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When we talk about suicide prevention among service members, veterans, and their families, we often focus on crisis response. While crisis support is critical, true prevention starts much earlier – by reducing stress, improving access to care, and strengthening connection.

One powerful but often overlooked prevention tool is filing for VA benefits and enrolling in VA health care. These steps are more than administrative tasks. For many veterans, they are a pathway to stability, support, and hope.

Why Benefits Matter for Mental Wellness

Veterans face unique stressors after military service – financial strain, chronic pain, service-connected injuries, difficulty accessing care, and challenges navigating civilian systems. These stressors can compound over time and increase risk for depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal thoughts.

Suicide prevention isn’t only about responding in moments of crisis. It’s also about addressing the underlying pressures that make life feel unmanageable. VA benefits help reduce those pressures by supporting both physical and mental wellness.

When basic needs are met and care is accessible, veterans are better positioned to heal, connect, and move forward.

VBA Benefits: Reducing Stress and Increasing Stability

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides benefits that can make a meaningful difference in daily life, including:

• Disability compensation for service-connected conditions
• Pension benefits
• Education, housing, and survivor benefits

Financial stress is a known risk factor for mental health challenges and suicide. Stable income and benefits can reduce anxiety, restore a sense of control, and ease the constant strain of “getting by.”

Just as important, filing a claim can be validating. For many veterans, having their injuries or conditions formally recognized helps reduce feelings of shame, self-blame, or isolation. It reinforces an important message: your service matters, and so does your health.

VHA Enrollment: Access to Care Before Crisis

Enrolling in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) opens the door to comprehensive health care – and veterans do not need to be in crisis to enroll.

VHA services include:

• Mental health care (therapy, psychiatry, peer support)
• Primary care
• Pain management and sleep treatment
• Substance use treatment
• Suicide prevention support and follow-up

Every VA medical center has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator, and many facilities offer same-day mental health access. Early and consistent care can prevent issues from escalating into emergencies.

Ongoing care also means ongoing continuity of treatment – regular appointments, follow-ups, and sustained engagement with providers who can recognize changes in risk and respond early.  This continuity of care is a well-established protective factor in suicide prevention.  Ensuring timely, effective and ongoing access to evidence-based care for individuals at risk is a core component of comprehensive suicide prevention efforts.

The Role of a VSO: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Filing claims or enrolling in VA care can feel overwhelming. The paperwork, deadlines, and terminology can discourage veterans from starting – or finishing – the process.

That’s where Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) come in.

VSOs:

• Provide free, confidential assistance
• Help file and track VBA claims and appeals
• Assist with VHA enrollment
• Reduce frustration and delays
• Serve as a knowledgeable guide through the system

Most importantly, a VSO adds a human connection. They help veterans understand their options and stay engaged rather than giving up out of frustration.

You do not have to navigate the VA system alone – and you shouldn’t have to.

Filing for Benefits Is an Act of Strength

Some veterans hesitate to file because they don’t want to ask for help, believe others “need it more,” or feel they should handle things on their own. These beliefs are common – and understandable – but they can become barriers to care.

Seeking benefits is not weakness. VA benefits are earned through service. Filing a claim or enrolling in health care is a proactive step toward stability and wellness, not a failure.

Taking care of yourself also helps protect your family, your future, and your fellow veterans.

Take the First Step Today

If you are a veteran – or supporting one – consider taking these steps:

• Contact a local Veterans Service Officer (VSO):
  • VA locator at VA.gov, “find an accredited rep or VSO”
  • Call the VA General Inquiry Line at 1(800)698-2411
• File or update a VBA benefits claim
• Enroll in VA health care, even if you feel “okay” right now
• Reach out if stress, pain, or emotional struggles feel overwhelming

If you or a veteran you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7.
Call or text 988, then press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. Support is confidential, free, and always available.

Suicide prevention starts with access – access to care, to trusted resources, and to knowledgeable professionals who understand military and veteran experiences.  Filing for VA benefits and working with a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) can be and important first step in accessing health care, mental health services, and ongoing support systems.  These pathways help reduce barriers to care and connect veterans to services that can identify risk early and support long-term well-being.

The post More Than Benefits: How Filing for VA Benefits Can Help Reduce Suicide Risk first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

It is great to see a higher education institution raising awareness of this issue, while enhancing people’s ability to recognize a veteran in the early stages of crisis and provide help. Well done MoWest!

Use this link to visit KQ2 St Joseph’s site to read the full article written by Prajukta Ghosh. https://www.kq2.com/news/mowest-hosts-first-military-suicide-prevention-training-day/article_fcefbee6-bb6b-5cfa-9511-71dcdb5211d1.html

The post MoWest hosts military suicide prevention training day first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

Suicide prevention among veterans and service members remains a critical priority across the country.

In Missouri, the Governor’s Challenge is bringing together leaders from multiple agencies to strengthen support for service members, veterans, and their families. Jon Sabala joins us to explain how the program works and the steps being taken to make a lasting difference in the lives of those who have served.

Listen to the interview at MissouriNet.

