This segment is a short teaser for the upcoming documentary, PTSD: The Invisible Enemy. Produced by Show N Tell Ministries and Crazy Duck Production, the film will bring to light the stories of the men and women who fought in Vietnam and in the Global War on Terror but are now forgotten.
In this clip, we hear from Former U.S. Army Master Sergeant Steve Cline, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Former USMC Master Sergeant Jason Dunham and his wife Melinda.
Following is an abridged transcript:
STEVE:
The cause of suicide is multifaceted but one at its core is a sense of DESPAIR which is a lack of HOPE… a sense of unhealthy pride in that it’s not possible for someone to understand what I’ve gone through.
JASON:
I was unemployed for over a year and I had to live off what little retirement I was receiving from the Marine Corps.
I was in the process of going through my VA to get some of my disabilities – that took time.
And when you get time on your hands and the culture that you’re raised in… you know the honor and shame… you know everything that was great about the Corps sometimes became my worst enemy.
Living off my wife’s paycheck as a teacher at the time, I felt very shameful of myself. Here am I supposed to be the provider, and my wife is the one bringing in the majority of the money; she’s the one who is supporting the family.
So I started forming some ideas in my head to to be that provider. Part of it was to take out a life insurance policy and have a plan in place where I was going to literally end my life so my girls will have at least a half a million dollars – to include my wife to live on.
I mean I may not have been there physically, but this was a means for me to provide for them.
MELISSA:
I didn’t know that he had specifically planned that out. I didn’t know that he had an actual plan but I knew that he was contemplating it.
He would make comments about it that he was better dead than alive; that he was worth more dead than alive.
And I would take his face in my hands I would tell him that you are my everything. I don’t care how much a life insurance policy is worth, you are worth more to me than that.
JASON:
So I kind of made a deal with the devil, you could say. I remember selecting out my own site where i was literally going to hang myself.
And I literally set a date – I want to say that it was April 15th of 2014. You know it was kind of tax day so everything was lined up towards that moment.
MELISSA:
I knew that we were in danger. I know I spoke to my pastor several times. it was very difficult to know where to turn for help.
[CLOSING SCREEN TEXT]
– More than 30,000 Global War on Terror veterans have taken their own lives.
– About 22 each day.
– Our goal is to raise the community’s awareness and to give veterans and their families hope.
– For more information on this film project as well as resources for veterans and their families, visit PTSDdocumentary.com.