Op-ed: Veterans on Duty: Suicide prevention awareness doesn’t end in September
Whether it be directly or indirectly, every veteran knows a brother or sister in arms who has taken their own life, been impacted by suicide, or who has struggled themselves with the toll serving in the armed services takes on mental health. It’s shockingly simple — as veterans, our tour of duty does not end when we take off the uniform; the weight of battle lingers with us — and for some, sadly, that weight becomes too much to bear.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’s (VA) annual suicide prevention report from 2023, nearly 17 veterans die by suicide each and every day in America. In 2022, that number was 492 Active, Reserve, and National Guard servicemembers who took their own life.
As veterans of the Global War on Terror, we are particularly alarmed by the research conducted by Brown University in 2021 that found that at least four times as many active duty personnel and veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have died of suicide than in combat. This is staggering, unacceptable, and yet, completely preventable.
Over the years, presidents have signed numerous executive orders regarding veterans’ mental health and Congress has dedicated billions of dollars to funding VA programs, yet nothing seems to be working. The veterans community remains in the midst of a crisis that continues to claim lives and without enough of anyone’s attention.
Although the end of September marks the close of Suicide Prevention Month, the fight to stop these senseless acts continues for the veteran community every day. As you read this, whether you served or not, we’re imploring you to join us in the fight.
It is important for all Amerians to remember that many of our nation’s veterans have irreparable scars and the country cannot afford to let them get lost in the shuffle or wedged in bureaucratic pipelines.
As we approach the presidential election in November, pay attention to the policies and legislation being discussed on the campaign trail and in Congress. Demand that your elected representatives focus on this issue.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the resources available to those veterans in your life who may be struggling with their mental health, including 24/7 support accessible through the Veterans Crisis Line, grief counseling following the loss of a military loved one with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, suicide prevention education from the VA, and so many more.
Most importantly, if you are a veteran or have a veteran in your life who you care about, take the time to check up on them and have hard conversations. As veterans, we cannot be afraid to speak up and take care of our own.
Despite the chaos the next few months promise to bring, please take a moment to think about the veterans in your life, in your community, and across the United States. The fight for veterans’ mental health is a battle without an end. We owe it to one another to keep pushing for solutions, to keep talking about this issue, and to ensure that no more of our warfighters, past, present, and future, suffer in silence. The buck has to stop with us.
Veterans On Duty (VOD), a nonprofit advocacy organization, was launched in 2022 by veterans of the Global War on Terror. VOD is working to combat the erosion of the core mission of the military: to prepare for war and deter America’s enemies. VOD will expose these problems, educate and energize fellow citizens and veterans, assist policymakers in repairing the damage, and help elect political leaders who share a passion for preserving the American way of life.
