{"id":7882,"date":"2025-05-02T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7882"},"modified":"2025-05-02T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T14:30:00","slug":"lets-talk-about-veteran-suicide-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7882","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s talk about Veteran suicide prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-05-02T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re overwhelmed or struggling, it may seem like you\u2019re stuck in the dark. Reaching out for support can make a big difference. It\u2019s like flipping on a light switch. It may not solve everything right away, but it can help you see a path forward.<\/p>\n<p>So how do you ask for help when you need it? And if you\u2019re worried about a Veteran in your life, how can you shine some light for them?<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Immediate crisis support<\/h2>\n<p>The first thing I suggest for Veterans, whether you\u2019re currently facing a crisis or not, is saving the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veteranscrisisline.net\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Veterans Crisis Line<\/a> number\u2014Dial 988 then Press 1\u2014in your phone. That way you have it when you need it.<\/p>\n<p>The Veterans Crisis Line is the quickest way to reach people who understand what you\u2019re going through. Responders are ready to listen day or night, no matter what, and they can help you access the resources and services you need.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24\/7, confidential support. You don\u2019t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/139791\/lets-talk-about-veteran-suicide-prevention\/tel:988\">Dial 988 then Press 1<\/a>, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net\/Chat, or text <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/139791\/lets-talk-about-veteran-suicide-prevention\/sms:838255\">838255<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve done anything to harm yourself or need immediate support to prevent a suicide attempt, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency provider without delay. Cost should never be a concern at these critical moments, and the emergent suicide care benefit under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/files\/2024-03\/COMPACT%20201%20-%20VAMC%20Veteran%20and%20Eligible%20Individual%20FAQs_v5%20%28002%29.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">COMPACT Act<\/a> has you covered. Whether at VA or non-VA facilities, enrolled in VA health care or not, VA will provide, pay for or reimburse eligible individuals for expenses related to this lifesaving care, including:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Transportation to the emergency department.<\/li>\n<li>Up to 30 days of inpatient care.<\/li>\n<li>Up to 90 days of outpatient care.<\/li>\n<li>Coverage of all related prescriptions.<\/li>\n<li>Referrals for additional services tailored to your individual needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During a crisis, time is critical. Be prepared by knowing the name and location of your closest emergency department before a crisis occurs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supporting a Veteran in a suicide crisis<\/h2>\n<p>Supporting a Veteran doesn\u2019t require special academic degrees, certifications or experience in the health care field. You know the Veterans in your life best, so you may be the first one to notice something is wrong and can help them stop a crisis before it starts. Your connection and concern can provide hope, and to a Veteran in crisis, even a small amount of hope can be lifesaving.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/suicide_prevention\/docs\/VA_SAVE_Training.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">VA S.A.V.E. Training<\/a> is a free, short, online course that gives you basic skills to support a Veteran in crisis. The acronym S.A.V.E. provides a helpful way to remember the step-by-step instructions in the course:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>S: Know the signs that indicate a Veteran might be thinking about suicide.<\/li>\n<li>A: Ask the most important question of all\u2014 \u201cAre you thinking of killing yourself?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>V: Validate the Veteran\u2019s experience.<\/li>\n<li>E: Encourage treatment and expedite getting help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.psycharmor.org\/courses\/va-save\" rel=\"noopener\">Take the VA S.A.V.E. Training<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Another way you can help a Veteran is by simply having a conversation. Once again, you don\u2019t need any specialized experience or skills, you just need to be open to letting the Veteran speak and, when they do, truly listen.<\/p>\n<p>VA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:7b6a9317-622b-434c-8389-239115e18eaf\" rel=\"noopener\">Crisis Conversation Handout<\/a> offers sample conversation starters and helpful tips to keep in mind when talking to a Veteran, including:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make supportive and encouraging comments, don\u2019t ask invasive personal questions.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t inject judgment or emotion in the conversation. Stay calm.<\/li>\n<li>Listen more than you speak\u2014don\u2019t dominate the conversation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Being a compassionate and attentive listener can make a significant difference in a Veteran\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Embrace hope<\/h2>\n<p>I often find myself hearing lyrics that resonate with our work and this one from a great band reminds me that we all play a role in preventing Veteran suicide: \u201cYou are the hope that leads me out of the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suicide is preventable. Everyone has the power to be the light and make a difference to someone facing suicide.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/139791\/lets-talk-about-veteran-suicide-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Knowing how to talk about thoughts of suicide and when to reach out for support can make a lifesaving difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care","category-mental-health-recovery"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Let\u2019s talk about Veteran suicide prevention - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Knowing how to talk about thoughts of suicide and when to reach out for support can make a lifesaving difference.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7882\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Let\u2019s talk about Veteran suicide prevention - 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