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A campaign of the North Dakota American Legion to reach out and help veterans who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is now in its fourth phase.

Called "Courage Carries On," the campaign was kicked off earlier this year by the N.D. American Legion, with the help of Results Unlimited, a marketing and advertising firm with offices in Fargo and Minot.

Amy Wieser Willson, Fargo, a member of the N.D. American Legion's Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee, said the fourth phase of the campaign was launched on Veterans Day.

A new ad for the campaign will be released shortly, Wieser Willson said Nov. 18. "It's a hard-hitting piece that focuses on suicide, asking veterans to 'not let it get that far' and to have the courage to call for help," she said.

The campaign is the only one of its kind in the United States that uses actual veterans on its posters, brochures, ads and other information, Wieser Willson said.

The campaign committee also is made up of veterans, she said. Wieser Willson is deputy public information officer for Eastern North Dakota Joint Force Headquarters of the N.D. National Guard.

The first phase of the campaign consisted of brochures and posters spread across the state, as well as launching (www.couragecarrieson.org) and also on Twitter and Facebook, Wieser Willson said.

For the second phase, she said they launched media ads and also on billboards. The first ad can be seen on Facebook.

Wieser Willson said the ad "speaks directly to veterans" and features real North Dakota veterans who have had the courage to make the call to get help with PTSD symptoms, whether it's from combat, military sexual trauma or other traumatic events.

The third phase of the campaign focused on families, "since oftentimes they are the first to recognize the symptoms of PTSD in their loved ones," Wieser Willson said.

She said N.D. media has been very generous to the campaign. "We're very appreciative that they see the value in this awareness campaign and have joined us in the effort to save lives," Wieser Willson said.

"Beyond media support, reception to this campaign has been very positive," she said.

"While it's impossible to know how many have called for help due to the campaign, we know anecdotally that a number of people have found the courage to call after seeing the ads run.

"We're asking them to call 2-1-1 for 24/7 confidential assistance, the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255 or the N.D. Legion's Veterans Service officer at 451-4646," Wieser Willson said.