By Susan Johnson, Bronxville Rotary

Oct. 16, 2025: The Bronxville Rotary is holding its 2025 gala on Friday October 17th at Siwanoy to raise funds for Veterans Rebuilding Life, a nonprofit started to eliminate veteran suicide after the war in Iraq when statistics of self-harm skyrocketed. 

The issue of veteran suicide is a perniciously complicated one. For veterans who often experience feelings of social isolation and loss of identity after leaving the military, the challenges of returning to civilian life can be overwhelming. Justice-involved veterans with overlapping issues like trauma and homelessness are at an even higher risk. Due to the recent budget cuts affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs, the situation is looking grimmer.

Many veterans grapple with a profound sense of hopelessness, often suffering from untreated physical and emotional wounds related to their service. They wrestle with strained relationships, unemployment and homelessness. Over 1,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Struggles often lead to substance abuse and frequent run ins with the criminal justice system

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs underscores a disproportionally high number of 34.6 suicides per 100,000, compared to the general population. Among women veterans the suicide rate is 92% higher than that of non-veteran women. For male veterans, the rate is almost 60% higher.

Veterans have reported accessing mental health care through traditional providers is difficult; the system is often too slow, bureaucratic and disconnected from the urgent day-to-day realities veterans face. The shame and stigma of seeking mental health care, historically viewed as a sign of weakness, can lead to reluctance to seek any treatment whatsoever.

There is an exigent need for complementary solutions beyond traditional clinical settings to provide inclusive and culturally competent support addressing the complex needs of vulnerable, underserved and marginalized veteran populations who face a significantly higher risk of suicide -- combat and disabled veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and Two-Spirit individuals (LGBTQIA2+), women and veterans of color.

Research has identified key factors that can result in veterans taking their own lives:

-Physical Health: chronic pain, amputations, hearing loss, sleep disorders

-Behavioral Health: PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Substance Use Disorders

-Social Health: Isolation, family conflict, homelessness, unemployment, toxic culture

-Finding Meaning: moral injury, a sense of meaninglessness, lack of purpose 

Veterans Rebuilding Life was founded in 2011 by three veterans – Sgt. Dre Popow (Marines), Corporal Christian Zamora (Marines) and Major Marikay Satryano (Army). All native New Yorkers, the enlisted in the military in response to the September 11^th attacks.

When they returned from combat in Iraq, they experienced a surprisingly challenging reintegration process transitioning back into civilian life which now felt empty and purposeless. They observed many veterans were also grappling with untreated physical and emotional wounds from their service. In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported a national average of 22 veteran suicides per day and climbing. By the time the founders launched the 501(3) (c), they were shocked to learn they had lost more of their fellow veterans to suicide than to the Iraq war itself.

Guilt over casualties caused by war, particularly to civilians, hangs heavy. VRL focuses on helping veterans rebuild their lives by engaging them in meaningful humanitarian projects providing a sense of closure and atonement, followed by a renewed sense of purpose through charitable service.

The organization’s founders launched Project 360°, a long-term, suicide prevention and reintegration initiative in which trained veterans provide services to their fellow veterans, fostering a strong sense of safety, trust and mutual understanding.  

Project 360° addresses all the key suicide risk factors, providing consistent validation with health, security and life purpose to ensure veterans receive ongoing care and guidance as they navigate the hurdles civilian life manifest in their lives. Peer mentors act as credible messengers to ensure veterans’ basic needs are met and help them achieve occupational and financial goals. Veterans can access educational programs, employment training and family mediation services, all aimed at building stability and security. By 2020, over 300 veterans successfully graduated from Project 360°, with zero suicides reported.

Far too many of our nation’s veterans are dying by suicide. As we count down to Veteran’s Day on Tuesday, November 11^th, let’s be mindful of the commitment veterans make to protecting our nation and preserving our freedoms. We need to continue to find practical solutions to ensure our former service members receive the care and respect they deserve.

If you are or know a veteran in danger of self-harm, please contact VRL:

Call 718-440-9076 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Bronxville New York Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser on Friday, October 17^th will support the work of Veterans Rebuilding Life. If you would like to contribute or purchase a ticket please visit (https://bronxvillerotary.com/).