Nationwide Film Screening Event in conjunction with Stop Soldier Suicide comes to Leesburg, FL on Veterans Day Nov 11, 2013

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

Narrative feature film puts human face on veterans and post-traumatic stress!

 

National non-profit organization Stop Soldier Suicide is asking people across the country to sign up to host (and attend) a film screening of the critically acclaimed film, Happy New Year, in their city that will help raise awareness of the struggles our veterans and Soldiers go through as they transition home and the issues surrounding PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) and suicide.

 

One of those screenings is being hosted by Dr. Dorothy Hooks in Leesburg, FL at AMC Lake Square 12, 10401-015 US Hwy 441 South (Lake Square Mall); a local disabled Veteran who is helping to spread awareness of soldier PTSD and suicide with this movie screening event on Veterans Day. All that’s needed now to make it happen is for people in our city to reserve their seat by using this link: http://www.tugg.com/go/s6xu9h.

 

Happy New Year is a bold, feature film produced that shocked audiences and critics at the South by Southwest and Hamptons Film Festivals in 2012. It tells the story of Staff Sgt. Cole Lewis, a war-torn Marine who returns home to face his fiercest battle yet --- the one against himself.

 

Stop Soldier Suicide CEO Brian Kinsella said they decided to make this event nationwide on Veterans Day to bring the needed awareness to a problem that isn’t going away. “Soldier and Veteran suicide is an epidemic. We have to, as a nation, come together to help our brave men and women in the fight of their lives.”

 

“We feel like this is a way civilians can help the cause and help change the lives of so many. With 1 active duty soldier a day and 22+ veterans a day taking their own lives, PTS and suicide cannot be ignored any longer. We have to stop this stigma around asking for and getting mental health care,” says Laura Black, Chief Marketing Officer for Stop Soldier Suicide.

 

MORE ABOUT THE FILM

Breakout first-time filmmaker K. Lorrel Manning (Rhode Island International Film Festival, Best Director Award, MFA Columbia University) puts a human face on post-traumatic stress, expertly directing an accomplished, diverse cast, led by emerging star Michael Cuomo (Rhode Island International Film Festival, Best Actor Award) who delivers a haunting performance as “Lewis.”

 

Manning and Cuomo, bring a deep level of authenticity to the narrative feature film, inspired by more than 80 one-on-one interviews with combat veterans, their families, and V.A. personnel. 

 

MORE ABOUT STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE

Stop Soldier Suicide is the first national, civilian not-for-profit organization dedicated to preventing military suicide. Using a triage model of care and vast resources, the group aids service members, veterans and their families who need to work through emotional or other issues that are leading to suicidal ideations. Stop Soldier Suicide has an intimate understanding of the military lifestyle and its associated hardships with a Board of Directors composed of active military service members and veterans. Stop Soldier Suicide is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that survives solely on donations and corporate sponsors.

 

Press contacts:

Laura Black, Chief Marketing Officer at Stop Soldier Suicide: [e-mail]

 

Meghan Chisolm, public relations for Stop Soldier Suicide: [e-mail]

Let's make this screening possible by purchasing our tickets and telling others; we need 84 people to sign up in order for the movie to be shown so let's purchase those tickets today!! Stop Soldier Suicide needs our help and support so they can continue to help and support the countless men, women, and their families who suffer from PTSD!!

 

Thank you all for your help in making the showing of this movie possible!!

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks