Ralph H. Johnson VA urges Veterans to reach out for mental health assistance during the holidays
By Cody Miller, Public Affairs Specialist
CHARLESTON, S.C. — As the holiday season approaches, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System is urging Veterans, families, and community partners across coastal S.C. and Ga. to check in on one another and reach out for help at the first signs of emotional distress.
National data shows suicide remains a serious public health crisis. In recent years, the suicide rate among Veterans has been significantly higher than among non-Veteran adults, underscoring the importance of proactive, coordinated prevention efforts.
“The holidays can be a beautiful time of year, but they can also be a very hard time of year, especially for Veterans who feel alone, are missing comrades or loved ones, or are living with invisible wounds,” said Scott Isaacks, Director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “Our message is simple: you are not alone, and you do not have to wait until you are in crisis to reach out for help.”
Holidays can intensify loneliness and grief
Suicide is complex, there is no single cause. There are a number of factors, related to physical and mental health, that increase or decrease the risk for suicide. VA mental health experts note that the holiday season may intensifies stressors that many Veterans face throughout the year. Financial strain, social isolation, grief and loss, and memories of military service can all contribute to increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use.
“For some Veterans, the holidays highlight who is missing around the table,” said Dr. Jennifer Wray, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Ralph H. Johnson VA. “Others feel pressure to ‘put on a happy face’ when inside they are struggling. We want Veterans to know that it is absolutely normal to feel this way, and that reaching out for support is a sign of strength.”
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System was recently recognized as one of South Carolina’s safest hospitals and received a Priority Award for Suicide Prevention from the South Carolina Hospital Association, reflecting its leadership in protecting Veterans’ lives.
VA care saves lives
Many common risk factors for suicide, such as psychiatric disorders, are treatable. Locally, the Ralph H. Johnson VA offers:
- Same day access for urgent mental health needs
- Outpatient treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorders, and other conditions
- Specialty services such as suicide risk assessment and safety planning, evidence-based psychotherapies, and Whole Health approaches to stress management
- Support for families and caregivers who are worried about the Veterans they love
“If you are a Veteran, or you care about one, you never have to guess whether it is ‘serious enough’ to call. If you are thinking about it, contact us. That is exactly why we are here, said Dr. Wray.”
Veterans Crisis Line: Help is always available
Support is available for Veterans and their loved ones any time of day or night, even when VA clinics are closed.
The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7:
- Dial 988, then Press 1
- Text 838255
- Chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat
“If you are feeling overwhelmed, if you are drinking more than usual, if you feel numb or hopeless, or if you catch yourself thinking that others would be better off without you, that is the time to reach out,” Isaacks said. “One call, one text, one conversation can change the course of a life. We want that call to be to us.”
Media outlets interested in covering local Veteran mental health and suicide prevention efforts, or in speaking with subject matter experts, are encouraged to contact the Ralph H. Johnson VA Public Affairs Office.
ABOUT THE RALPH H. JOHNSON VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM:
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System (RHJ VA HCS), a 1A-rated, 155-bed tertiary care teaching hospital, serves more than 109,000 Veterans along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts with a workforce of over 4,000 employees and an annual budget of $1 billion. RHJ VA HCS provides complex, high-reliability care across a broad range of specialties, including cardio-thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, mental health, transplant services, surgical robotics, and one of VA’s top-ranked research programs—featuring a brain health center focused on Alzheimer’s and dementia. RHJ VA HCS is a nationally recognized leader in quality and innovation, earning a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for quality, and being named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s Top Innovative Health Programs in the Nation. Ranked as the #9 research program across VA and among the top 3% of VA facilities for projected enrollment growth, RHJ VA HCS continues to set the standard for excellence in Veteran care. The system operates 13 owned and leased sites, including seven community-based outpatient clinics in North Charleston, Beaufort, Goose Creek, Myrtle Beach, Savannah, Hinesville, and Brunswick, and proudly operates the Ralph H. Johnson VA Fisher House, which has housed more than 4,000 families since 2018. For more information, visit www.charleston.va.gov.