The Power of a Simple Check-In Between Veterans

# Why a check-in matters Veterans share experiences that civilians often don't. That shared background makes a brief, genuine check-in especially meaningful. The piece cites the VA's 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report statistic that 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, and frames outreach as a practical way peers can help reduce that toll.

# Practical forms of outreach

# Prepare before you reach out Before initiating a check-in with someone who may be struggling, review established guidance and training. The VA Buddy Check Week peer wellness training covers conversation starters, warning signs, and how to use the VA S.A.V.E. model during crises. The article recommends reading tips on approaching sensitive conversations and learning what distress can look like so outreach is safer and more effective for both people involved.

# The VA S.A.V.E. model and other guidance The S.A.V.E. model is presented as a response framework for veterans who appear to be in crisis: recognize signs, ask direct questions, validate feelings, and encourage and expedite connection to professional help. The article points to VA-hosted guidance that includes suggested questions, dos and don'ts for conversations, and self-care tips for the person doing the check-in.

# Resources to share and how to use them VA.gov/REACH is the central portal highlighted for ongoing challenges: career issues, grief, life transitions, and other non-emergency needs. For immediate crisis intervention use the Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then Press 1, chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. These contacts connect callers and texters to trained responders who can provide immediate help and referrals.

# Why peer outreach can succeed where other approaches don't

# Self-care for the person checking in Supporting someone in distress can be emotionally demanding. The article advises checking training materials for self-care and resilience-building techniques to avoid burnout and ensure the peer supporter remains able to help others over time.

# Campaign and authorship The narrative draws on work by Raphael Rigaud for the Ad Council and the "Don't Wait. Reach Out." campaign. The piece was produced by the Ad Council and distributed by Stacker, and republished on The Good Men Project.

# Bottom line Small, regular acts of connection between veterans are practical interventions with measurable utility: they build community, surface needs earlier, and link people to resources that can prevent crises. Use VA training materials and crisis contacts to make those conversations safer and more effective.