Veterans Day was nationally observed last Tuesday, Nov. 11, to commemorate the service of all U.S. veterans. For speaker Toni Mattson, this holiday is not “just about the uniforms and ceremonies. It’s about the people behind them — the faces, the stories, the sacrifices that don’t always make the headlines.”
From 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, a group gathered at the Blue Hills Lecture Hall at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County to attend Mattson’s presentation titled “Where the Battle Ends and the Healing Begins.” The event was part of the “Thursdays at the U” series, which is partially funded by the UW-Barron County Foundation. The series features weekly lectures open to the public each Thursday.
“Where the Battle Ends and the Healing Begins” addressed the negative stigma surrounding veterans’ mental health, its impact on families, and the dangers of improper healing from traumatic experiences.
Mattson discussed statistics from the 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, noting an average of 17.6 veterans die by suicide each day. She stated, “I’m sold out on the idea that if we stop supporting the stigma that surrounds mental health, we will bring down the suicide rate, we will have much better transitioning people coming out of the service and people who’ve been out of the service forever but yet still struggle with those demons.”
Although Mattson is not a veteran herself, she comes from a long line of veterans.