Face the Fight: Raising awareness and support for Veteran Suicide Prevention

The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Face the Fight is an initiative working to break the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community by raising awareness and fostering open conversations about support and hope.

Seeking support is a sign of strength. The Face the Fight Training and Resource Center offers comprehensive information on upcoming trainings, the approach and focus areas guiding its suicide prevention efforts, and recommended resources for organizations and individuals.

The Face the Fight: Basics of Veteran Suicide Prevention training program is a key component of the tools offered. The program is a self-paced, online training resource that provides individuals with the opportunity to engage in Veteran suicide prevention.

The Face the Fight Exchange is a monthly series focused on answering the question, “What can I do?” as it relates to suicide prevention. The series brings together subject matter experts to expand community members’ skills, abilities and knowledge base.

Stanley Sanders is proud of his service as a Navy Yeoman Petty Officer 2nd Class and, later, as a police officer. He and his family are just as proud of his strength in seeking help for his mental health. Despite the support of his wife Britton and their four children, Sanders once saw suicide as the only way to end his pain.

“Nothing about suicide really makes sense, but when you’re in that frame of mind, it seems to make perfect sense,” he shared. His wife drove him to the emergency room, marking the start of his battle.

Now, Sanders wants to help others like him and share his story.

“To Face the Fight means not giving up hope… and to keep finding out that you’re worth it,” he added.

Face the Fight is a growing movement with a coalition rooted in valuing Veterans, survivors, military families, caregivers and the broader community affected by this crisis.

In its first year, Face the Fight grantees helped screen nearly 15,000 Veterans for suicide risk, with over 5,000 receiving suicide-specific interventions. They’ve trained 130 mental health clinicians in suicide-specific treatments. The grantees have also trained over 140 clinicians and peers to discuss safe and secure firearm storage with Veterans.

In its second year, Face the Fight aims to build on its success, continuing to normalize support-seeking behaviors, leveraging existing coalition members, and expanding its reach to screen over 44,000 Veterans for social needs and suicide risk factors.

Face the Fight engages Veterans, their communities and the public on social media, sharing stories, insights and updates to combat the stigma surrounding military community suicide. Follow Face the Fight on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

We all know that veteran suicide isn’t inevitable…it’s preventable. This issue is complicated and hard, but when we face the fight together, there is hope. 

For more information and to see coalition partners, visit https://wefacethefight.org/.