By Jennifer Donovan, Staff Writer 
 
Coming up in September is National Suicide Prevention Month, an opportunity to bring extra attention to reducing the veteran suicide rate because no veteran should die by suicide. 2023-2024 American Legion Auxiliary National President Lisa Williamson has made The American Legion’s Be the One mission her focus as she visited departments across the country. 
 
According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, it’s estimated that between 17 and 22 veterans or servicemembers take their lives daily. On average, each death by suicide affects an estimated 135 individuals — family, friends, co-workers. 
 
We can all Be the One to save one by doing things that will impact a veteran’s life. Simple acts can make a large impact and even save a life. Here a few examples:
• An ALA member who is also a veteran hasn’t shown up in a few weeks, which is unusual because she is usually there. You decide to make a call. You don’t know it at the time, but that phone call changed the direction of her life. She hadn’t come to any events lately because she was struggling with depression. That call made her feel noticed and cared for. She realized she needed help.
• A unit hosted an event and gave out free gun locks. A veteran who received one of the locks had placed it on his firearm. He was having suicidal thoughts and grabbed his gun. The lock made him take a second, and he realized this wasn’t what he wanted to do. He realized he was in crisis.
• Your post family hosted a booth at a community event when a veteran struck up a conversation with a member about Be the One. Learning about the mission, that veteran realized there were others facing the same issues and that help is available. The ALA member helped the veteran find local resources. 
 
These are just a few examples of how American Legion Family members can make a big impact.
 
Joining forces to put an end to veteran suicide
The American Legion Family is not alone in this mission. Columbia University, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and USAA are among the many partners joining The American Legion Family in this mission. They all provide valuable training and resources that align with the Be the One mission. 
 
Columbia Protocol — a training to help identify risk
Just 90 minutes of your time in a virtual training can help save a life. Everyone is invited to a virtual training to learn how they can be part of the solution. The American Legion has partnered with Columbia University to train and educate Legion Family and community members on how to interact and respond to a veteran in crisis. 
 
The Columbia Protocol, also known as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, supports suicide risk assessment through a series of simple, plain-language questions that anyone can ask. The answers help users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assess the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauge the level of support that the person needs.
 
After the training, participants will be able to:
• Use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to determine at-risk individuals. Identify risk factors and warning signs.
• Outline the types of suicidal ideation and four behaviors that indicate imminent risk.
• Communicate effectively with an individual who may be at risk of hurting themselves.
This training is available virtually and in person. To find a training, visit www.BetheOne.org.
 
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs S.A.V.E. training
The VA offers training to give you the tools to help a veteran in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. The VA’s S.A.V.E. training is free and can be done virtually or in person. The S.A.V.E. acronym stands for:
• S: Signs that indicate a veteran might be thinking about suicide.
• A: Ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”
• V: Validate the veteran’s experience.
• E: Encourage treatment and expedite getting help.
In this training, you will learn about the signs and symptoms of suicidal thinking, how to identify risk, ask questions in an objective and non-threatening way, and what to do when you identify a veteran who is at risk for suicide.
 
To learn more about VA S.A.V.E. training, visit www.PsychArmor.org.
 
In addition to this training, the VA is working to keep lethal means from being easily accessible through the VA Keep It Secure Program. According to the VA, nearly 7 out of 10 veteran deaths are the result of firearm injuries. A suicidal crisis can be short — the time it takes for a firearm to be retrieved from a safe, remove a gun lock, and load the gun can give the veteran enough time to change their mind. 
 
This program also includes safely storing medications, alcohol, opioids, other substances, ropes, cords, or sharp objects. Again, it’s about adding time between the suicidal thought and obtaining an item that can be used to cause death.
 
The VA is also taking action by making sure every veteran gets the help they need. Any veteran in suicidal crisis can now be seen at any VA or non-VA health care facility free of charge. The veteran doesn’t have to be enrolled in the VA system for this benefit. It includes up to 30 days of inpatient or 90 days of outpatient care at any VA or non-VA facility.
 
USAA’s Face the Fight 
The American Legion has teamed up with USAA for joint prevention efforts with Face the Fight, a coalition of corporations, foundations, nonprofits, and veteran-focused organizations joined together to raise awareness and support for veteran suicide prevention. 
 
According to USAA, more than 120,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, and the veteran suicide rate is 57% higher than the national average. The goal of Face the Fight is to make a significant reduction to the veteran suicide rate by 2030. This will be done by starting conversations and increasing support by breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. 
 
Hitting the road to share important training
The Department of Maine American Legion Family is spreading the Be the One mission by taking training on the road. The department has presented VA S.A.V.E. training at posts across the state. 
 
