Velda: A Mother's Story of Suicide

With our short film, we delve into the heart-wrenching tale of a mother, Velda, burdened with the unfathomable grief of losing her son to the invisible scars of war. Michael, a young man who enlisted in the Army on the precipice of 9/11, becomes the haunting symbol of thousands who face the shattering reality of war and its consequences on mental health. The trauma and his futile attempts to readjust to a normal life after returning home are aspects of the veteran experience that society often overlooks. Michael's suicide, a devastating impact on the lives of the many who loved him, further amplifies the profound toll war takes on the soldiers and their loved ones.

However, the film is not just about sorrow. It is a call to action, invoking the spirit of the African American church; a wake-up call echoing Velda's own transformation from a grieving mother to an activist voicing her concerns about the military's handling of mental health issues. This is my plea as a filmmaker: to shed light on the under-represented and devastating impact of war and to provoke thought, conversation, and ideally, change in how we address the mental health of our servicemen and women. This short film is a tribute to the unsung heroes who fight battles both abroad and within, and to the families who weather the storm alongside them.