THE MISSION

WHAT: "Stronger Than Silence" seeks to lower rates of death by suicide among Montana's most vulnerable populations through accessible, ongoing, transformative mental healthcare. Our pilot program will support male veterans in the Gallatin Valley, with a vision to expand this program for more groups and in communities across Montana.

WHY: Across the US, veterans die by suicide at twice the rate of the general population, and in Montana, the rate of death by suicide among Montana veterans is twice the national average. Male veterans account for most of these deaths.

Challenges accessing mental healthcare, social stigma, and high rates of PTSD and other mental illnesses all contribute to these devastating statistics. "Stronger Than Silence" addresses these risk factors to tackle rates of suicide head-on.

WHO: TJ Bell is a local veteran who competes in endurance events across the country to raise awareness and support for veterans and their families, and has committed to raising funds for this groundbreaking program.

On April 20, 2025 a local veteran, TJ Bell, will be competing in the Tough Ruck: an event held during the Boston Marathon weekend that honors America's fallen military and first responders. TJ will ruck wearing the names of friends and fellow service members who lost their lives to suicide.

Every gift supports TJ's mission and cause, and helps launch this groundbreaking program.

EVENTS

KICK-OFF EVENT: Join us at MTN TOUGH on April 13th from 5pm-7pm for a launch event featuring inspirational stories from local veterans, and to learn more about "Stronger Than Silence." We'll have plenty of food + fun for the whole family, plus a raffle with major prizes from local supporters.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

SUPPORT: Help us reach our goal with a general donation. Every dollar makes a difference.

SHARE: Spread the word among your friends and family! Share the event link, and use hashtag #ruckformtvets on social media.

RUCK IN SOLIDARITY

Want to ruck in solidarity with TJ? Sign up, gather pledges, and commit to pushing yourself for our veterans. Or, form a team and boost awareness while pushing each other! You get to choose the distance you ruck for each donation.

Whether you raise $10 or $100, ruck 1 or 10 miles, every step counts toward making a difference. Together, we can help Montana's veterans get the ongoing mental health support they deserve.

Learn more at sufferoutloud.org/strongerthansilence

Follow TJ's training at https://www.instagram.com/tj.bell2/

Stronger Than Silence: Veteran Program

Filling the mental health treatment gap for male veterans in Montana

Team Leaderboard

Team Members