Local Non-Profit Helping Oklahoma Veterans In Need

A local non-profit wants former Oklahoma service members to know they are here for them.

According to the Department of Veteran's Affairs, around 17 veterans die by suicide every day. 

Brian Paul, the founder of Veterans For Life, said adjusting back to civilian life can be difficult.

"I started out in the 45th Infantry, Army National Guard here in Oklahoma for about five years," Paul said.

After leaving the military, Paul went on to serve the community as a fire fighter. Being a first responder, Paul said he faced many traumatic situations.

"My social drinking turned into a full-blown addiction to alcohol where I lost my job, went through a terrible divorce, homelessness and the extreme depression that comes with it," Paul said.

Paul said he went through a treatment program, and decided he could do more for his fellow veterans.

"Came out the other side of the treatment program and noticed that there were other people just like me," Paul said. "[I] decided to help the next person. Since then, we have gotten 50 people into lifesaving treatment."

Now, Paul said he has a team of veterans who are now serving their fellow soldiers in a different way. Craig Wiseand Kyle Besse are both members with the organization,

"There are so many people that are like us out there that are struggling with some kind of depression, anxiety or something that they can't control," Veterans For Life USA member Craig Wise said.

Another member, Kyle Besse, said they want to normalize asking for help.

"We are trying to destigmatize veterans asking for help, and we are trying to make it where people are able to just ask veterans how they are doing and open up a door for veterans to know that people care," Besse said.

For more information about Veterans For Life, click here.