Jessica Zimmerman lost her brother, Army SFC Zachary Morgan Brown, to suicide in 2022. Zach had a tough stretch while on active duty in Germany and, despite agreeing to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury incurred during his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, his pain was too much to overcome. 

“As survivors, it’s something we will always have to continue to heal,” Jess says, “and convince ourselves that it was not our fault.” 

Army veteran Garret Hrynko lost his friend and fellow soldier SPC Kyle Gilbert to a non-combat incident in September  2015 while they were both deployed in Afghanistan. As Garret struggled with his grief, he was told, “Hey, if you’re gonna cry, go to the bathroom and then get back in here.” 

“I just had to carry on the rest of the day like nothing happened,” he says. 

When he returned from his deployment, he numbed his grief with alcohol and, one night, slashed his arms and wrists with a knife. “Now everyone knows something’s wrong,” he recalls thinking. “Now you just have to face everything.”

Nearly 20 veterans a day lose their lives to suicide. Jess and Garret’s stories are just two examples among thousands of how this mental health crisis impacts veterans and their loved ones. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Travis Manion Foundation is highlighting not only the mental health crisis affecting the military community, but also the role TMF plays in helping veterans find a reason to stay long before they reach the point of crisis. 

Through programs that engage them in personal development, empower them to become leaders in their communities, and give them opportunities to inspire youth, TMF veterans find purpose and meaning post-service. 

TMF offers several pathways for veterans to find what they need, whether it’s connecting with others who have been where they’ve been, opportunities to serve their country in new ways, or confidence-building leadership courses. Research supports the effectiveness of its approach. 

Veterans who engage with TMF programming report:

• 85% increase in value & self-worth

• 89% increased sense of purpose

• 60% increase in feelings of connectedness

“TMF is much more to me than the typical veteran service organization,” says Garret, who connected with TMF in 2025 and trained to serve as a Character Does Matter mentor to youth. “I was welcomed in and they’ve given me a new purpose. I hadn’t been around a group of so many different generations of veterans—in addition to families of the fallen—before. The raw emotion and empathy that’s shared, and just being able to be open, that’s such a value to veterans. The community aspect is priceless.”

For Jess, who is currently participating in TMF’s 7-month Spartan Leadership Program, the hardest part of losing her brother has been trying to overcome the belief that she doesn’t matter. “I’ve done all the things, all the therapy, but there’s part of me that doesn’t buy in all the time,” she says. “I’m hoping to learn that I do play an important role. The relationships I keep forming keep me coming back to TMF. When you get to meet people, that’s when you have the a-ha moments and you really appreciate the connections.” 

Brian “Tosh” Chontosh spent 21 years in the Marine Corps, distinguishing himself as an extraordinary leader. After retiring as a Major in 2013, he struggled to fill the void he was experiencing post-service. Through TMF, Tosh discovered his true purpose lay in helping other veterans improve their mental health. 

“Travis Manion Foundation’s model for impacting [the] veteran suicide [crisis] is preventative maintenance,” he says. “It’s creating the services, programs and opportunities for veterans to build skills, wellness, find community and a sense of purpose well before a mental health event happens. Most organizations are focused on the clinical side—which is needed. But we also need to offer opportunities for veterans to say, ‘Oh wow, I didn’t even realize my check engine light was on.’ That’s what TMF does.” 

To learn more about the ways TMF supports veterans after they hang up their uniforms, and the families who’ve lost a loved one to suicide, visit our Veteran Suicide Prevention page. You can also support the programs that offer connection and purpose to veterans before they reach the point of crisis. Click here to be part of the solution and honor the legacy of heroes like Zachary Morgan Brown. 

“My brother was full of life,” says Jess. “He wouldn't want to be remembered for the way he passed. He would want to be remembered for the way he lived. I just want anyone who is struggling with [suicidal] thoughts to remember, the world is always better with you.”

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, including contemplating suicide, call 911 or dial 988, then press 1. The Veteran Crisis Line is a free, 24/7 confidential resource that connects veterans or their loved ones to a real person specifically trained to support them. For more information, click here.