Charles is an industrious man who runs his own small business. He is a veteran with three years of active duty service in the United States Army. He also just finished serving a 37 year prison sentence for a mistake that he’s regretted his entire life.

“I got out of the military when I was 23, just a stupid kid still. I didn’t know how to deal with the PTSD from my service, and I just ended up getting in fights a lot. I never knew when to back down or when to stop. I ended up making mistakes because of that.”

One night Charles and his best friend were at a bar when they got in a fight, and they ended up trading blows. After a few short minutes of fighting, Charles was still standing and his friend wasn’t. His friend passed away shortly after the fight, and Charles found himself in a jail cell for the next 37 years.

“It’s easy to just toss us in prison and pretend we’re monsters. But the truth is, a lot of us just made a terrible mistake and want to make it right… I’m sorry, I struggle to talk about this still, I have a lot of feelings about it. I’ve had to carry it all my life, and it’s been quite a painful struggle for me.”

Charles has talked with therapists in prison and at the VA for years about his deep feelings of regret. He has spent his time in prison trying to come to terms with his actions and figure out how to make things right. As his release approached, he also started planning on how to make his second chance at life count for something.

“I had served my time for what I did and I wanted to make the most of my second chance. I know how challenging it is for folks who have been in for as long as I was to get back into society. It’s hard, and I knew that I would need a lot of help if I was going to make it.”

At about 60 years old, Charles wants a chance to live a normal life. Before exiting prison, he reached out to every program available to help him know what to expect when he left. This was when he found A New Leaf’s veterans specific Path to Purpose Program. 

“When I talked to the folks at A New Leaf, it was just completely different than what I had expected. They would lay out all the choices in front of me, and helped me decide on what type of life I wanted to lead when I left prison. And they promised they would help me make it a reality. They told me I deserved a second chance.”

Charles got straight to work with his case manager and found a place to live. He also got connected to the Veteran’s Small Business Administration to get help with starting a small business. Within a few months, Charles had opened his own small auto parts trading business and was able to support himself. 

“The folks at A New Leaf do incredible work, I never expected things would happen this quickly for me. I’ve only been out for 6 months and I’m running my own business and able to support myself. For a long time I thought my life was over, but this program changed my mind.” 

Charles plans to continue to work on himself and lead as meaningful a life as possible. He truly believes that everyone deserves a second chance. “All I can say after 37 years in prison is that you can’t give up. You have to be honest with yourself, recognize your mistakes, and do your best to be a better person.” 

1. 46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14. 

2. 42.5 million US Adults have an Anxiety Disorder.

3. 21 million US adults have depression.

4. 56% of adults do not receive any form of mental health treatment. This is around 27 million adults left untreated.

5. 60.3% of youth did not receive any form of mental health treatment. This is around 2.17 million children left untreated.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates a national helpline that provides confidential, free help 24/7. It is designed to offer support for those facing mental health and substance use disorders. You can reach the helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The trained professionals on the other end of the line can guide you to local services, provide information on treatment options, and offer general support during times of crisis. You can find the National Helpline here.

Veterans Crisis Line responders are continuing to support Veterans, service members, and their families via 988. The Veterans Crisis Line’s number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need. Responders are trained in crisis intervention and military culture. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call. See more info here.

For those experiencing suicidal thoughts or dealing with a severe crisis, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers immediate assistance. You can call or text 988 to connect with trained crisis counselors who are available 24/7. This lifeline focuses on suicide prevention and crisis intervention, providing a safe space to talk and receive guidance during intense emotional distress. Please call 988 or go to https://988lifeline.org/ for assistance.

If you need to locate various types of support, SAMHSA provides a comprehensive resource page where you can find links to services and programs for both mental health and substance abuse issues. The page includes information on treatment facilities, support groups, and other resources tailored to specific needs. This resource can be invaluable for individuals and families seeking specialized help. Click here for mental health or substance abuse help.