MILFORD, Del. - Melissa LeGates is a veteran living in Milford who recently published her first book. LeGates proudly served two tours in Iraq and retired from the United States Air Force as a Master Sergent in 2009, but she discovered that her mental health was declining. That is when she got to writing.
"I had never seen any war or blood and gore, but I was still scared for my life. When I got home I found myself really depressed and looking at telephone poles and wondering how I could just end my life without letting anyone know that I had done that." said LeGates.
LeGates' book titled "Defeating Suicide" describes her experience in Iraq with depression and refers to what helped her through it, including finding God.
"Every chapter has my story and then key revelations of what I learned throughout that chapter and also a prayer." said LeGates.
According to a 2022 report by the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2020 there were 6,146 veteran suicides. That averages to nearly 17 veterans taking their own lives every day. But LeGates wants to use her experiences to help other veterans going through mental hardship,
"I want them to know that there are things that they can do to get themselves out of that rut and then reach back and help other people get them out of mental anguish as well."
LeGates plans to come out with a second book focused more on the current resources for airmen struggling with mental health.