OHIO – September is Suicide Prevention Month and there are programs providing resources as they aim to help veterans navigate civilian life.
What You Need To Know
- According to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, veterans are at a higher risk for suicide compared to the general population
- The goal with the Don’t Wait. Reach Out. campaign is to help veterans seek help with their life challenges
- Veterans can access a 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line where trained responders can address their concerns
- To learn more, click here or go to va.gov/reach
In collaboration with the Ad Council, the US Department of Veterans Affairs is working to address the issue of suicide and the challenges that come along with getting connected with the right resources and support for mental health.
“But it could also be addressing life challenges like a relationship problem, getting back into school, getting a new job, all of those different things,” said Dr. Lisa Kearney from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dr. Kearney said it can be harder for those in the military to reach out, which is why they want to break the stigma and normalize the need to do so.
When people go to the website, veterans can easily search for what they need.
“If it's dealing with marital issues, you can click on that and it gives you different options for getting into marital counseling. If it's about 'Hey, I need to get back into school… I don't know how to get connected with those resources,' you can click there. So, really (it) puts everything into one place which is often the challenge,” said Kearney.
Veterans can also access a 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line. There, they’ll find trained responders who can address veterans' concerns.