PHOENIX — Veterans Day is Nov. 11, which is a day to celebrate and honor our military veterans for their sacrifices to keep the nation safe. It is also a good day to check in with veterans to let them know they are cared for, as suicide rates in the military have skyrocketed.
Since 2006, suicide rates between veterans aged 18-34 have doubled and suicide is the second leading cause of death among post-9/11 veterans, according to Face the Fight, a veterans organization founded by USAA which is committed to breaking the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community.
A new USAA survey suggests one way communities can help veterans who are struggling is to go beyond saying "thank you for your service."
“We know that personal connection is a critical component to mental health and suicide prevention,” said Katy Dondanville, Psy.D., of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. “Rather than simply offering our thanks, we should be looking for ways to go beyond small talk and create more meaningful connections with veterans and better understand their service.”
The survey revealed 70% of military veterans aged 18-29 said they feel uncomfortable or awkward when someone says "thank you for your service." On the other hand, only 24% of veterans 65 and older feel the same.
The difference may be because older generations of veterans are 76% more likely to connect with each other in-person to share stories and build lasting friendships than the younger generation of veterans, according to the survey.
"This data shows that military service members and our veterans want Americans to go beyond small talk to connect with them on a deeper level, including learning more about their service, honoring each veteran’s service in ways in which they feel comfortable talking about it,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert F. Whittle, Jr., SVP, chief of staff at USAA.
USAA wants Americans to go beyond thanks and connect with veterans on a deeper level, including talking about mental wellness. So, they started a new campaign called "Go Beyond Thanks," which encourages Americans to "honor our military and veterans by going beyond simple gratitude to create real, positive impacts in the community this holiday and every day."
“We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude, but we also owe it to them to build a supportive community around them,” said Wayne Peacock, USAA president and CEO. "And that community must find ways to have meaningful and tangible impacts on our veterans’ lives. That’s our duty, and it’s why we are advocating for the public to go beyond traditional words of gratitude on Veterans Day."
Ways USAA says you can 'Go Beyond Thanks'
Reach out
Make the first move. Take a moment to make a call or send a text. Ask them to grab a coffee. Letting someone know you care is taking action.
Ask engaging questions
Open up a two-way conversation. Beyond saying "thank you for your service," ask open-ended questions about their lives and what interests them.
Actively listen
Be fully present when speaking to a veteran by removing distractions and making eye contact. Giving undivided attention is a sign of respect.
Show up
Volunteer your time and be supportive of veterans organizations and let them know you care.
Help is available 24/7
If you or someone you know is struggling and needs immediate help, call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 and press 1 for veteran support or visit the website to talk with a VA responder.