Suicide Prevention Month / September

Finding support

Veterans are driven and resilient. But everyone needs help sometimes. Whether Veterans are looking for peer-to-peer support, clinical care, counseling, or something else, they can reach out in the following ways:

• Call, text, or email a friend or family member to ask for support through a tough time. Veterans can find ways to get started on REACH.gov/SPM.
• Connect with a fellow Veteran to talk about what they are going through.
• Use these resources to find support through life challenges:
  • VA Solid Start: Qualified Solid Start representatives will call Veterans three times in their first year of separation to walk them through the benefits available to them.
  • MyVA411: Veterans, their families, and caregivers can call 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) to easily access information on VA benefits and services.
  • Make the Connection: More than 600 Veterans and family members from across the country have shared their stories of strength and recovery. It only takes a few seconds to find a story Veterans can relate to.
  • SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services: This tool, which is confidential and anonymous, allows people to search by ZIP code for local treatment facilities that focus on substance use/addiction and/or mental health issues.
  • Self-Check Assessment: People cope with stressful situations in different ways. This confidential, anonymous risk assessment can show if stress and depression are affecting Veterans.
  • National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can get free, confidential support through the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. Call or chat online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to reach trained counselors ready to help. Veterans don’t have to be registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans.
  • VA Mental Health: VA’s repository of mental health resources, information, and data materials

VA also provides crisis resources to those who need them. If you or a Veteran you know is going through a crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line. This free, confidential resource connects Veterans or their loved ones to a real person specially trained to support Veterans during times of crisis. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Veterans don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or registered with VA to use the Veterans Crisis Line.

For more information and resources, visit REACH.gov/SPM.