September is Veteran Suicide Awareness Month and to honor those veterans lost to suicide and bring awareness, a Stand the Watch ceremony is taking place at the Biloxi Lighthouse.

A flag draped coffin is on display along with 22 boots to represent the 22 veterans who commit suicide everyday according to statistics.

Military and veteran suicide rates are high due to reasons such as PTSD, financial strain, and survivor’s guilt.

Many veterans don’t show any signs of an urge to harm themselves before doing so, but some many show signs of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or hopelessness. Harrison County Veterans Service Officer Julia Richardson said, “This is a community-based effort to bring awareness to veteran suicide. It’s exactly 22 veterans a day, up to 22 veterans a day, that commit suicide. So, when you think about that, that is one veteran every 65 minutes. So, this is just our way of bringing awareness to the community and shining a light on that.”

For those veterans dealing with symptoms leading to thoughts of death or suicide, the Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support. Just dial 988 and press 1 or text 838255.

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