NVF’s New Veteran Suicide Prevention PSA

November 1, 2016 the National Veterans Foundation launches our new veteran suicide prevention PSA, “The Other Note”.

Support the NVF’s Lifeline for Vets Veteran Suicide Prevention Program

Over 20 American war veterans commit suicide every day. In response to this horrifying statistic, award-winning director Scott McCullough and producer, Windy Buhler, created “The Other Note,” a powerful :60 broadcast and Internet public service message on behalf of NVF Founder, Shad Meshad, and the National Veterans Foundation, featuring well-known actor, activist and NVF Honorary Board Member, Martin Sheen.

Founded in 1985, the National Veterans Foundation has served over 400,000 veterans through its Lifeline for Vets.

The Lifeline is a one-stop resource for Veterans transitioning from the military to civilian life.  We take suicide crisis calls, as well as calls from veterans looking for resources and information on benefits, employment, counseling, financial assistance, and any other issue the veteran might be facing.

The NVF Lifeline for Vets uses all veteran counselors.

Veterans need direct contact with somebody who understands what happens in combat and in the military, and what happens when they are literally dropped back in the middle of civilian life. They need contact with an experienced veteran.

Not every call we take is a suicide crisis call.  But every call we take is a suicide prevention call. 

That’s because helping veterans get jobs is suicide prevention.  As is helping them find or keep housing, access their benefits, get medical care, financial help and counseling.  Because becoming suicidal is a process, a process that can often take years.

The stability that our transition services provides puts veterans on a different path than the one that ends with them taking their own lives.

“We are so excited and grateful to Scott McCullough, Windy Buhler and everyone who participated in getting this PSA made,” said NVF President & Founder Shad Meshad. “The veteran suicide epidemic is an American crisis, and this veteran suicide prevention PSA will help shed a brighter light on the problem, and make struggling veterans and those who care about them more aware of the solutions that our Lifeline for Vets provides.”

The production company Edge of Reason, LLC produced and created the PSA. According to writer/ director S.C. McCullough, the spot changes the prism of what is expected of a PSA. “I wanted an optimistic viewpoint and story that celebrates what could happen if one reaches out to simply talk, ask or call a vet who may be struggling – THAT one simple action can make all the difference in a Veteran’s life – we focus on that ‘thank you’ for the help.” McCullough also cited that “The NVF has devoted decades tirelessly serving Veterans. This campaign shines a much deserved spotlight on this great foundation.”

Executive Producer Kip Azzoni expressed, “The men and women who wore the uniform for us deserve our help. They desperately need our help. What it all comes down to for me and for our team on this project: The worst part of war should not be coming home!”

The PSA was produced by Windy Buhler, Executive Produced by Tim Wolf, the Founder of the Wolf Family Foundation, and Kip Azzoni, Founder of Global Compassion in Action.