Going the Distance: Veteran Walks to Recognize PTSD, Suicides

Jimmy Novak is making his way through a variety of environments, geographically and personally. He is on a journey that is obviously physical, moving nearly half of his body weight in a backpack and a jogging stroller.

He is walking from Dupont, Wash., to Disney World in Florida. His goal is to bring awareness to veterans with PTSD and suicide issues.

"I've been out walking since March 22, and plan to finish Aug. 22," Novak said Tuesday afternoon.

He stopped in Sidney Tuesday after arriving from Potter. He said 22 is relevant in his walk because it is the accepted statistic for the number of military veterans who lose their life to suicide each day. He also sees his cross-country walk as a conversation starter. He said the 22 per day is the number the pop culture latched onto.

"I figure if people start talking about it, it brings it front of mind; that's a good thing," he said.

He said somewhere in the response to mental health, there is a systematic breakdown. Part of the problem is suicide does not have one question to be completed with one answer.

He started his walk partly from his experiences in the US Army. His 21-year career included time in well-known hot spots like Mosul and Fallujah in Iraq. In 2004-2005, he was in his first combat deployment. His duties were what many people would call logistics, tracking movement and what everyone was doing. But it didn't remove him from the impact of why he was there.

He was moved to an outpost in Fallujah, then later to join headquarters in Mosul. He can recall with clarity the bombing of the chow hall, and the suicide bomber that resulted in 22 American lives lost.

Even though the Army encourages seeking help, he didn't. He internalized witnessing the loss of fellow soldiers. He said he didn't feel like his experiences were the same as combat units experiencing action.

Yet, by his own story, it almost ended badly. He said he thought about ending his life. He even had a plan, and had rehearsed the plan. He was saved by the lack of an "internal trigger" never occurring.

He said the feeling remained within until 2015-2016 when he was working as a recruiter. During that time, he began self-medicating, including excessive alcohol consumption.

"During the time, there was something in my brain that said 'this isn't right,'" he said.

He said with veterans, you can't talk about suicide without talking about PTSD.

"You can't actually see the problem is there," he said.

He considers himself an introvert, a label that might seem contrary to seeking attention for a cause. When he speaks to a crowd of people, he spends all of his energy to the point of exhaustion.

The trip has so far cost him three pair of shoes and miscellaneous supplies. It has also rewarded him with numerous relationships and opportunities to share his story.

"So far, it has been pretty amazing," he said. "Everybody I talk to is supportive of the cause."

He doesn't have a support team with him. His wife is at home. There is no "sag wagon." He budgeted the trip at $30 per day for food and $100 per night for hotel stays. He depends on his drive and the support of people he meets along the way.

"It's really been pretty hard to spend my own money," he said.

So far, he has only camped four nights. On one occasion, he stayed with a family who then insisted on driving him the next leg of the journey; the pass was too wintry to hike. In Cheyenne, he ended up staying an extra day or two with a family, again because of weather. On yet another occasion, the local American Legion scheduled his night stays for several stops.

"It has been a lot less expensive than I planned," he said.

He plans on spending tonight in Ogalalla before heading south toward Colby, Kan.

In addition to hiking for awareness of veteran issues, he is raising funds for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, and Permission To Start Dreaming. The Permission To Start Dreaming program is designed to teach coping skills before a crisis occurs. He also talked about ACE: Ask, Care and Escort. Ask if a person is okay, Care enough to refer to professional help and escort that person if necessary.

Some of the challenges he has faced so far include carrying enough water, flat tires on his jogging cart and accuracy of his GPS. His device once led him on a two-day dirt road detour from the Oregon Trail. The unpredictability of the weather has also been a challenge. The positive part of his journey has been the relationships built.

"I've been really surprised how welcoming people have been," he said.