The Happiness Quotient

#28 - Helping Heroes Find Their Way Home/Military Suicide/an Inspiring Interview with Ray Gilmore

Thom Pollard Season 1 Episode 27

For anyone concerned about suicide, contact the National Crisis Line.
800-273-8255 (TALK)
This is a crisis line for EVERYONE
Veterans Press 1 - for expedited service, specifically for veterans 

EPISODE 27:

Today’s topic cuts close to the bone. If you’ve listened to Episode 23, called Don’t Tell a Lie, Your Life Depends on It, I talk about the suicide of my brother, my best friend, a beautiful, kind soul that broke so many hearts. 

In Episode 27 we’re talking about suicide. Why does it happen, you might ask? Well, a person who commits suicide feels marginalized in some way. They can’t seem any conceivable path forward other than suicide. The pain is so unbearable, that they can’t imagine ever coming out of it, there is no path forward. Everything is hopeless, there is no escape, and "I am of no use to anyone."  For those who have never thought about suicide it’s hard to imagine what it’s like to feel that way, and therefore so many assumptions are made about people who make this choice, because it is a choice. 

You can’t rescue everyone. But, there are people out there who are trying to rescue at least some. They’re out there. We’re welcoming one of those people onto our show today, Ray Gilmore, a military veteran from New Hampshire, USA who understands what it’s like to lose a best friend to suicide. He understands what it’s like to think about it himself. Ray is working to stem the tide of suicides in military veterans, and Ray will be our guest on this moving and inspirational episode. 

Ray has begun the work of bringing vets home, by giving them the experiences that they felt in the military, so seldom felt in civilian life. The Azimuth Check Foundation
helps heroes find their way by providing injured warriors (active, reserve, national guard) and first responders challenging year-round athletic activities that creates wellness in an atmosphere of camaraderie.

BELOW THE SHOW NOTES, PLEASE SEE A MESSAGE FROM RAY WITH LINKS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL EVENTS IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE USA REGION!

Music for this episode is by Elephant Funeral. I found them on the Free Music Archive. Look for Elephant Funeral here, on their YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYtHQq3XTZTzDPJanYNFMFw/videos

If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, or if you think you can help, contact the Azimuth Check Foundation at https://azimuthcheckfoundation.org/

If you'd like to learn more about me, look for me on eyesopenproductions.com and please follow me on my social media, at the following:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEk3e_XGyNnqwK2ZlxH7fEA?view_as=subscriber
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thom.dharma.pollard/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thom_Pollard



     The Veterans Service Group that Ray works with, The Azimuth Check Foundation

 https://azimuthcheckfoundation.org/ 



     

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