Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone — and help is always available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with a trained counselor, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or someone you care about, please know that it’s never too late to reach out. You deserve help. You deserve hope. Someone is ready to listen.
Suicide among first responders and military personnel remains the leading cause of death compared to on-the-job death reports. This data has remained unchanged for nearly 15 years, leading a former public service officer to develop a program that offers help and support to those in need.
Save a Warrior was created in 2012 by Dr. Jake Clark, a former Army officer, Los Angeles police officer, Secret Service and FBI special agent. Having witnessed the devastating impact of trauma and suicide on fellow service members and first responders, Clark recognized that traditional approaches were not meeting the urgent need for healing.
By founding the program, he provided a new, holistic path forward — one that addresses the underlying causes of complex post-traumatic stress and offers veterans and first responders a community of trust, purpose and lifelong support, according to Suzette Heller, a spokesperson for the program.
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“Our program aims to empower participants by creating transformative distinctions that allow them to overcome their past traumas, integrate survival traits developed in response to childhood adversity and boldly declare their authentic selves from a space of infinite possibility,” Heller said.
The first small gathering in Malibu, California, has since grown into a nationally recognized program headquartered at the S/SGT Dick Wood Warrior Village in Hillsboro, Ohio. SAW’s evidence-based, holistic approach combines a 72-hour intensive experience with a 500-day plan and a lifelong community of support, Heller added.
“To date, thousands of veterans and first responders have gone through the program,” Heller said. “Many describe it as the turning point that saved their lives,” echoing Clark’s original bold vision “to end the epidemic of suicide among those who serve and preserve life.”
A life of trauma
The program was pioneered by experienced warriors as an evidence-based intervention for active-duty military, returning veterans and first responders who feel desperately alone. Integrating proven methods and a supportive community to address the challenges related to complex post-traumatic stress, SAW represents an invitation for healing that has resonated with many throughout their lives.
Heller said, “Dr. Clark talks about ‘the thing underneath the thing.’ He is pointing to the deeper wound beneath the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. For many veterans and first responders, the struggles that surface after combat or years of service, including anxiety, hypervigilance, addiction and broken relationships, are often rooted in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and unresolved early trauma.”
If you only treat the visible surface issues (the ‘thing’), you miss the deeper pain and patterns driving despair (the ‘thing underneath the thing’). Save a Warrior was created to address that hidden layer, helping participants name, confront and heal the root causes of suffering so they can truly transform their lives, not just cope with their symptoms, Heller explained.
If you are concerned about a veteran (or first responder), there are behaviors and symptoms that may signal they are in crisis or struggling with untreated trauma:
- Withdrawal and isolation: pulling away from family, friends and social connections
- Changes in jobs and/or relationships: unexpected changes in jobs or relationships can indicate someone’s life isn’t working, especially if unanticipated
- Changes in mood or behavior: irritability, anger outbursts, hopelessness or loss of interest in things once enjoyed
- Sleep disturbances: nightmares, insomnia or sleeping excessively
- Risk-taking behaviors: increased alcohol or substance use, reckless driving or dangerous decisions
- Talk of death or suicide: expressing feelings of being a burden, saying life has no purpose or giving away personal belongings
- Physical symptoms of stress: hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response or difficulty relaxing
“These signs are not always obvious and sometimes the strongest-looking individuals are the ones silently suffering. Trust your instincts — if something feels off, reach out,” Heller added.
Who can attend SAW?
Save a Warrior is open to any U.S. veteran as well as first responders living in Ohio, according to Heller.
“On a case-by-case basis, the program also accepts first responders from other states, depending on individual circumstances and availability,” Heller said.
Because of SAW’s relationship with Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, the program is also offered to spouses of veterans and adult children of veterans.
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Program offered at no cost
“Save a Warrior is a nonprofit organization and participation in the program is offered at no cost to veterans and first responders,” Heller said.
Funding comes entirely through philanthropic support, including individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, veteran service organizations and community fundraisers.
“Every donation directly supports seats in the 72-hour program and the 500-day plan that follows, making it possible for Warriors to attend without financial burden,” Heller said.
She added that the cost for one Warrior to complete the 72-hour Save a Warrior program is $5,000.
Over the past 13 years, Save a Warrior has served nearly 3,000 Warriors, with 20-25% being first responders.
“The most important lesson Save a Warrior participants carry home is that they are not alone and their life has value,” Heller said. “The program helps them see that the struggles they face are not a personal failing but often the result of deep, unresolved trauma — ‘the thing underneath the thing.’ Through the 72-hour experience and the community that follows, participants learn that healing is possible, connection is essential and their story can be the very thing that saves another life. Service to others is a vital part of healing.”
Learn more about Save a Warrior.
