Need immediate help? Dial 9-8-8 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line

Getting help

When a loved one struggles it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Others are here to help. Sometimes the help a Veteran needs is real practical, like an emergency rent check or legal advice. That’s where Reach Out, 211, and Blue Star Families can help.

Sometimes it’s care for a mental health or drug / alcohol issue.

“Coaching into Care” can point you in the right direction, or call the Veteran’s Crisis Line or search here.

And what about you?

If you’re feeling in need of support for yourself, click here to find the closest counseling center.

A word about counseling and treatment:

It might take a few tries to find the right fit. Don’t give up. If things are so bad that your loved one is considering suicide, that means they haven’t found the treatment that will help yet. But it’s out there. No one is meant to suffer that kind of pain.

Here are some helpful resources.

If you are a Veteran in crisis, or concerned about a Veteran, connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. You can connect with the Veterans Crisis Line through
Veterans Crisis Line Website and Chat Platform
Call 988 and Press 1
Text 838255
"Don’t Wait. Reach out." is a resource operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans and their family/friends can use this site to locate help for Veterans, whether that be for isolation, career challenges, money issues, physical or mental health problems, or other challenges.
For Veterans in crisis, the simple act of starting a conversation can begin a journey toward feeling like themselves again. This site helps you learn simple ways to support a Veteran in need and questions you can ask to keep the conversation going.
Start the Conversation | VA Suicide Prevention Resources (veteranscrisisline.net)
The Veteran Spouse Network provides a community of support for Veteran caregivers, including support groups for Veterans' romantic partners as well as peer groups and education for all types of Veteran caregivers.
Community mental health resources can be valuable way for you to get treatment for yourself and your loved one if they do not want VA care. If you would like to learn more, WAV includes a list of links to find mental health support in your state.
Coaching Into Care is a free service for families and friends of Veterans. Responders will briefly assess your concerns and provide appropriate resources and referrals. Through 10 to 30 minute calls, licensed psychologists and social workers offer guidance and help for starting conversations with the Veteran in your life about their mental health or substance use issues and motivating them to seek treatment if it’s needed.
Coaching Into Care | When a Veteran you know needs help – MIRECC / CoE (va.gov)
Many NAMI chapters host NAMI Homefront groups, a free, 6-session educational program for families, caregivers and friends of military service members and Veterans with mental health conditions.
Blue Star Families is a mutual support organization founded by and for spouses and family members of military personnel and Veterans.

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