Disclaimer: This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.
Since September 11, 2021, 30,177 active duty military personnel and veterans who served in the military during that time have died by suicide. That number is more than four times the number killed in combat over the same period.
These statistics should shock all Americans, not just those connected with the military. Our servicemen and women sacrifice so much for us and the country. We should have their backs when they need us.
Recently, a Connecticut state trooper had an opportunity to offer support to a veteran who was in the throws of suicidal ideations.
The trooper, Kyle Kaelberer, was working on I-84 in Connecticut overseeing traffic enforcement. He saw a car pull over and turn on its hazard lights near an off-ramp.
The state police reported that Kaelberer approached the car to offer the driver assistance.
When the trooper met the driver face-to-face, the driver made a plea for help. Through his tears, he said, “Help me,” to the state trooper. He informed Kaelberer that he was on the phone with the Veterans Affairs-operated suicide prevention hotline.
Kaelberer was in a precarious position but he handled the situation with care and grace. He tells the driver, “I’m here with you.” He promised to help.
Like many Americans, the driver says he’s worried that he can’t afford an ambulance. Kaelberer calms his worries and informs him that the state covers the service.
When the state trooper asked the driver to get out of the truck, he asked the veteran about his deployment. The man had been deployed once.
The trooper offered some words of comfort. “Well, hey, dude, it’s a tough time for everyone in your position, all right? Relax, though. I’m here with you, OK?”
His comforting words helped. After allowing Kaelberer to pat him down, the driver asked for a hug. Kyle was happy to oblige.
The Connecticut State Police department described the encounter with the distressed veteran as a “moving moment.” They shared the bodycam footage of the scene in a Facebook post.
The Hartford Courant wrote an editorial praising Trooper Kyle Kaelberer. They wrote, “You really have to see the bodycam video.
But if you don’t get that chance, take our word for it: the Connecticut State Police trooper did the right thing.”
The article went on to discuss the way the trooper handled the situation.
“The trooper may have expertise in dealing with people in mental distress, but what he also demonstrated was as important in those moments: the ability to connect with another person without judgment, acknowledging the pain the person was in and to show caring even as he professionally took care of what he needed to do.”
We can all agree that the world needs more people like Kyle Kaelberer. Veteran suicide prevention is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ highest priority.
But, they can’t do it alone. All of us have the ability to prevent suicide and it doesn’t take any special training. Just be there for someone in need.
