Michigan is home to more than 470,000 veterans, yet many have never accessed the military benefits they’re entitled to. This gap in support prompted a Howell war veteran to take action.

During the COVID pandemic, nearly 200 Michigan veterans died by suicide — well above the state’s average. Iraq War veteran Joshua Parish is president of the nonprofit VETLIFE and is working to change that. His organization, which started in 2018, provides veterans with sustainable resources, free events, and community support to help navigate civilian life.

Parish says one of their flagship events, called VetFest, attracts more than 3,000 people each time.

“We have 60 resource providers that help connect the dots, and what we’re seeing is one month after the VetFest event, a 60% increase in veterans going down to their local resources, which is what we want,” Parish said.

Parish says his main goal is to educate and empower veterans to be their own best advocate. He believes by doing this, it will decrease the veteran suicide rate.

More than 8 million U.S. veterans are 65 and older, nearly half of the veteran population. Many face isolation, depression, and struggles transitioning to civilian life, even decades later.

As a veteran, Parish says he’s battled mental-health challenges himself. He adds many veterans rely on VA pensions, Social Security, or disability benefits, making it crucial for them to know and access the resources they’ve earned.