Learn How to Reach Out for Support

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

Connect with care by calling the Veterans Crisis Line, finding a suicide prevention coordinator, or viewing stories of other Veterans like you.
Know what steps to take to reduce suicide risks in your home from medications or firearms.
Find mental health resources, particularly mental health apps from VA.

Connect with Care

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself it’s important to reach out right away to get help.

In response to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act designating the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Department of Veterans Affairs has made it more user friendly to get help through the Veterans Crisis Line with a newer, shorter number.

You and any Veteran in crisis can get help any time of day or night through the Veterans Crisis Line.

Call 988 and Press 1
Chat online
Text 838255

The Veterans Crisis Line links to more than 500 suicide prevention coordinators across the VA health care system, ensuring coordination into follow-up services as part of a full continuum of care. Individuals who call the Veterans Crisis Line are five times more likely to have less distress and less suicidal ideation by the end of the call. While Dial 988 then Press 1 is a new option for contacting the Veterans Crisis Line, the original number—1-800-273-8255 and press 1—remains available.

Find In-person Care

Veterans can find in-person care using the VA locator tool. Under facility type select “VA health” and under service type select “Mental health care.”

Each VA medical center has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator to connect you with the counseling and services needed. Find your local suicide prevention coordinator here.

Make the Connection

If you are a Veteran or family member of a Veteran who is facing challenges or thoughts of self-harm, you are not alone. Over 500 Veterans and family members from across the country have shared their stories of strength and recovery at MakeTheConnection.net.

You can watch videos on the site from Veterans like you by filtering the stories by military branch, service era, combat experience, and gender.

If you need to get help, use the resource locator at MakeTheConnection.net to find resources, programs, and facilities in your area, no matter where you are.

Reduce Suicide Risks in Your Home

You should take steps to protect yourself and your family from self-harm at home, especially if you experience thoughts about hurting yourself.

The Importance of Firearm Safety

The 2023 National Veterans Suicide Prevention Annual Report released some important findings on the link between Veteran suicide deaths and firearms.

Nearly half of all Veterans own a firearm. It’s important to keep guns unloaded, locked and secured when not in use. Suicide attempts involving firearms are particularly lethal with an 85–90% likelihood of death compared to 5–10% for other methods of suicide.

One in 3 Veteran firearm owners store at least 1 firearm unlocked and loaded. Building in time and space between a suicidal impulse and taking action may offer enough time for crisis to pass.

If you’re experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, it’s a good idea to temporarily store any firearms with a trusted family member or friend or elsewhere (check your state and local laws).

For more resources on gun safety, read the Lethal Means Safety Brochure, Gun Storage Guidelines, and How To Talk to a Veteran About Gun Safety.

Prevent Opioid Abuse

A growing number of veterans are dying from opioid overdoses. From 2010 to 2019 the rate of death by overdose involving opioids has increased 93.4% among veterans.

This growing risk for Veterans mirrors that of the general population. Drug overdose is a leading cause of suicides and the CDC estimates that more than 136 people die from overdoses of prescriptions and illicit opioids each day.

Opioids are highly addictive. This means you could lose control over your use of them and feel sick without them. That’s why they should only be taken under the care and guidance of a medical professional. Opioid misuse can lead to both addiction and overdose.

You can do several things to protect yourself and others from the risks associated with prescription opioids. Pull from and reference Prescription Opioids Two Pager and the medication storage safety tips from the Lethal Means Safety Brochure.

Find Mental Health Resources

Investing in your mental and emotional health is important. VA offers many easy ways for Veterans to begin connecting with VA mental health resources.

Mobile Apps for Mental Health Coaching

VA offers free apps that equip you with tools and information to assist you in managing PTSD-related symptoms and stress, learning to practice mindfulness, and strengthening parenting skills. All apps are available for iOS devices and many are also available for Android. Here’s a sampling of VA apps and their features:

COVID Coach: The COVID Coach app was created for everyone, including Veterans and Service members, to support self-care and overall mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Mindfulness Coach: Practicing mindfulness means grounding yourself in the present moment. Mindfulness has been shown to be helpful for reducing stress and coping with unpleasant thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness Coach helps you practice mindfulness meditation.
PTSD Coach: The PTSD Coach app helps you learn about and manage symptoms that often occur after trauma.

These apps and more are available at the VAMobile home.

Online Training to Improve Your Quality of Life

VA offers online training courses for building resiliency, improving mental health and strengthening family relationships.

The Moving Forward training is available for iOS and is specifically designed to help veterans overcome life’s challenges in areas like managing stress, managing work and family responsibilities, and coping with financial, relationship or health challenges.

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