VA recently joined the Face the Fight coalition’s annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., on March 3–4, reinforcing its Veterans First commitment for every Veteran to access the care, support and resources they need. Reducing Veteran suicide and strengthening prevention efforts is a top priority set by VA Secretary Doug Collins, and VA’s involvement in Face the Fight reflects that focus. Many of the organizations at the event are also part of VA’s VetResources Community Network (VRCN), working alongside VA to support Veterans in their local communities.
The coalition, founded in 2023 by USAA, the Humana Foundation and Reach Resilience, has grown to include more than 250 corporations, nonprofits and community organizations dedicated to raising awareness and supporting efforts to prevent Veteran suicide—all working toward the shared goal of significantly reducing Veteran suicide by 2032.
This year’s gathering underscored why this matters: Veteran suicide rates remain 60% higher than the national average, making suicide the second leading cause of death among Veterans under age 45.
According to the 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,398 Veterans died by suicide in 2023—and 61% of them were not engaged in VA health care during their final year. The report also indicated higher risks among Veterans aged 18 to 34, those facing homelessness, and those dealing with health issues or chronic pain, highlighting the importance of collaboration and community-driven prevention.
A coalition united in purpose
VA representatives played a central role in the discussions. During the convening, Dr. Bryann DeBeer, director of the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative and a clinical research psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, shared insights on new research linking financial well‑being and suicide risk. Working alongside VA’s National Veterans Financial Resource Center, this project looks into how financial stressors—such as late payments or fluctuations in credit scores—affect mental health. By analyzing data from thousands of Veterans, the aim is to identify risks and protective factors that will inform future prevention strategies.
VA’s involvement in Face the Fight reinforces its effort to expand suicide prevention beyond traditional clinical settings by building stronger ties with community organizations that Veterans already trust and engage with, including those in the VRCN, which serves as VA’s “front door” for outreach and local support.
Advancing proactive prevention and connection
VA also emphasized its continued shift toward more proactive, “upstream” prevention by connecting Veterans with support before a crisis develops.
“Many Veterans don’t recognize their need for help yet, or they hesitate to reach out,” said Lynda Davis, VA’s chief Veterans Experience Officer. “That’s why upstream prevention is so powerful and why VA’s Office of Suicide Prevention is prioritizing it.”
Some efforts already making an impact:
- The Choose VA enrollment campaign has expanded digital outreach, sending more than 6 million emails and texts to unenrolled Veterans, leading to over 25,000 new enrollments.
- A national outreach push now includes postcards, calls from trained specialists and upcoming teletownhalls for unenrolled Veterans.
- VA launched its first social media service recovery program to spot Veterans in distress online and quickly connect them to the Veterans Crisis Line or local suicide prevention teams.
Together, these efforts demonstrate VA’s commitment to meeting Veterans where they are: in their communities, online and through trusted partners.
A shared commitment to hope and prevention
While the challenge remains significant, the collaboration shown at this year’s meeting highlights what is possible when organizations and communities work together to support Veterans and their families.
If you or someone you know needs support, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255.
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