The Strong Veterans Act of 2022 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct an annual Buddy Check Week.
During the week of Oct. 16-20, all veterans are invited to complete peer wellness, resiliency and S.A.V.E training with a pledge to talk to 10 veterans, families and caregivers and/or survivors. VA’s goal is to increase access to VA health and benefits, improve mental health, increase awareness on suicide prevention, decrease isolation and support peer networking.
There are many non-VA, no-cost community resources available to support Buddy Check Week, such as American Legion, where buddy wellness checks are encouraged to reconnect with Veterans who may need assistance. American Legion and VA have partnered together to host a kickoff webinar on Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. and share the value of checking in with friends and families from service.
The Veteran Wellness Alliance also offers services through Connect With Peers as a great way to link up with buddies and peers, with organizations such as Team RWB, Travis Manion Foundation, Team Rubicon, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Team 43, Student Veterans of America, The Mission Continues and Wounded Warrior Project.
Connecting with veterans’ families, caregivers and survivors is just as important for those who may need assistance or just a friend to talk to. Here are some other resources to help:
American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Join us for a VeTALKX Buddy Check Week Q&A on Rally Point VeTALKX Buddy Check Week Q&A Chat on RallyPoint to share your questions and how your buddy checks are going now through Oct. 23. VA and community experts will be available to answer your questions in the chat on Oct. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. EST, regarding VA resources and referrals, peer wellness, resiliency and crisis intervention.
Post your buddy check stories on TWS Buddy Check Week TWS Buddy Check Week now through Oct. 31. Need help finding that buddy you’ve been thinking about? Create an account with Together We Served and use their extensive search engine to help find other TWS members who served in your unit.
Checking in with your buddies and friends from service builds trust and hope in a way that veteran peers can relate to. Many of your friends may be doing well, while others need assistance from the community or VA in some way. Share the MyVA 411 Call Center and REACH as a gateway for needed resources. MyVA 411 can help your friends with health care, community care, memorial affairs, crisis, debt management, facility locator, benefits assistance, homelessness, and PACT Act and COVID-19 information.
Sharing the VA Welcome Kit VA Welcome Kit will also be helpful for your buddies and friends that need more information on VA services and benefits. Your battle buddies and friends from service may be experiencing a variety of stressors in their life and it’s important to have the right resources handy when talking about life—past, present and future.
The Veterans Crisis Line is the fastest way to get help if your buddy is in crisis or at risk of killing themselves. Dial 988 then Press 1 if you encounter a friend needing help now. You can text the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255 or chat with a responder via the website.
