TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Stop Soldier Suicide is urging Tampa Bay veterans and their families to prepare for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying images and memories from that day can be triggering for those who served in the years that followed.<\/p>\n
The national nonprofit is highlighting its resources in Florida, where suicide death rates for veterans are 2.5 times higher than the general population, according to the Florida Department of Health.<\/p>\n
Craig Ridenhour, chairman of the executive leadership team for Stop Soldier Suicide in the Tampa Bay area, said his work with the organization began after he looked for a way to use swimming to raise money and awareness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had wanted to find maybe a charity organization that I could do some laps for, raise some funds, raise some awareness, and an algorithm within Facebook just drove me to a challenge swim that Stop Soldier Suicide had,\u201d Ridenhour said.<\/p>\n
Ridenhour, a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Florida, has participated in several charity events since 2022. He now volunteers with Stop Soldier Suicide in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
Ridenhour said the remembrance of Sept. 11 brings many people back to where they were when the attacks happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the phone with a gentleman. There was confusion on what happened prior. That was when the first plane had hit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hayley Emerson, national fundraising and events manager for Stop Soldier Suicide, said veterans and families should prepare for potentially triggering images and conversations ahead of the anniversary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the first thing is just going into it prepared, knowing that you\u2019re going to see some triggering imagery, knowing that you\u2019re going to be triggered a little bit. And that may look different for everybody,\u201d Emerson said.<\/p>\n