JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting Tuesday, veterans who are in immediate danger of harming themselves will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care clinic for emergency care -- and it won’t cost them a penny.
The new initiative aims to get veterans help sooner than later. For veterans in suicide crisis, it includes inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90.
While many agree it’s a step in the right direction, the number of veteran suicides is still staggering.
“You have 20 veterans taking their lives every single day -- that’s almost one an hour,” said Carl Cricco, CEO of K9s For Warriors.
Cricco said to have a greater impact, multiple agencies need to come together, pool their resources and tackle the problem head on.
“Maybe it’s screening these veterans when they come in for their physicals, for a mental health check, really talking about suicide more openly, so that they feel more comfortable talking about thoughts that they might keep to themselves, if they don’t otherwise,” Cricco said. “And I also think it’s a, you know, there needs to be more emphasis on the veterans to feel comfortable asking for help.”
Veterans like John Tappen, who received help from K9s For Warriors in the form of Henry, his service dog -- and lifeline.
“Completely changed my life,” Tappen, a U.S. Navy veteran, said of Henry. “I’m a very excited guy, but he brings the best of me out. And that a lot of stuff was hidden.”
Like many veterans, Tappen knows what it’s like to be at the breaking point -- and his scars of war weren’t necessarily visible.
Hidden in the darkness of Post-Traumatic Stress behind Tappen’s bright smile and fun, goofy demeanor, he was hitting rock bottom.
“I have invisible wounds that got worse and worse and worse, to the point where 100% I was thinking of suicide,” Tappen said. “The real help wouldn’t come for four to six months. And so, when you’re at that low point, it’s a really hard pill to swallow.”
Tappen is thankful every day that he was able to ask for help. His message for his fellow veterans, who still haven’t taken that step: Please don’t suffer in silence.
“If it weren’t for a couple of things, you know, the fall of one domino or another, I would not be here today,” Tappen said. “I just don’t want somebody to go through what I went through if they don’t have to. And that’s my life goal.”
Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care in order to get this help – just dial 988, then Press 1. You can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. To learn more about K9s for Warriors, visit https://k9sforwarriors.org/.
More important numbers
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (TALK); 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Text TALK to 741741 (suicide)
- Text HOME to 741741 (crisis)
- Children Home Society’s Family Support: Warm Line 1-888-733-6303 (chslistens.com)
- United Way: Dial 211 for 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention
- The Vinson Foundation: Helping Families Coping with Suicide Loss (https://thevinsonfoundation.org/)
- Heretomorrow: Helpline in Neptune Beach available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- (904) 372-9087 (heretomorrow.org)
- LSF Health Systems: 24/7 ACCESS TO CARE LINE: (877) 229-9098 (https://www.lsfhealthsystems.org/)