"You're a part of changing the culture...But this change in culture is life or death. We must change the culture and stigma of getting care. You must think that it's a sign of strength not weakness to come forward to get help and support," said General Mark Graham (Ret.)


Graham said he and his wife will continue their efforts to educate and enlighten the masses about suicide prevention and treatment for mental illness. It is their way, he said, of helping to heal their own wounds and spare others the pain and grief they've suffered. The endeavor, he added, has forced them to consider to a greater degree the world around them.

"We take one day at a time," General Graham said, "and try to keep our apertures wide open; be more accessible; see other people's pain. We see other things going on in the world much better than we ever did before." He said he wished his enlightenment had come sooner.

"We might still have our son who died by suicide."