
Velda: A Mom's Story of Suicide
A mother confronts the devastating consequences of war on her son's mental health, leading her from personal tragedy to impassioned activism as she challenges the government's handling of veterans' mental health issues.
In the poignant and thought-provoking short film, a distressed mother, Velda, takes center stage as she recounts the tragic tale of her son, Michael, who battles inner demons after being sent to war. As she navigates through the gut-wrenching chronology of his enlistment on the eve of 9/11, his traumatizing experiences in combat, and his futile attempts at readjustment after returning home, the narrative unravels to reveal the silent and insidious toll of war on the mental health of soldiers. Compelled by her son's devastating suicide, Velda transforms her grief into a call for action, articulating her concerns about the military's approach to mental health issues in a letter to the president. This heart-rending short film underscores the often overlooked consequences of war, giving voice to those left in its devastating wake.
More Like This

Ruiz
2023

Decoding Jean: Secrets of WWII
2023

Do Ask, Do Tell: The Linda Campbell Story
2023

Carson Bigbee: The Pirate of America's Pastime
2023

Serving in Secret: Love, Country, and Don't Ask, Don't Tell
2023

Veteran Car Rally, Brighton
1964

The Last Season
2014
Swords to Plowshares

Baptiste Garnier and the Indian Wars
2023

Black Women and World War II: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
2023

Broken Token
2024

Brothers After War
2025

The Fence
2020

First Kill
2001

Hope: In the Aftermath of War
2025

Sunken Roads: Three Generations After D-Day
2020

Conte: Transitioning Politics
2023

Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian Wars
2023

The Architect: A Montford Point Marine
2023

The Pigeon People
2023