Paul Jedlicka didn’t always consider himself a success. But he’s learned that it’s OK to ask for help when you need it. It could save your life.

After serving in the U.S. Navy as an operations specialist for two years in the 1980s, he was medically discharged after an accident crushed his left elbow. He had planned to make the military a career, and now he was out, with no plan and no job.

He tried roofing, building log homes and even trained as an electrician. “I never found anything that stuck,” Paul says.

Over time, Paul began to struggle with mental health issues such as bi-polar disorder and depression, but because he had experienced the symptoms for so long, he thought they were “normal.” A lack of care for his mental illness and not knowing where to get help resulted in Paul becoming homeless from 2003 to 2009.

By 2010, he began medical treatment to improve his mental health, but he had also starting drinking alcohol excessively, and the combination was not good. He attempted suicide twice, but because his tolerance level so was high – 0.4 blood alcohol level at one time – he survived.

Concerned for his welfare, Paul’s family brought him home to Minnesota and in April 2019, he moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings. The home provides domiciliary care, also known as board and care, that provides supportive, independent living services that assist in medical management, mental health stability and vocational goals. When he first arrived, Paul had many medical issues that sent him to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center where he fought off a sepsis infection that saw him intubated for some time. He wasn’t sure if he would make it back to the Hastings Veterans Home.

But Paul is a survivor. And once again, he survived the ordeal. In the last 18 months, Paul says he has experienced many improvements: shaking has stopped, mental health symptoms have decreased and even his vision has improved. He is now 54, 11 years sober and credits a faith in God and adopting a mindset of motivation. “If you can find things to focus on, you will get better,” he says.

Another contributor to Paul’s success is the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) program offered by the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. There Paul appreciated the trusting relationship he formed with his psychiatrist and social workers who really got to know him and encouraged his recovery.

Since returning to the Hastings Veterans Home, Paul has flourished. “Paul is one of our best success stories,” says Cathy Tschida, Social Work Supervisor. He participates in the work therapy program, helping in the kitchen and supporting the housekeeping team by completing extra sanitizing around the campus, so important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul also is very active in recreation therapy activities and proudly shows off his stained-glass projects.

Paul has also gained the respect of his peers and was recently elected as the commander of the Home’s 28-member AMVETS chapter. He first served as the chapter’s chaplain and says, “It is an honor to belong and help the community and the home.” The AMVETS chapter leads activities on-site such as placing small American flags around the campus for holidays such as Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day. During pre-COVID times, they also volunteered in the community to paint a home for a Veteran’s widow and donated an American flag to a local school.

As Paul looks to the future, he is setting goals to increase his independence. Through his self-development, he is now taking a bigger role in his health management by setting up his own appointments and medications.

“It has been a pleasure for me to get to know Paul,” says Michael Anderson, Administrator. “In the Domiciliary Program, we aim to be a supportive environment that fosters a stable, healthy and meaningful life for Veterans. Creating that environment and supporting Paul is only part of why he has been successful; the main reason is Paul has taken the initiative to grow as a person.”

Paul says that he is grateful that society is becoming more comfortable talking about mental health and suicide prevention. As he reflects back on some of the dark days from his past, he notes: “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It may be embarrassing, but it’s important to ask for help.”

September is Suicide Prevention Month
Preventing Veteran suicide is a priority for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA). Suicide has claimed more than 100 Minnesota Veteran lives per year during the past five years. As this rate continues to increase, especially among younger Veterans, MDVA is collaborating with others to identify the root causes of Veteran suicide and create an innovative, cooperative way to reverse this trend. We are working toward zero Veteran deaths by suicide in Minnesota. Learn more at MinnesotaVeteran.org/EndVetSuicide.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, press 1.
The Veterans Crisis Line is the world’s largest provider of crisis call, text, and chat services, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It serves more than 650,000 calls every year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users also may text to 838255 or chat online to receive confidential crisis intervention and support.