The post Governor’s Challenge works to save lives of Missouri service members and veterans (AUDIO) first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

About Missouri’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a three-digit number for anyone experiencing emotional distress or going through a mental health, substance misuse, or suicide crisis. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to offer you free and confidential support whenever you need it.

Contacting 988 provides rapid access to crisis services through a trained crisis specialist. They will work with you to address your immediate needs, offer support, and connect you with local resources and services, if needed.

Missouri follows national best practices by providing crisis services in three ways:

• Someone to talk to: 988 crisis specialists accept all calls, texts, and chats. They help with the immediate need and can connect people to resources for ongoing help.
• Someone to respond: If help from 988 is not enough, mobile crisis response staff can meet the person where they are in the community and provide in-person help.
• Somewhere to go: If a person needs more help than mobile crisis response can provide, they can go to a crisis center. Crisis centers provide more intense help for up to 23 hours and can usually help the person avoid being hospitalized.

To learn more visit Missouri 988.

About the Veterans Crisis Line

When you connect with the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), you are connecting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ crisis services. Just like Missouri’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line is free and confidential.

The VCL can be accessed through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; when prompted, Veterans press 1. Veterans may still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the previous phone number—1-800-273-8255 and Press 1—by text (838255), and through chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat).

If you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about is in danger, the VCL responder (a trained crisis specialist) will help you get through the crisis and then connect you with the services you need, either from your local VA medical center or elsewhere in your community. If you decide to share contact information, the suicide prevention coordinator at the nearest VA medical center will contact you by the next business day for continued support.

To learn more visit Veterans Crisis Line.

Missouri 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line are similar. Both crisis care systems provide free and confidential services, staffed with trained crisis specialists who will help you get through the crisis and connect you to resources, if needed.

However, there are a couple of differences between the two crisis systems.

• The responders working for the Veterans Crisis Line receive training in the military culture. For those looking to talk with someone who understands military life and the stressors it can bring, VCL may be right for you.
• If you receive care through the VA, contacting the Veterans Crisis line will keep you connected with VA care.
• Missouri 988 crisis specialists are knowledgeable about Missouri-specific services and resources. Crisis specialists can connect with other crisis services, make referrals to local services, or share community resources.

It is worth mentioning that Missouri is currently working on developing trainings for crisis specialists when working with special populations, including Veterans and service members.

Should you call the Missouri 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or the Veterans Crisis Line? Both will help individuals in crisis or emotional distress. What really matters is that you reach out.

Together, we can all help prevent suicide.

The post Should I Call 988 or the Veterans Crisis Line? first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

Suicide has no single cause. People at higher risk of suicide may be experiencing life stressors such as relationship problems, legal issues, loss of a place to live, lack of social support (isolation), and financial troubles to name a few. For some, the emotional distress brought on from life’s stressors can be so painful or overwhelming, they believe suicide is the only way to end it. There is no “one thing” people can do to end suicide—but prevention is possible.

Use this month to help raise awareness about the impact suicide is having on Missouri’s service members, veterans, and their families. Your voice can help normalize the conversation around suicide. If you are attending an event, health fair, or training related to preventing suicide, share it on social media. Consider sharing a photo of the event explaining how much you enjoyed it, what you learned, or how others can get involved.

Learn more about prevention. People who receive suicide prevention training learn to recognize the stressors that can increase someone’s risk of suicide and how to talk openly about it. Make time to attend an online or in person suicide prevention course. You can access no cost, in person training through our Training page.

Another way you can be a part of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, is to take our Missouri Governor’s Challenge state team’s Call to Action. It is three simple steps you can take to help save a life. Being informed can help challenge the stigma surrounding suicide, allowing us to start real conversations. Suicide prevention training can also give people the confidence to support friends, family, and colleagues in distress.

Follow us on social media and stay connected as the Missouri Governor’s Challenge state team explores ways to prevent suicide among Missouri’s service members, veterans and their families.

We hope you take time out this September to participate in Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Help raise awareness about the impact suicide is having on Missouri’s service members, veterans, and their families. Learn about how to help prevent suicide and stay connected with us. Thank you for being part of a movement to help save lives.

Together, we can all help prevent suicide.

The post September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2025 first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

After pitching several ideas, the team decided to focus on military-connected families for the theme of 2026. The state team will spend the next few months finalizing plans, ensuring they have feasible steps that can make a positive change in preventing suicide.

The state team has representatives from the Office of the Governor, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Veterans Commission, Safer Homes Collaborative, Missouri AgrAbility, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 15, American Legion Department of Missouri, Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Compass Health Network, Missouri Behavioral Health Council, Office of State Courts Administrator, Missouri National Guard, Missouri Department of Corrections, University of Missouri-St. Louis Missouri Institute of Mental Health, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Missouri Primary Care Association, and Higginsville Habilitation Center.

A heartfelt “thank you” to the assistance of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Agency’s (SAMHSA’s) Technical Assistance (TA) Center staff, Angela and Deann, who provided technical support for this event.

Together, we can all help prevent suicide.

