When people talk about suicide, they tend to focus on the narrative that suicide is tragic, suicide is complex and there are still many things we don’t know about suicide. An often-overlooked aspect of the conversation is the importance of hope.
In this article, I want to “flip the usual script” and let you know that suicide isn’t the inevitable outcome if you’re going through a crisis. There are things you can do to decrease your risk of suicide and help lower the risk for Veterans.
By focusing on the idea that suicide can be prevented and there are options for Veterans facing challenges, we can help save lives. Read on to find six ways to help decrease suicide risk.
Understand that 24/7 support is available
No matter what you’re going through, qualified Veterans Crisis Line responders are ready to listen and help, day or night. You can Dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255 to reach responders trained in military culture and crisis intervention. Whether you’re a Veteran or care about a Veteran, they can connect you with the resources and tools you need.
You’re not alone. Veterans and their supporters have reached out to the Veterans Crisis Line millions of times. You can, too.
Support doesn’t end after the call, chat or text. Afterward, you may be connected with your local suicide prevention coordinator (SPC) who will contact you the next business day for continued support.
Find the resources you need
SPCs are available in each VA medical center across the country and can connect Veterans to the counseling and services they need. Are you looking for clinical care or counseling? Assistance with benefits? No matter what you’re experiencing, we’re here to connect you with resources and support systems to help.
Use our resource locator to find VA medical facilities and benefits offices.
You can also check out VA’s app store to download free apps to help manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD, create a custom, step-by-step safety plan to stay safe when experiencing thoughts about suicide and access tools to help track and improve sleep.
Learn the steps involved in suicide prevention
VA S.A.V.E. Training provides information that will help you act with care and compassion if you come across a Veteran who is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. The acronym S.A.V.E. helps you remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention:
- Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized
- Ask the most important question of all: Are you thinking of killing yourself?
- Validate the Veteran’s experience
- Encourage treatment and expedite getting help
Use free self-help tools
Our Veteran training self-help portal provides tools to help Veterans work on problem-solving, managing anger, developing parenting skills and more. The free tools are based on best practices that have been successful with Veterans and their families.
Prioritize your wellness
Many Veterans tend to help others before asking for support for themselves. Prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary to stay healthy.
Whether you need help with an everyday struggle or something more complicated, we have resources designed specifically for you. “Don’t wait. Reach out.” allows you to explore VA resources by category, like career, education, money, relationship and health challenges, feelings of depression or isolation, life transitions and experiencing grief or loss.
Connect with stories of help and hope
If you need support, it doesn’t mean you’re a burden. There are people who care about you and want to help. You, and your story, matter.
At MakeTheConnection.net, you can watch, read and listen to Veterans and their family members share real stories of strength and recovery. With 800 videos available, it’ll only take a few minutes to find a story you can relate to. You can also find useful information and local mental health resources and explore ways to show your support. If you’re in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, VA offers tools and resources to help keep you safe. Whether you’re a Veteran or concerned about one, we’re here for you whenever you need us, no matter what challenges you’re facing.
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Thank you for a superb essay. Consider adding how VA’s Veterans Crisis Line works well in practice.
For example, with statistics here, showing the millions of calls, chats, and texts to VCL, and millions of Veterans assisted. https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/about/about-us/
In another example, an August 2024 review of VA’s VCL was positive, as shown here:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/08/28/va-crisis-lines-switch-988-press-1-success-watchdog-finds.html
VA outreach about suicide prevention, especially the VCL and weapons safety, are critical. VA should also share how this works well for our nation, Veterans, service members, and families.
Paul Sullivan
Gulf War Veteran
The intent to prevent suicide is the number one goal, when I read stories like this or stories that discuss the question and attempt to find out more about Veterans and suicide they always act as if the source to prevent is call for help, ask for help, or talk about it! WHY, why are we not holding those accountable for pushing a Veteran to suicide? Why are we not supporting Veterans when they really need support and when that support really counts! The reality is, we will never get rid of Veteran Suicide completely and we may never understand fully why this happens. We sure can put a stop to those who push a Veteran to suicide at least minimize it. Our Judicial system preys on Veterans, it is like a sickness they will squeeze the life out of a Veteran to the point the Veteran will feel like they have no other option, and the pain and suffering has gone on long enough they want it to stop. Our Judicial system from Supreme Court of the United States all the way to the very smallest District Court is to blame. These individuals’ prey on a Veteran, knowing they can do this without repercussions, and knowing the Veteran will eventually give up. What is the motivation, its money, even the smallest amount stolen from a Veteran adds up when you consider the total amount taken from Guaranteed monthly payments from the VA or other sources of Federal monies to Veterans. It is so small individually, that is goes unnoticed except for the Veteran, when that little bit is a large or entire portion, they depend on to survive. Congress, through legislation has passed laws to protect Veterans from extortion, 38 USC 5301 is a clear law passed to protect a Veteran. But State Courts ignore these laws passed by Congress, States make their own laws, ignoring federal laws. What is a Veteran going to do to a Judge who ignores federal laws? Nothing worth any value and the Judge knows this. If a Veteran does not agree with a decision from the court in their district, they must appeal that decision at the state level, 90% or more the appeals court sides with the lower court or the Veteran does not have the money to afford an appeallet attorney. The next option is to take it to the State Supreme Court, 99% of the time they deny to even hear the case and the appeals court and lower-level court know this. While this process goes on, the lower court incarcerates the Veteran, takes the kids away from the Veteran, destroys the Veteran by taking everything away. This is done by breaking Federal Law. If a Veteran tries to get a Federal Court to look at it, the case gets laughed out of court with Rooker Feldman case law or immunity case law. Our judicial system knows the process, knows the rate of success for them is so high and profitable they are free to act as they please. They also do this under the idea they are following the law. If we really want to put a stop to Veteran Suicide, we would place those causing it to blame!
AMEN to “courts ignoring federal laws.” Why is it allowed? That would be an interesting thing to learn more about because there is definitely a reason(s) why the federal government does not pursue these unjust cases.
I agree with so much that you have said here, Derek.
A HIGHLY effective tool for Veteran Suicide prevention, is the good old, “Buddy Check!” As yourself, “when was the last time I conducted a Buddy Check?” Q: Why not text/call a buddy right now??
I once called the VA Suicide Helpline, and got help. Now I am out to help my veterans!
John J. Kirby IV
U.S. Army