Veterans are trained to carry the heavy stuff, but they don’t have to go through anything alone. During Suicide Prevention Month, held every September, take a moment and Reach Out for support.
Reach Out is a new awareness campaign from VA. Big life moments – like transitioning from the military, starting or retiring from a job, ending a relationship, or raising kids – can be overwhelming.
Veterans can find help through VA resources or connecting with loved ones and fellow Veterans.
Here are some ways you can reach out this September:
If you’re a Veteran who needs support:
- Reach out to your friends, family and fellow Veterans for support. There are also a number of resources available to you through VA at reach.gov/SPM.
- Recognize the warning signs of a crisis in yourself and in the Veterans you know. Take steps to seek help early on.
- Hear about how Veterans like you have worked through life challenges, such as relationships, parenting, a career change and more at maketheconnection.net.
- Learn how to practice safe storage of guns and medication at reach.gov.
If you want to provide support to a fellow Veteran:
- Reach out to them by phone, text or email. For sample conversation starters, visit reach.gov/SPM.
- Download and share social media posts and graphics to spread the word to your friends and family.
- Familiarize yourself with the warning signs of a crisis.
- Save the Veterans Crisis Line phone number and don’t hesitate to call if a Veteran you know shows signs of needing help.
- Continue to reach out all year. You don’t have to be an expert to talk to a Veteran going through a tough time.
Life challenges can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Reach out for help today
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to reach qualified responders available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Veterans going through a difficult time or those concerned about a Veteran can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text 838255, or chat online.
Take a moment to visit REACH.gov/SPM for resources you can use and share this Suicide Prevention Month.
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I will never find the right words for you suffering. I can emphasize, tell you that I am here for you, I will listen. I can’t give advice; what is inside of you I can try to understand, only you have the power.
I lost my son in Afghanistan, my daughter is deployed on the Carl Vinson for 11 months; leaving behind 2 young children and husband. The VA is also trying to take my meds away. I told them I can’t not endure the withdrawal symptoms, the depression, anger which boils inside of me. No one understands our battle. Yet a young 25 year old is trying to take the one thing that helps me cope. I told her, I’m not doing it. You want to stop prescribing my medication, fine; you will be responsible for the severe withdrawal I will endure, which ultimately may take my life. The VA is not helping our Veterans manage their pain, deep depression, anxiety, hopelessness. I stand with you in your battle.
The thing that can make the most obvious difference is what the VA now refused to offer, individual therapy. Individual therapy has been eliminated in lied of 6-12 sessions. Laughable and tragic.
Serious about suicide prevention? Bring back real therapy. It costs more and worth a whole lot more.
Its really funny how the VA ACTS like they care about us old vets committing suicide but you really don’t give a damn if the pain management you give us doesn’t work!
You treat us ALL like a bunch of brainless idiots; unable to discern if we’re addicted to pain meds. Instead, you just strip us of things that were working and leave us twisting in the wind.
I quit drinking for 15 years but had to start just to knock myself out at night to get some sleep. I don’t drink socially. I drink at 2 am when no one could see this behavior. It sucks!
I quit again because I got cirrhosis and pancreatitis, ALL because you took away the only medication that finally started working on me, methadone.
I never abused or took more of this med than necessary. Never used or abused street drugs (occasionally some pot medicinally for spasms) but of course, I’m too stupid to know my own body, right?
So what does the VA do? They take away my ADDICTIVE NARCOTIC meds, make me go insane with withdrawal affects then give me ANOTHER LESS AFFECTIVE NARCOTIC!
YEAH! So great! Now I live in misery! Barely sleep and cry like a big ass baby daily because my pain is so bad!!!
AM I GONNA KILL MYSELF?
NO!
DO I WANT TO DIE?
YES!!!
I asked for surgery. They ignored me, said no, and then, Only the way THEY want to do it!
I told them my pain meds AREN’T working. They won’t give me back my methadone BUT they’ll give me Belbuca, another potent less affective NARCOTIC.
We vets are proud, we have many mental and physical problems and we’re promised we’ll be taken care of.
When your at the end of your rope, you’ve exhausted ALL avenues of getting help through the one agency, THE VA which you think has your back, good men and women take their lives.
They didn’t die on or in a battle or fighting in a war, no, the biggest war they have to fight is being treated with dignity and like they have brains by the VA!
As I sit here typing, my nose constantly drips and my eyes constantly tear because of the extreme amount of pain I live with daily, I cry without crying. There are times when I have to go away from my girlfriend, dogs, everyone and cry from the pain.
I sorry to report I cannot maintain my military bearing as a Marine.
Are you ok?