(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — November is National Veterans and Military Families Month and FOX21 is highlighting a local organization that offers resources to and empowers veterans to speak about their mental health.

“I feel like once I started my behavioral health journey, that it improved my entire life and the lives of those around me and so I want that for all of these other veterans,” Air Force Veteran Sean Sindler said.

Sindler medically retired from the Air Force in 2019 and now speaks about his mental health journey with other veterans, in hopes that they too, can find a voice.

“You don’t have to just live with it; get therapy, get on medication if you need it,” Sindler said. “I have learned a tremendous amount of stuff from therapy and medication since 2017 when I thought about ending my life.”

Sindler now encourages other veterans to speak out about their mental health to continue breaking the stigma.

“It’s absolutely critical,” said Damian McCabe, a veteran who now works at UC Health’s Next Chapter. “I think one of the beauties of Next Chapter is that we are all veterans ourselves.”

Next Chapter serves veterans and service members transitioning out of the service in Pueblo, El Paso, and Teller counties, and was funded by Senate Bill 21-129, which is aimed at combating veteran suicide.

“Next Chapter came about because El Paso County was seeing year-over-year increases in suicides in its veteran’s community,” said McCabe. “In the time period from 2020 to 2021, the rate of suicide in veterans jumped by almost 10%.”

Since then, El Paso County has seen a 5% decrease according to McCabe, with Next Chapter helping to create stability among the veteran community through housing, family support, and career access.

“As much as I am happy with how my story turned out, I know that if I had sought more behavioral health services while I was [in the military], then I could have had a much better career… and life with my family and friends,” said Sindler.

To learn more about Next Chapter or to speak with a team member, click on the link above.

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, the easiest way to ask for help is to dial 988. If you’re a veteran, press one.