PAINESVILLE, Ohio — After leaving the Marines, Shayne Cocchi said he was having a hard time finding his purpose. He turned to his family and his farm animals for support.

What You Need To Know

  • Melissa Cocchi is a wife and caregiver of a veteran

  • Cocchi also serves as a social worker for NAMI Greater Cleveland

  • She is helping the organization adopt a national support program for caregivers of veterans called NAMI Homefront

“We really like the company of them,” he said. “They’re loving, caring, and they’re fun to watch.”

He cares for them with his wife, Melissa, a mental health advocate and strong supporter of his journey.

“I would say that, you know, just assisting him and getting through things, making sure that he’s sleeping right,” she said. “I like to cook. So making sure that he’s eating right.”

As Cocchi’s wife and caregiver, Melissa added she sees firsthand the struggles that her husband and other veterans go through when they return home and re-enter society.

“The struggles initially were like civilization and just getting used to being home because he felt like he lost his purpose,” Melissa said.

As part of her job as a social worker for NAMI Greater Cleveland, Melissa is helping to implement a national program in northeast Ohio called NAMI Homefront.

“[The] Homefront program is a six-week educational course for caregivers and family members of veterans, and it focuses on different aspects of understanding the veteran and what they have gone through,” Melissa said.

She said the course is scheduled to begin in early 2023, and a major portion of the programming will focus on how caregivers can also attend to their own needs while supporting their service member.

“I think to be able to care for others, you have to care for yourself,” Melissa said. “So, you know, some of the self-care activities that I enjoy is spending time with my sisters and my family and going camping. We go hunting [and] motorcycle riding with my husband. I think it’s important to have other outlets so that you can stay healthy and also help your loved one as well.”

Besides providing resources to those who enroll, Melissa also hopes to facilitate classes that allow for open communication.

“I think this program, one of the most important things, is being able to relate with others in the room, being able to vent and talk about our struggles and learn resources and share with each other without making the veteran themselves feel bad in any sort of way,” Melissa said.

She said she ultimately wants to start a support system for veterans and their families that is centered on community.

“Just as he developed the camaraderie in the military, we’re able to do that with other caregivers,” Melissa said.

They’re people that her veteran credits for keeping him alive.

“They give me purpose and I love them,” Cocchi said.

Those interested in the free course, can visit its website.