Yuma County Fairgrounds home to first Combat Depression Tour

The Yuma County Fairgrounds will be the host of the first Combat Depression Tour this Saturday in efforts to help military veterans cope with mental illness.

The event will include live music by artist D-ProV and Comedian Shang, along with other performances.

Edward Barrett is the organizer behind the event and hopes it will serve as an outlet for veterans in the community who suffer from a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Barret spent four years in the Marine Corps and finished his service in 2002. He was later diagnosed with PTSD, using alcohol to help cope with the mental pain and agony, he said.

“A year ago I almost committed suicide,” Barret said. “I am grateful to have the support of my family to get me through the process and some other fellow veterans that have kind of grabbed me and shown me what to do and how to get help and the proper ways to go about that.”

Now he is using the Combat Depression Tour as an outlet for other people who face similar situations.

“That is why I put this tour together and I am having other veteran community people come together to help spread the word and just let people know they are not alone,” Barrett said.

The Combat Depression Tour’s first stop is Yuma and will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets can be found here. All veterans will receive discount ticket prices.