Special to IFN
Suicide isn’t about not loving those closest to you. It’s often the crushing weight of PTSD, chronic pain, or invisible wounds of war. And when a veteran is lost, it’s caregivers, families, and entire communities who carry the aftershock.
That’s why The PTSD (Peer-led. Trauma-informed. Support & Direction), a disabled veteran-led nonprofit founded in Statesville, is launching its first downtown event on Monday, September 8, in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month and Service Dog Awareness Month. The event runs from 11:08 a.m. to 1:08 p.m. in front of The Local Collective, located at 228 W Broad Street in Statesville.
The Local Collective is the first Downtown Statesville business to become a Purple Star Ally of The PTSD. Allies serve as community beacons, creating everyday access points for those carrying invisible wounds. The Local Collective vendors will provide swag and goodies, showing the power of Statesville’s businesses to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with veterans and caregivers.
Why It Matters
The timing is deliberate: 988 is the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and 9:88 doesn’t exist. By aligning the event with 11:08 to 13:08, The PTSD is driving home the urgency of knowing and remembering 988.
Founder Derek DeVos (USAF (Ret.) built The PTSD after his own service and struggles with PTSD.
“Healing takes more than a hotline or a handout. It takes community. It takes caregivers who aren’t forgotten, businesses that are trained and welcoming, and peers who’ve been there. Statesville is now The Home of The PTSD, and this September 8 event is how we show up together,” he said.
The PTSD is building a model that combines peer support groups (PATH), caregiver programming (The 2nd Front), benefits navigation (HUB), and community partnerships (Purple Star Allies), with the end state of fewer crises, stronger families, and a stronger Statesville community that leads the way for North Carolina.
Service Dog Awareness Month & ADA Education
For veterans and caregivers, service dogs are lifelines! Interrupting panic attacks, alerting to medical issues, and restoring independence.
♦ Service dogs are medical equipment, not pets.
♦ ADA law only allows two questions: Is the dog required because of a disability? What task or work has the dog been trained to perform?
♦ No certifications, IDs, or proof can be required.
♦ Access can only be denied if the dog is out of control or not housebroken.