Support Veterans in your life

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we’re reminding Veterans everywhere that suicide is preventable and there is hope. Everyone has a role to play in supporting Veterans in their lives. 

The VA and the Ad Council have released two new public service advertisements as a part of the ongoing national “Don’t Wait. Reach Out.” campaign.  

• The first is a new video that encourages Veterans to ask for help.  The video features Veterans and their loved ones and serves as a reminder that everyone can help support Veterans in their lives 

• The campaign has also partners with Grammy-nominated duo The War And Treaty, which consists of singer-songwriters Veteran Michael Trotter Jr. and his wife Tanya Trotter. In this new video, the couple shares how Tanya supported Michael in seeking help when he experienced a moment of crisis. This real life experience inspired their song “Five More Minutes.” 

Help us spread the word this Suicide Prevention month with the “Don’t Wait. Reach Out” campaign toolkit VA.gov/REACH/spread-the-word.  

If you or a Veteran you know needs support, visit VA.gov/REACH for resources today. 

Financial uncertainty can increase the risk of suicide among Veterans. That's why we launched FINVET: a new website that promotes mental health by helping Veterans learn about and manage their finances. This is a one-stop website for Veterans to access trustworthy financial tools.   

Problem Solving Therapy for Suicide Prevention is an evidence-based talk therapy that is effective for helping prevent suicide attempts. This treatment teaches skills and tools to help solve important life problems, build hope and motivation, feel less overwhelmed, and manage strong emotions.  

Visit the Treatment works for Vets website to

• Watch a video introduction to problem-solving therapy. 

• Listen to episode #27 of the PTSD Bytes Podcast. In this episode, you’ll hear a discussion of how problem-solving therapy can help you improve your ability to cope with stressful life experiences. 

Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to poor physical and mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (learn more here).  

• The Compassionate Contact Corps uses “social prescriptions” to match socially isolated Veterans with caring volunteers. Interested volunteers can contact their local VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement to volunteer with Compassionate Contact Corps. 

• Veterans and caregivers can speak with their VA primary care physician or VA social worker for a referral to this program. 

The Suicide Risk Management Program (SRM) supports busy providers who are concerned about Veterans at risk for suicide. SRM offers free virtual consultation, education, guidance and resources that promote therapeutic best practices for professionals working with Veterans at risk for suicide. SRM is committed to supporting both VA and community health care professionals working with high-risk Veterans. Our motto is never worry alone. SRM consultants don’t ask for identifying health information, so consults are designed to protect patient confidentiality. Our consultants offer expertise on topics such as 

• Strategies to identify and assist Veterans at risk for suicide 

• Best practices for suicide risk management for Veterans with complex care needs  

• Recommendations for addressing minimal treatment engagement 

• Lethal means safety counseling  

• Strategies to address an at-risk patient’s therapy interfering behaviors  

• Provider/facility support following after a Veteran suicide loss (postvention)  

Simply email SRMConsult@va.gov to request a consult.

SRM also offers free, monthly SRM Lecture Series where subject matter experts in the field of suicide prevention deliver presentations eligible for CE credits.