Post 434 in New York recently hosted a craft show and flea market where the theme was The American Legion’s veteran suicide prevention mission.
Suicide prevention was a passion for New York Legionnaire Mattie McIntyre even before The American launched its Be the One veteran suicide prevention program. That passion has grown with Be the One.
The commander of John W. Dill American Legion Post 434 in Brocton, N.Y., McIntyre started in 2021 a scholarship program titled 988 – Be the Hero, which is awarded to individuals pursuing a degree or certification in the medical or mental health field in an attempt to lower suicide rates. “I’ve always been an activist for suicide prevention,” she said. “As a sergeant in the Army, I became very active after one of my soldiers took his own life. It’s something that’s been really near and dear to my heart anyway.
“When (then-National Commander Vincent J.) Troiola (made Be the One his top priority) … it just became something I’ve been active in since its inception.”
That includes Post 434 recently hosting a craft show and flea market where Be the One was the event’s theme. More than 20 vendors participated, with more than 250 people coming to the post. During the event, members of Post 434 handed out Be the One informational packets, pins and hats to every attendee.
“When I can hand out Be the One literature, and just some of the statistics we hand out, and to train them in what Be the One means … the feedback I’m getting is actually amazing,” said McIntyre, who has a master’s degree in mental health counseling. “I’m getting feedback from people that say, ‘I didn’t know’, or ‘Oh my goodness, that’s exactly what my husband went through just a couple months ago.’ I think what it’s doing is it’s making them realize that No. 1, there is help out there. No. 2, that this is not a problem that should be swept under the carpet.
“I don’t think there’s a better feeling than allowing our community, somebody in our community, to realize we’re here. We, as The American Legion, as a community, we are here for you. It’s huge just to let people know. We have to let people know there is help. There are people to talk to. There is someplace to turn.”
Post 434’s suicide prevention efforts go beyond just Be the One. The post has hosted VA S.A.V.E. Training, which provides guidance on how to recognize a veteran in crisis and then provides the tools to assist the veteran; invitations were made to those who attended the craft show to come to the next training session. The post also has hosted events for several peer-to-peer organizations and conducted outreach programs.
“I have PTSD. I know what it’s like to feel alone and isolated,” McIntyre said. “As a post commander … I have a wonderful relationship with the people in my post. Many of them come to me and cry on my shoulder. I think it’s very important to put the word out there to everyone – to family members who are dealing with someone who has suicide tendencies – I think it’s very important for us to stand out there and let them know it’s OK.
“We live in such a rural area. I watch that suicide becomes more prevalent at all ages. It’s a sad reality, but as a mental health counselor I’ve seen how suicides have affected families, whether it be an attempted suicide or actual suicide. As bystanders, as family members, teachers, community, we need to be able to recognize (a veteran in crisis) and we need to be able to say it’s OK not to be OK.”
- Be the One