Grunt Style Foundation Launches “No More Dead Friends” Campaign to Combat Veteran Suicide

This September, the Grunt Style Foundation is taking a bold stand during Suicide Prevention Month with their "No More Dead Friends" campaign. As a leading voice in veteran advocacy, the foundation is raising awareness about the alarming rate of suicides among veterans, first responders, and law enforcement officers. The campaign is more than just a call for awareness; it’s a demand for action to address this devastating issue head-on.

The "No More Dead Friends" campaign is rooted in a stark reality: between 2001 and 2024, 150,000 veterans took their own lives. In contrast, roughly 8,000 lives were lost in combat during the same period. This means that our veterans are dying by suicide at a rate 4.5 times higher than in combat. These aren't just statistics; they represent a tragic loss of life happening right here at home, often in the presence of loved ones. The Grunt Style Foundation is committed to changing this narrative by promoting education, awareness, and action.

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The Overprescription Problem

One of the campaign's key focuses is on the overprescription of psychiatric medications to veterans. The data is clear: 68% of veterans in the Veterans Affairs (VA) medical system are prescribed psychiatric medicines, and 28% are on antidepressants. Research shows that these medications can increase the risk of suicide, with some studies indicating that patients on antidepressants are 3.4 times more likely to die by suicide than those not taking them. This over-reliance on medication, often without adequate psychological support, is a major concern that the Grunt Style Foundation aims to address through its campaign. Click here to learn more.

Personal Stories That Drive the Message Home

Tim Jensen, a key advocate of the "No More Dead Friends" campaign, shared his own harrowing experience with overprescription. After seeking help from the VA, Jensen was prescribed medication intended only for short-term use but was not provided with the necessary psychological support, such as talk therapy.

"I was just shoving these pills down my throat," Jensen recalled. "I was feeling like crap, depressed, and my personal life was falling apart. I reached a point where I felt so isolated and alone that I almost took my own life. But thankfully, I never pulled that trigger."

Jensen's story highlights a common issue many veterans face: being overwhelmed by a multitude of prescriptions without understanding how to manage them effectively. This has led to tragic outcomes, as seen in numerous testimonies from the "Prozac Hearings" held by the FDA in 1991, where many reported violent behaviors and suicides linked to antidepressant use.

Joining the Fight for Change

The Grunt Style Foundation’s “No More Dead Friends” campaign is a rallying cry for all Americans to join the fight against veteran suicide. The foundation is not just raising awareness but actively funding effective wellness programs through the sale of special edition shirts, with all profits going directly to support their initiatives. These shirts are available for a limited time, from August 1st to September 30th, 2024, and serve as a powerful symbol of solidarity and commitment to ending this crisis.

As Jensen powerfully stated, "This is our community, our country, and if we don't get involved, if we don't use our voices, then we are just as much a part of the problem. We have to stand up and say we've had enough."

For more information on how you can support the "No More Dead Friends" campaign and make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country, visit the Grunt Style Foundation’s website. Together, we can help put an end to this epidemic and ensure that no more friends are lost to suicide.