You\u2019ve probably heard the saying, \u201cDon\u2019t judge a book by its cover.\u201d Or maybe, \u201cNot all that glitters is gold.\u201d Both remind us that things aren\u2019t always what they seem. A steady job, a smile, showing up every day or even someone saying \u201cI\u2019m fine\u201d can all hide a different reality. Just because a Veteran looks like they have it all together doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t fighting against something invisible.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to check in, especially with the buddy who never asks for help. A simple, grounded conversation can let them know they\u2019re not alone. And that small step could save their life.<\/p>\n
If you know a Veteran who seems strong and self-sufficient, take a moment to look beyond the surface. A simple call, message or face-to-face conversation can open the door for them to share what\u2019s really going on.<\/p>\n
Veterans talk about challenges in different ways. Some say they can\u2019t calm down and others feel weighed down by guilt or shame, convinced they\u2019re letting others down. For some, sleep seems out of reach, alcohol feels like the only way to cope, or they pull away from the activities and people that once mattered most.<\/p>\n
These don\u2019t necessarily mean someone is thinking about suicide. But if you notice changes, or just sense something isn\u2019t right, checking in, listening without judgment, and continuing to show up can make a difference.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to say the perfect words. A quick check-in can go a long way\u2014especially when it\u2019s real, direct, and personal. You might start with:<\/p>\n
Staying calm and speaking from the heart can give a Veteran space to open up.<\/p>\n
Supporting a Veteran doesn\u2019t mean you need all the answers. What matters is showing genuine care and staying present. Keep these things in mind:<\/p>\n
Remember, you don\u2019t have to do this alone. If something\u2019s weighing on you about a Veteran in your life, don\u2019t wait. Call, chat or text the Veterans Crisis Line<\/a> to connect with trained responders who understand Veterans\u2019 experiences and what military life can feel like. You can even reach out together. Dial 988 then Press\u00a01<\/a>, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net\/Chat, or text 838255<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Life can be tough, and even a person who seems \u201cfine\u201d may be going through or carrying more than they let on. Reaching out, asking how they\u2019re (really) doing, and listening without judgment could make a life-saving difference.<\/p>\n Remember, check in, even if:<\/p>\n When you do, listen with care. Make them feel seen and heard. Let them know you\u2019ll keep showing up for them. And do it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reaching out and showing them you care can be lifesaving You\u2019ve probably heard the saying, \u201cDon\u2019t judge a book by its cover.\u201d Or maybe, \u201cNot all that glitters is gold.\u201d Both remind us that things aren\u2019t always what they seem. A steady job, a smile, showing up every day or even someone saying \u201cI\u2019m fine\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":657500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,831,128,389],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-715594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-suicide","category-suicide-prevention","category-veterans-crisis-line"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=715594"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":715595,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715594\/revisions\/715595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/657500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=715594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=715594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=715594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}When to check in with a Veteran<\/h2>\n
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