Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Month

9/17 Joel Alan McNeil's 38th Birthday and

9/26 Gold Star Mothers Day.

The Ripple Effect - Helping Veterans and Families Heal was born when Wendy Shackley's son Joel Alan McNeil died by suicide. It was created to honor the great man he was and help others to overcome what he could not.

Joel served two tours overseas with the Army, 2008 Iraqi Freedom and 2010 Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan and like many, came home with PTSD from serving our Country and the things he had to see and endure.

There is a huge social issue in our country today within the Veteran community - Military Veterans make up approximately 7% of the country's population, yet account for 20% of the overall suicide rate.

This despair has been created when services, which are meant to reintegrate the veteran back into society are too difficult to navigate and are often unavailable. The Ripple Effect - Helping Veterans and Families Heal, implements the Veteran's goals to help remedy this frustration through three ways: education, collaboration and follow through.

Everyday, Wendy Shackley founder of The Ripple Effect is collaborating and providing resources to assist our veterans and their families and recently with the withdrawal of Afghanistan the need is great. Many or our veterans and families are suffering and need resources to navigate through.

This campaign will begin on 9/17 Joel's birthday and end on 11/11 Veterans day. Any amount will help and go where it is needed the most to support our veterans and their families.

Thank you for supporting those who sacraficed for us and their families.