How You Can Help Prevent and Reduce Veteran Suicide In Your Community

Our veterans put their lives on the line to serve our country, and they don’t always have an easy time in life once they leave the Armed Forces. Some of our veterans struggle with their mental health and suicidal thoughts, and unfortunately, we lose many of our veterans to suicide each year. There are a lot of strategies for preventing and reducing suicide, which include legal and governmental assistance. However, it’s important for the community to get involved in suicide prevention and reduction, too, as the community is a big part of a veteran’s support system once they leave the military. Continue reading to learn how you can help prevent and reduce veteran suicide. 

Why Is Veteran Suicide So Prevalent?

Veterans are at a higher risk of suicide than other U.S. adults, with more than 17 veteran suicides a day as of 2022. Part of the reason for the increased risk is due to mental health problems that veterans deal with, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Their previous line of work puts them at a significant risk for developing these conditions and other mental health problems, which can increase the chance of suicide. 

Additionally, veterans often deal with several other struggles once they separate or retire from the military, such as their finances, social life, and reintegration into civilian society. As these struggles build up and are combined with mental health factors, a veteran can be at a higher risk for suicide than other groups in the United States. 

Signs and Symptoms of Suicidal Thought or Ideation in Veterans

It can sometimes be hard to identify the signs or symptoms of suicidal ideation in another person, especially when we’re caught up in our own lives. It’s not always obvious, and some people may not present any obvious signs. However, there are a few things you can look at to help you identify whether a veteran in your life is experiencing suicidal thoughts or ideation. Keep an eye out for things like:

• Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anger, or worthlessness
• Loss of interest in activities, hygiene, or socializing
• Giving prized possessions away
• Increased substance use or abuse
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Acts of violence or rage
• Saying goodbye to family or friends
• Recent fascination with death
• Recent suicide attempt

Remember that not everyone will present with these signs, and some of these signs on their own don’t always indicate suicidal ideation or thoughts. If you notice these signs in a veteran, try to help them get access to the resources they need so they can get their lives back on track.

5 Ways You Can Help Prevent and Reduce Veteran Suicide in Your Community

If you want to help prevent veteran suicide in your social network and local community, we’ve compiled a few strategies to help. Below are five different ways you can help in your community.

1. Keep Lines of Communication Open 

If you know and interact with veterans regularly, whether they’re your loved ones, battle buddies, or people you work or interact with in your city, it’s important to ask them the hard questions when you see that they’re struggling. While it’s hard to ask and will take a careful approach, it’s important to ask the veterans you know if they’ve ever thought about or considered suicide. 

When you get a response, listen. Make sure you express that you want to help and you’re there as a resource for them when times get tough. Have a hard discussion about their mental health and whether they are safe at home. For example, you may want to talk about whether they have any firearms at home, and if they’re a close friend or family member, you can offer to store the weapons or the keys to safes until they get the help they need.

Being there for veterans can also make a significant difference in their mental health and lives. Many veterans often feel isolated or lonely, so spending time with them and listening to them can go a long way in helping improve their mental well-being. 

2. Use Your Resources

If a veteran you know is struggling, there are resources you can direct them to so they can get the help they need. The most important resource is the Military Crisis Line, which can be reached by dialing 988 and pressing 1. Make sure the veterans in your life know this number and know they can contact the crisis line at any time of the day or night. The professionals on the end of the line can help veterans get the immediate help they need when they’re in the middle of a mental health crisis. 

There are additional resources you can direct veterans toward, too, which include the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Stop Soldier Suicide, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Centerstone Military Services, and more. The organizations and groups are designed to help our veterans who are struggling, and can get the veterans in your community the help they need to thrive. 

3. Encourage Professional Intervention

If someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideation, they need professional help to overcome this challenge. Encourage the veterans you know who are having a difficult time to seek professional help from a counselor or therapist. It’s not always easy to talk about what’s going on in our lives or in our minds, but a professional has the necessary tools to help someone get their life back on track. They can offer therapy, medication, or other treatments that can help veterans get to the root of their problems so they can overcome their suicidal thoughts. 

4. Create a Safe Environment

If there’s a veteran in your life who is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you will want to help create a safe environment for them. This means helping them set up at home in a way that’s safe, which can include eliminating or securing the firearms in the home, and letting them know they have someone they can rely on. It also means advocating for change in the greater community to make for more widespread and effective changes. Encourage others to get involved in similar ways so more veterans can benefit from the help provided by the community. 

5. Follow Up and Stay in Touch

Even if you aren’t particularly close with some of the veterans you’ve helped, try to stay in touch with a veteran after they’ve come out of a crisis or have been discharged from treatment. Your contact can help them while they’re getting used to life again and can show that they have a support network they can rely on. Supportive and ongoing contact can play a significant role in suicide prevention. 

Find More Resources Here at MLC

At MLC, we have crafted our blog to be a big help to service members no matter what stage of life they’re in. Whether you’re getting close to your retirement, dealing with the aftermath of a deployment, starting a family in the military, or something else, we have something useful for everyone. We even have information regarding mental health and how to find help when you’re struggling. Check out our blog for some of the latest information, or contact us if you have any questions regarding what we offer.