Combating Veteran Suicide can start with Mentorship

Every day, nearly 18 veterans take their own lives. It’s a jarring statistic and a conservative estimate that demands unrelenting action until veteran suicide is eradicated.

The DAV Charitable Service Trust is on the front line of this battle, finding and funding programs and organizations that get results by saving veterans’ lives. This includes national initiatives such as Save A Warrior, REBOOT Recovery and the Travis Manion Foundation.

A benefit of the Trust’s rigorous vetting process when screening grant applications is the opportunity for DAV members to collaborate with these organizations.

One way is through its members who serve as volunteer mentors to other veterans.

While they’re not certified counselors, these member volunteers develop deep relationships, ask probing questions and then listen, following guided programs so their mentees can process the feelings and trauma they’ve experienced.