Initiatives That Help Veterans

According to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) report released with data collected in 2023, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Veterans under 45, with men disproportionately affected than women. Contributing factors include:

PTSD and other trauma
Trouble with addiction, such as developing substance use disorder (SUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD)
Mismanaged mental health issues
Relationship difficulties
Chronic pain
Challenges adjusting to civilian life

To honor our brave servicepeople, it’s critical to share as many Veterans and first responder health resources as we can to shine a light on where they can get help. In this article, we take a closer look at some key initiatives and awareness campaigns that provide critical connection and care.

Initiatives That Help Veterans

It’s all too easy to feel isolated and misunderstood when struggling with the conditions above. The following programs help servicepeople of all ages feel supported and have direct access to services and other resources—and for the community as a whole to band together.

Blue Star Families

The mission of this organization is to “empower military and Veteran families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors—both people and organizations—to create strong communities of mutual support.” This includes providing access to employment opportunities, neighborhood gatherings, peer-to-peer programs, and financial support.

Lifeline for Vets

The National Veterans Foundation started this peer-based program to help “Veterans of all eras, their family members and active duty service members, some while serving overseas in combat deployments.” The program spearheads VA benefits advocacy, suicide prevention, medical treatment, housing and employment solutions, legal aid, and more.

Make the Connection

No matter what you may be experiencing, there’s an opportunity to get your life on a better track. Through this program, “Veterans and their loved ones talk about their experiences, challenges, and recovery.” Various life experiences are shared through videos, podcasts, and stories, and the site offers links to numerous outreach programs.

The Veteran Spouse Network

This organization, designed specifically to help military and Veteran spouses and committed partners, “provides opportunities to engage with and connect to helpful resources and a community of support.” From joining a structured resilience education group to partnering with a designated peer mentor, military families have many opportunities to receive extended support.

Veteran Buddy Check

In support of The STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, the VA’s Veteran Buddy Check program “aims to enhance peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to VA and non-VA resources.” The formal campaign happens every October, but any Veteran can take specialized training to help recognize signs of distress and receive education on available services to recommend to a buddy in need.

Women Veterans Call Center

The VA indicates that more than 50 percent of women Veterans “aren’t utilizing their earned benefits. As a result, they don’t have access to the VA health care system or the low- or cost-free care it offers.” So the agency created this comprehensive portal to address numerous issues, from basic annual preventative and other healthcare checks to more complicated circumstances, such as mental and emotional disorders and military sexual trauma.

The Tactical Recovery Program at Willingway

At Willingway’s main Statesboro, Georgia, campus, we offer Tactical Recovery: a Veteran-Ready program providing trauma-informed care, detox, and residential treatment within a service-oriented culture, using evidence-based practices proven effective with Veterans and first responders.

This initiative—a partnership between our center, the VA Community Care Network, and PsychArmor—features a staff of licensed clinicians and medical professionals skilled in treating different types of SUD and AUD and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. Among Tactical Recovery’s many features, you or your loved one can expect:

Components such as 12-Step programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, relapse prevention techniques, and more.
Veteran-specific small groups to help foster a stronger community of understanding.
Collaborative discharge planning that includes the VA or military command when appropriate.
The Tactical Recovery Alumni App so graduates stay connected and supported after discharge.

Willingway’s Georgia and Florida addiction rehabilitation locations offer you many options for outpatient care, too.

The bottom line is this: we’re proud of your service. Now let us serve you to provide a gateway to the quality care you deserve and support you can trust. Willingway’s medical director is Vance A. Raham (U.S. Air Force). He states that “The greatest misconceptions some active and former service personnel have about seeking addiction treatment are 1) asking for help is a weakness and, 2) no one cares about their addiction issues,” Raham says. “We strive to change these perceptions by showing them we care and help them realize that it takes more strength to ask for and accept help than to struggle on their own.”

There are many initiatives designed to help you forge a clear path to recovery and health. Talk to a member of our admissions team today to learn how we can help.

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, please call one of these free, confidential 24/7 resources: