WOLCOTT--Hundreds of U.S. veterans die every year, but not in combat: from taking their own lives at home.
U.S. Navy veteran Mike Mrazik says he wants to bring about change by developing an app to help his comrades cope.
“For the rest of their life, for many years, they're going to have to deal with the atrocities they've seen in such a horrible situation,” said Mrazik.
Mrazik tells FOX 61 he never saw combat, but has many friends and family who were and are struggling to move forward with life because they can't find other veterans with whom they can relate.
The Wolcott resident says the app he’s trying to develop would link veterans with other servicemen and women in their area for support, especially when suicidal thoughts become persistent.
“You need to talk to someone, you can't talk to a civilian or non-combat vet to be honest. Someone that hasn't been through the same thing that you've been through aren't really going to be that helpful,” says Mrazik.
According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, those who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are 41 percent more likely to commit suicide than the general population. Another VA reveals that at least 22 veterans kill themselves every day.
Mrazik says he was motivated by those numbers and even started a fundraising page to try and raise enough money to pay professional developers to get the app off the ground. If you'd like to donate, click here.