1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,004 ♪ MUSIC ♪ 2 00:00:04,004 --> 00:00:08,008 BRITTANY: I get up in the morning, you know, walk my dog, 3 00:00:08,008 --> 00:00:14,014 get in my car...eh... turn on my GPS, and my GPS states 4 00:00:14,014 --> 00:00:16,433 "going to help my Veterans" with a smiley face. 5 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:20,812 Because it helps motivate me to know where I am going 6 00:00:20,812 --> 00:00:23,732 and to clear my mind... that's... 7 00:00:23,732 --> 00:00:26,026 that's how I start my day. 8 00:00:26,026 --> 00:00:32,407 KIMBERLEY: You cannot find a more noble calling and mission 9 00:00:32,407 --> 00:00:36,036 than we have at Veterans Crisis Line. 10 00:00:36,036 --> 00:00:40,582 I know that our team, team VCL, saves lives every day. 11 00:00:40,582 --> 00:00:46,296 ROBERT: The job of Crisis Line is to rekindle that spark 12 00:00:46,296 --> 00:00:50,175 inside of somebody — rekindle that. 13 00:00:50,175 --> 00:00:53,679 'Cause that fire is almost out. And when the fire is 14 00:00:53,679 --> 00:00:56,723 just about out, that's when suicide can happen. 15 00:00:56,723 --> 00:00:59,101 MONTAKIA: This is a calling. I 100% believe, 16 00:00:59,101 --> 00:01:01,645 the people who are here, they're here for a reason. 17 00:01:01,645 --> 00:01:06,984 And they have purpose on helping to contribute to save lives. 18 00:01:06,984 --> 00:01:09,736 BRITTANY: Crisis looks different for everyone, 19 00:01:09,736 --> 00:01:14,825 and we are going to do everything we can to 20 00:01:14,825 --> 00:01:18,912 save that life or to help that Veteran. 21 00:01:18,912 --> 00:01:21,081 CORLISHA: It's like you are talking to someone at the 22 00:01:21,081 --> 00:01:23,834 worst hour on the worst day of their life. 23 00:01:23,834 --> 00:01:27,629 I have a split second to, like, try and make a difference 24 00:01:27,629 --> 00:01:30,841 and to be whatever they need me to be, you know. 25 00:01:30,841 --> 00:01:33,635 I can make a difference in the next few days or 26 00:01:33,635 --> 00:01:37,681 few years of their life...so, just to be present with them. 27 00:01:37,681 --> 00:01:39,308 NATHANIEL: Me as a Veteran myself, when I got out, 28 00:01:39,308 --> 00:01:41,935 I didn't think that there was any support for us. 29 00:01:41,935 --> 00:01:43,895 Especially back when I got out, but nowadays 30 00:01:43,895 --> 00:01:45,897 there is good support for you. 31 00:01:45,897 --> 00:01:47,524 KIMBERLEY: There are Veterans out there who may need 32 00:01:47,524 --> 00:01:50,527 our help and may not know to call us. 33 00:01:50,527 --> 00:01:53,447 MONTAKIA: We have the training, we have everything, 34 00:01:53,447 --> 00:01:56,450 all the tools in place. And we will do our best to 35 00:01:56,450 --> 00:02:00,037 connect and get you the help you need. 36 00:02:00,037 --> 00:02:02,372 ROBERT: I can let them know in some way, shape, or form— 37 00:02:02,372 --> 00:02:05,375 read between the lines — "I know what you've been through, it's... 38 00:02:05,375 --> 00:02:07,711 this is hell on earth for you. Let's get you 39 00:02:07,711 --> 00:02:08,879 the help that you deserve." 40 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:10,964 UNIKA: Your crisis is whatever's important to you, 41 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:13,300 and we're here for you. So whatever you're going through, 42 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:14,718 we can support you. 43 00:02:14,718 --> 00:02:16,053 CALL: Thank you for calling the Veterans and 44 00:02:16,053 --> 00:02:18,972 military Crisis Line. This is Unika speaking. 45 00:02:18,972 --> 00:02:20,724 How may I help you? 46 00:02:20,724 --> 00:02:22,059 NATHANIEL: Many of us come with different experiences, 47 00:02:22,059 --> 00:02:24,061 different backgrounds, and we're able to all 48 00:02:24,061 --> 00:02:26,563 bring it together to help each other. 49 00:02:26,563 --> 00:02:29,650 BRITTANY: You're not alone, because you can give us a call. 50 00:02:29,650 --> 00:02:34,071 And you don't even have to give your name. And it's easier 51 00:02:34,071 --> 00:02:38,075 to talk to a stranger than it is to talk to someone 52 00:02:38,075 --> 00:02:42,079 that we know, at times, because... that we don't feel 53 00:02:42,079 --> 00:02:46,375 like people are judging us. And you're not going to 54 00:02:46,375 --> 00:02:49,086 get judged when you give us a call. 55 00:02:49,086 --> 00:02:52,089 UNIKA: I always say to myself, well, if my dad was to call in, 56 00:02:52,089 --> 00:02:55,092 how would I want somebody else to answer the phone for him, 57 00:02:55,092 --> 00:02:58,387 you know... this is somebody's brother, cousin, friend, 58 00:02:58,387 --> 00:03:02,099 son, you know... so that kind of always stays with me 59 00:03:02,099 --> 00:03:06,103 in the back of my head. So, that's what fuels me. 60 00:03:06,103 --> 00:03:09,106 ROBERT: The phones, the chat lines, the text lines 61 00:03:09,106 --> 00:03:13,110 have not stopped, which tells me the word is out there 62 00:03:13,110 --> 00:03:15,737 that this line exists, it's there to help, 63 00:03:15,737 --> 00:03:16,947 and it does help. 64 00:03:16,947 --> 00:03:21,034 KIMBERLEY: How could you have a better job than to be 65 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:25,455 making an impact for a population that deserves all... 66 00:03:25,455 --> 00:03:27,457 everything we can give them? 67 00:03:27,457 --> 00:03:32,462 ♪ MUSIC ♪