Moss Adams Voices

James Ortiz is a proud member of two business resource groups (BRG), but he recently stepped into leadership with the Veterans BRG. Coordinating educational events to support the veteran community at our firm and beyond is personal for James. He’s a United States Army veteran, comes from a family of military veterans going back at least four generations—and he struggled with mental health during his transition into civilian life.

Luckily, James’s adjustment to civilian life was enriched by Scooter, a Carolina dog crossbreed James adopted amid his darkest days. As a manager at our firm and a new leader with the Veterans BRG, James proudly advocates for veteran mental health by sharing his personal experiences working through depression with the support of a loving canine who’s always excited to see him.

Can you tell us about the day you met Scooter?

I went to the shelter for a small adult dog. For over an hour, the dog I met wouldn’t stop running and barking. I would’ve gotten kicked out of my apartment with him. As I was leaving, they asked if I wanted to meet a puppy. I didn’t want the responsibility of a puppy, but I said okay.

The puppy sat there, quietly waiting for a treat while the other dog was still barking in the background. Scooter looked at me, and even though it sounds corny to say this, I knew he would change my life.

How did Scooter make a difference in your life?

Scooter helped me through a really dark time. Post-traumatic stress disorder hits the veteran community extra hard—I watched it affect my family, and I experienced mental health struggles as well.

When I got out of the Army, I was angry. I didn’t have a purpose anymore. I focused on building a purpose through fitness. When I injured my spine, I could no longer go to the gym. I lost that sanctuary. I lost that purpose, and I felt myself spiraling into negative thoughts.

Taking care of Scooter for 13 years gave me a new purpose. I trained him, we go outdoors, and we watch movies together. He’s a free spirit who always greets me at the door. Many veterans self-medicate to cope with civilian life, but Scooter helped me cope positively. He’s done me good.

Can you say more about the experiences of veterans transitioning to civilian life?

Veteran homelessness and mental health challenges are very common. In the military, we know where to go, what to do, and what to eat. We learn rules, structure, and purpose. There’s a community. When we get out, no one is there telling us what to do and where to go. The loss of purpose leads many people to cope with their mental health struggles with drugs and alcohol.

That’s why I support K9s for Warriors. I learned about the organization through an event hosted by the Veterans BRG. I was so inspired. Later, I decided to step up as the Learning Officer. Supporting organizations to help veterans is very important, and connecting with one that merges veteran mental health and support animals encapsulates everything that has worked for me. It’s been pretty cool.

Can you share more about your personal experiences that influence your advocacy for veteran mental health?

I joined the US Army to challenge myself, to learn who I am as a person, and to push through my fears. After I enlisted, my parents separated and later divorced. I was deployed twice, and while I’m stressing about dying in the desert, I’m thinking about how my support structure back home may be falling apart.

I’m grateful to my faith for keeping me going, but for a while, it felt like I was falling down a river. Depression feels like spiraling into a gutter you can’t climb out of, and there’s no one to grab onto. It’s scary.

Watching the aftermath of war on some of the veterans in my family, and experiencing the impacts myself, I was motivated to study psychology in college. I wanted to understand the ways trauma can affect the brain. I wanted to find the why behind who we are as human beings. Trauma affects us at a cellular level, both physically and non-physically. I’m interested in understanding how we fix that.

How can we better support the mental health of others in our industry?

I’m in the Veterans BRG, but I joined the Disability BRG first. The Disability BRG was recommended after I checked in on my team’s mental health during busy season. Our industry can be very stressful and lonely, and sometimes, it feels like we’re working on a deserted island. Our colleagues can be a support system, too.

The BRGs are a great place to reach out for help and community. There are peer groups to connect and help each other through grief and trauma. Each BRG promotes nonprofits, and the Veterans BRG supports organizations that deal with veteran homelessness, suicide, and substance abuse. There are passionate people in these groups who are trying to make a difference at our firm—not just providing feedback to the firm, but they’re also working on creating actual change.

We’re in a loneliness epidemic worldwide right now. There’s nothing wrong with reaching out to others when we need support. There’s a lot of darkness in the world, but there are good people, too. We can all be one of those good people.