The post Missouri Governor’s Challenge state team conducts strategic planning for 2026 first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

On July 9, 2025, the Missouri Veterans Commission released its inaugural Veteran Suicide Prevention report, as required by Senate Bill 912 and House Bill 1495. The report is titled “Left of Boom,” which in military terms describes the period of time before an incident occurs, where proactive measures can be put into place to prevent or mitigate a life-threatening event such as an attack, explosion, or crisis. The nine-page report details the intent, planning framework, and implementation strategies to be used to help curb Veteran suicides in Missouri. A key finding was the ongoing battle with the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and reaching out for help for Veterans.

The report can be found on MVC’s website mvc.dps.mo.gov. In conjunction with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, MVC’s Suicide Prevention Manager, Lindsey Ward, gathered information over eight months and began to decipher the barriers Veterans face concerning mental health. The report details how Veterans face higher rates of mental health challenges and suicide compared with non-Veterans, and the shocking statistic that 42.6 of every 100,000 Missouri Veterans died by suicide in 2022. The national average for Veteran suicide of 34.7 of every 100,000 is already alarmingly high compared to non-Veterans. The report also details the strategies MVC plans to implement to help reduce these numbers in the coming years.

“I am excited to see this report come to fruition,” said Representative Dave Griffith. “Last year, when the Veterans Omnibus Bill was signed, we began the journey to understand the factors involved with Veteran suicide and can now work to enact changes to help decrease the number of incidences we see in Missouri.”

“We are proud to present the inaugural ‘Left of Boom’ report,” says MVC Executive Director (Ret.) Col. Paul Kirchhoff. “Our Suicide Prevention Manager, Lindsey Ward, has worked tirelessly, in conjunction with other stakeholders, to collect the information we need to adapt to the changing landscape of this issue, and to start putting into action the strategies needed to understand and prevent Veteran Suicide.”

The Missouri Veterans Commission was charged with creating a new program, to aid in efforts to prevent Veteran suicide and to create a report each year outlining recommendations and procedures, programs, and other assistance MVC considers necessary to assist in efforts to prevent Veteran suicides. Additional information can be found in RSMo 42.022.

The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, five Veterans Cemeteries, Veterans Services Program and the Veterans Suicide Prevention Program. The Commission is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for Veterans, seamlessly integrated with the Veteran community, emphasizing a culture of transparency and excellence. For more information about Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or visit mvc.dps.mo.gov.

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Challenge coins are a long-standing military tradition. The team created the coin to recognize achievements and support in preventing suicide among Missouri’s military-connected community. Team members and their respective agency leadership received Challenge Coins to acknowledge their commitment to suicide prevention efforts. In the future, team members will award Challenge Coins to Missourians who demonstrate excellence in suicide prevention for SMVF. The coins were purchased with private donations.

There are several stories that explain the origin and tradition of the Challenge Coin, some dating as far back as World War I. It was originally used as a symbol of belonging to a military unit, however, it has grown over the years to recognize excellence.

Missouri established a Governor’s Challenge team in 2021 under Governor Mike Parson’s leadership. The Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among SMVF is a nonpartisan, state interagency team, created to collaborate, plan, and implement suicide prevention best practices and policies across the state.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration originally launched the national initiative to bring together leaders of state and community governments to prevent suicide among SMVF.

The Missouri Governor’s Challenge Team consists of members from the Governor’s Office, Department of Mental Health, Missouri Veterans Commission, Office of the State Courts Administrator, Missouri National Guard, Department of Corrections, Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, American Legion – Missouri, Compass Health Network, Missouri AgrAbility, Missouri Behavioral Health Council, Missouri Institute of Mental Health – Safer Homes Collaborative, Missouri Suicide Prevention Network, University of Missouri Extension – Health and Human Sciences, Higginsville Habilitation Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Stay connected on Facebook, X, and Instagram: @MOGovChallenge.

To learn more about the state team’s efforts: www.mogovchallenge.com

For more information contact info@mogovchallenge.com.

The post Challenge Coin Recognizes Excellence in Suicide Prevention among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.

Larry Griffin, American Legion Post 230 Commander, contacted the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Veterans Services office and requested suicide prevention for their meeting. He discussed how suicide prevention was an important topic and that he wanted to share this training with the posts of District 6. Larry was connected with a member of the Missouri Veterans Suicide Prevention Team.

The Missouri Veterans Suicide Prevention Team (MOVSPT) is a network of volunteer service members, Veterans, and military family members that provide NO COST, in person suicide prevention training. MOVSPT trainers are certified in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper training, a nationally recognized course that is proven to help save lives. QPR is a one-hour course where participants learn to: recognize the warning signs of suicide, provide hope for the individual in crisis, and connect the person to immediate help.

Thank you, American Legion District 6, for hosting this much needed training. A special thank you to Commander Larry Griffin for inviting MOVSPT and helping to raise awareness about suicide.

If your organization is interested in hosting this no cost, suicide prevention training, contact a MOVSPT trainer today.

The post American Legion District 6 hosts suicide prevention training during quarterly meeting first appeared on Missouri's Governors Challenge Portal.