For a brief moment, the chatter was subdued as the sound waves dissolved into silence outside the VA clinic in Decatur. Faces in the crowd displayed empathy and sympathy, and some eyes glistened as Army Veteran Lamar Lyons shared a deeply personal reflection.
“Ten days ago I turned 68, but 30 years ago I didn’t think I would live to see 38,” Lyons said from the podium, wearing a t-shirt that read Fort Bragg Alumni. The former military switchboard operator and paratrooper served 26 years in the military. During some of those years, Lyons said he hit “a bottom he never thought he would recover from.”
On Wednesday morning, with dew drying from the grass and temperatures in the low 80s, veterans, VA staff, family members, and non-veterans gathered for the Atlanta VA’s 4th Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month Walk-N-Roll. The walk honors and raises awareness for national suicide prevention during April. In the United States, an average of 131 people die by suicide each day, and veterans account for roughly 17 of those deaths.
“It’s important for veterans to know they’re not alone,” said Chelle Lamb, suicide prevention program manager at the Atlanta VA. Lamb co-started the event with her coworker Kajuana Pitts in 2022.
For veterans like Lyons, the event hit close to home. “I was 29 when I tried to take my own life for the first time,” he said. “I admitted myself to the VA system for suicide six times.” Growing up, Lyons said he was always told, “boys don’t cry,” which led him to suppress his feelings — a pattern that continued into his adult years and military service, fueling some of his darkest thoughts.
“Now I realize that when I suppress, it’s going to end up becoming a mess. And that mess could end up taking my life,” Lyons said. He described grappling with perfectionism and a need to control every outcome in life, which often left him frustrated by the state of the world. At 68, Lyons said his perspective has changed, and he now proudly shares steps to help others avoid what he went through.
“If you see anybody who’s not themselves, sad all the time, or showing signs that something is off, please reach out and check in. You don’t need to be a medical professional, but we need to try to connect before someone reaches a crisis,” Lyons said in his closing remarks.
Many veterans aren’t aware of the mental health resources the VA offers, explained Kai Mintzer, Executive Director of VA Atlanta Healthcare. “I am an Army veteran. I know other veterans who have harmed themselves or had thoughts of doing so. Most veterans don’t know the resources we have, and the list is long,” Mintzer said.
Currently, the VA provides veterans with support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, as well as counseling and therapy services for those dealing with mental health concerns.
The event also serves non-veterans, Mintzer added, helping friends or family members understand how to support someone facing mental health challenges. “They say that for every suicide, 135 people are affected by it,” Mintzer said. “Today’s event is important because just sitting down with counselors or peers can help guide veterans through the challenges they’re facing.”
For veterans and non-veterans in a crisis, or for loved ones who know someone in crisis, it’s highly recommended to call 988 to speak with someone and get the help they need.
