had a lot of anxiety and other issues related to his service time and once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, “a lot of support systems that he was relying on weren’t there.”

The veteran relapsed and overdosed.

“It was very impactful to all of us just how important it is to have these services out there when people need them,” Parsons said. “During COVID, suicides increased and overdoses increased too. A lot of individuals are suffering right now because a lot of the services they have out there are no longer available to them.

“Programs like this help,” he added.

“It really does make a difference and you could save someone else’s life.”

Commissioners’ Chairman echoed everyone’s thoughts, and sent a message to area veterans.

“We want everyone to know there is help out there,” he said. “We need to get the word out there.”