They also host the trainings at department headquarters every other month. At these events, they provide free gun locks to participants. The Togus VA Medical Center provides the locks at department trainings, and units and posts work with local police departments in their areas to give them out. Local law enforcement also is invited to participate in the training and give their perspective as officers.
 
“Since January, we have trained over 120 members with many more trainings to go,” said Debra Rumery, ALA Department of Maine National Security chair. “I believe the members who receive the training are appreciative for the gun locks. We have pre- and post-surveys on the training, and they do thank us for the lock. It’s an added bonus.”
 
Members have heard several stories about how Maine’s training has helped veterans. 
 
“A Squadron 86 member who took the training and immediately knew the signs he learned pertained to a friend of his who was in a crisis, and called him right up and made arrangements for a talk,” Rumery said. “They have talked several times and we do believe that just by having someone there to listen to his struggles and validating his thoughts, has saved his life.” 
 
Rumery said several other veterans have taken the training and realized they had been in a mental health crisis in the past. The training helped them heal, and in turn, they reached out to others who were in need 
of help.
 
Rumery recommends the VA S.A.V.E. training for all American Legion Family members. 
 
“Get the word out to all of The American Legion Family in your department that this training is available for them, and they have an opportunity to Be the One to save a veteran’s life,” said Rumery. “Be prepared for difficult stories to be told. Make sure everyone feels they are in a safe environment to be able to share their stories. Offer resource kits to members who attend so they can use it for themselves and to share with their post, unit, squadron, and Riders chapter.”
 
During the post trainings, local law enforcement officers attend to share their perspective.
 
“They explain exactly what happens when someone calls 911 for a person in a mental health crisis. When the members hear what they do, it just solidifies all of the Be the One VA S.A.V.E. training,” said Rumery. “They do and say exactly what we train them to do and say. It also shows our communities what we do for our veterans and sheds a positive light on our organization.”
 
The department includes empathetic listening in the training sessions.
 
“Helping members understand how their body language, the way that they react, and their listening skills play a very important role in helping someone in a crisis and to get the best assistance for that individual,” said Rumery.
 
This isn’t the first year for Maine to be involved in suicide prevention. The 2022-2023 department president’s project, “You will never walk alone for veteran suicide awareness and prevention”, raised a record-breaking $60,000 in donations for the Togus VA’s psychiatric ward and veteran suicide prevention outreach program.
 
A simple phone call
Reaching out to veterans and fellow members can make a huge difference in someone’s life. They may be afraid to ask for help, or they may feel isolated. Calling them will let them know they are cared for and gives them an opportunity to ask for the help they need. This is the purpose of The American Legion’s Buddy Check program — in the first four years, more than 1 million veterans received needed assistance.
 
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 253 in New York practices Buddy Checks. Members reach out to fellow members who have been absent to meetings. They deliver food to those suffering from illness. 
 
The VA also is involved in Buddy Checks. In support of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, the VA established Veteran Buddy Check Week. This year, it is planned for Oct. 21-25, 2024.
 
Providing funding to an organization with the same goal
ALA Unit 697 in Illinois is helping veterans in need of service dogs. In partnership with K9s for Veterans, they are raising funds to cover the cost of a service dog for a veteran with PTSD. As of press time, they have raised more than $4,700. Money has been raised through donations, raffles, dinners, T-shirts, bake sales, and more. Unit 697 has promoted the project at Post 697 by using a donation box and a thermometer poster to visually track their progress.
 
The cost of fully funding a service dog is $7,500 and includes a lifetime of food and veterinary care so 
the veteran never has to worry about those costs for their dog.
 
“To many, raising this amount of money in a short period of time seemed unimaginable, but we knew that with the help of our members and our community, this was a goal that could be reached,” said Patty Grigutis, Unit 697 member. 
 
“This project has gotten a lot of support from the community. ALA members knew this project would be a great fit for the organization after meeting with K9s for Veterans and seeing firsthand how the dog comforted a veteran. We all knew at that point that every veteran who needs a service dog should be able to obtain one,” said Grigutis. “We knew we had to help make a difference — even if we can only help one veteran.”
 
Find opportunities to discuss Be the One
You can save a life by starting a conversation. Sharing the Be the One mission is a great way to get someone to open up or seek help on their own. 
 
Indiana ALA Unit 104 distributes Be the One cards during its monthly meat sale. The event gives members an opportunity to talk to veterans and share information with them. This gives veterans an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Be the One.
 
Spreading the word that there are resources available and that people care makes a huge impact. It helps reduce the stigma around mental health. Don’t be afraid to ask a veteran if they are OK, because they may not be and just don’t want to ask for help. You can make a difference:
• Be the One to ask veterans how they are doing.
• Listen when a veteran needs to talk.
• Reach out when a veteran is struggling.
• Call 988, extension 1, if you are a veteran who is struggling. You can also text 838255.