Tim Rosa is a 25-year-old CSI veteran who now studies social work, providing help to other veterans, helping them conquer their mental battles.
By: Demori Louis
In March 2019, in Kuwait, Tim Rosa bitterly wept in the barracks, reminiscing about a friend he lost while serving his country. As he grieved, he remembered a fellow soldier on base who simply sat and cried with him, sharing the weight of their pain.
“I’m the type of person—if you need me, I’m there, driving, walking, whatever, I’m there. Need the shirt off my back?” Rosa said. “Even if just playing video games gift you comfort, I’m there, man.”
Tim Rosa is a veteran who gets involved with helping his fellow brothers in arms transition to civilian life. He calls to check in, does counseling, visits, or just listens.
He is located in the veteran club office on the 2nd floor, Room 219 in 1C CSI Veterans’ mental health struggles are well documented.
Every year, there is a average of 131.2 suicides per day with 17.6 being veterans (Veteran Suicide Prevention). Rosa has lost many friends, leaving him with the burden of caring for the ones still here.
Tim has been on calls with close friends who had guns to their mouths. He has talked some out of it, while others, sadly, succeeded in taking their own lives.
Tim has forever remembered them with tattoos on his skin.
“Being a veteran and in prison at the same time, we felt like a number,” Rosa said. “Just a number. A statistic. If one dies, here goes another, like it doesn’t matter, 21, I should not be writing my will.”
According to USA Facts, there are 1.3 million active troops and another 762,000 reserved. Rosa knows the feeling of being an active Marine and the struggles of transitioning back.
He counsels his comrades to feel heard.
“Tim’s a great guy. We joke around, tease each other, all that,” Nana Addauay said. “There are only a few people that really understand life and death.”.We know the mindset.He is one of them.”
Rosa and fellow veterans like Nana believe regular citizens cannot understand how to help a veteran. Most judge rather than listen.
Peer and group counseling are a preferred way of healing for many veterans. Rosa created a safe space for veterans like Nana to feel free.
He is there at 9 A.M. every morning, cheering his friends up, giving advice, and dropping one-liners. He even opens the space on weekends for a veteran to cry if needed.
He has visited old friends who had mental breakdowns that placed them in a psych ward. He set up a group to keep up with his comrades’ moods and keep their minds positive.
He has even talked some veterans out of taking their own lives.
The reason he is so good at doing this is, sadly, due to experience. He had his own battles with depression, worthiness, and isolation.
With the common sight of death, he is equipped to offer help to others. This has not made him immune to the effects of this burden.
He has expressed times he had to break the news to family members of young dead soldiers. He has sat through funerals, even struggled with thoughts of self-harm himself.
He believes that in helping his fellow veterans, he helps himself. His work keeps him from staying isolated.
He is building a strong community of active listeners who understand the effects of serving their country.
His impact on the CSI movement is something he is pushing to spread. He hopes to bring awareness and healing to those who need it most. His service in and out of the base was needed.
“Life is like a book. There’s a beginning chapter and an end. There are many pages in between,” Rosa said. “Your chapter is going to end do something in the middle pages before your final one.”
Awesome article Demori!