The PSA features New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and encourages Veterans to check in on one another and reach out for support

BOSTON – Mass General Brigham, Home Base and the New England Patriots Foundation are urging those who know a Veteran who is struggling to encourage them to reach out for support.

The Reaching Out PSA was led by Peter T. Masiakos, MD, director and founder of the Mass General (MGH) Gun Violence Prevention Center, and features Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kitching, a former U.S. Army Ranger who received care at Home Base, and Rhonda Conaway, whose husband, a Veteran, died by suicide. They appear alongside New England Patriots quarterback and team captain Drake Maye.

The PSA uses a familiar image from military training, a ten-foot wall, to show how Veterans can help one another through difficult times. It encourages fellow Veterans and loved ones to start a conversation, keep checking in and help someone who is struggling connect with support.

“It is truly an honor to launch this PSA and join the fight to end Veteran suicide” said Dr. Masiakos. “Teaming up with an all-star team of professionals to create an impactful message and partnering with our colleagues at Home Base, who have served over 65,000 Veterans and their Families since inception, to provide critical resources have made all the difference. I could not be any prouder to be part of this collaborative effort.”

“More than 22 Veterans lose their lives to suicide each day, while countless others do not reach out for help,” added Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond, Executive Director, Home Base. “It is completely unacceptable. Home Base is honored to join this effort to provide Veterans and their Families and communities with the care and support they need to ensure that no Veteran faces the invisible wounds of war alone.”

The PSA was written and executive produced by Jamie Rhonheimer, a career writer who served as an executive producer on How I Met Your Mother with additional credits on The Ranch and Will & Grace, and was executive produced and directed by Russell Griffin, a three-time Emmy Award winning director and editor known for his work on Leanne, Fraiser and How I Met Your Father.

“My Family, like so many others, has been affected by Veteran suicide, so this project has particular meaning for me,” said Rhonheimer. “We wanted to create a message that would resonate emotionally and encourage people to take action. The ten-foot wall became a way to illustrate a simple idea: Veterans can help each other through challenging times just as they helped each other during training. We hope this PSA encourages people to have conversations they might otherwise avoid and to keep checking in.”

“When my close friend Jamie asked me if I’d want to direct a PSA that could help the Veteran community, I immediately signed-on with no questions asked,” added Griffin. “Having so many dear friends and Family members who are Veterans, I know how amazing this community is and how vital it is they always have our unwavering support. Peter and Jamie had been working on doing something for Veterans long before I came aboard. Then, as we moved forward together with developing something into a PSA form, we ended up settling on the unique approach of messaging directly to those often closest to Veterans: fellow Veterans. Our hope is that we normalize these kinds of conversations and encourage Veterans to maintain that open dialogue continuously with other Veterans.”

Veterans and military-connected Families can learn more about the care and support available to them on the Home Base Reaching Out page.

Veterans in crisis or facing an emergency should immediately go to the nearest emergency department or call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 then Press 1. Additional information can be found on the 988 Lifeline website. In non-emergency situations, Veterans and the military-connected community are encouraged to connect to care at Home Base and learn how to help others through the 988 Lifeline.

###

About Home Base

Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education and research – all at no out-of-pocket cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location. The program was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Red Sox organization in 2009.

Since its inception 17 years ago, Home Base has served more than 65,000 Warriors and their loved ones with care and support, and trained more than 85,000 clinicians, educators and community members nationally. The Home Base National Center of Excellence is located in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard of Boston. Learn more at www.homebase.org.