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Suicide: let's talk about it

Suicide: let's talk about it

By Abby Woodruff, Public Affairs Specialist

Every year, suicide claims the lives of too many. Help is available, and no one has to go through this struggle alone. This article is dedicated to highlighting the vital resources and support systems that are out there for those in crisis. 

By spreading awareness about these lifelines, we can ensure that individuals receive the necessary assistance to prevent future tragedies, thereby fostering a community of care and compassion. 

TVHS offers a range of resources to help with various needs, including addiction treatment, physical therapy, adaptive sports, spiritual guidance, and more. Ask your provider for more information on how we can help. 

Veterans Crisis Line  

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) encourages all Veterans who are experiencing a crisis to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. It is a toll-free, confidential resource for Veterans, service members, VA employees, family members and concerned citizens. To contact the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. 

Don’t be afraid to reach out, fellow Veterans seek help daily. In fact, 235 Veterans contacted the Veteran Crisis Line in July and were referred to TVHS’ Suicide Prevention team. In 2024, the team received 2,472 referrals for Veterans who reached out to the Veterans Crisis Line. 

Facts over fiction:  

  • You do not have to be suicidal to call the Veterans Crisis Line. It is a service to help with a crisis no matter how big or small.  

  • Veterans, family, and friends can call the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 and qualified mental health professionals are ready to assist anyone who calls, including friends and family of Veterans. If you think someone is in need of help and not sure how to approach the conversation or you need immediate assistance guiding a Veteran to emergent care, the Veterans Crisis Line will guide you every step of the way. 

  • Calling the Veterans Crisis Line will not immediately trigger a welfare check. If a Veteran or family member calls the Veterans Crisis Line, a caring responder will work with the caller to provide the best care. 

  • A Veteran does not need to be enrolled to use the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line is available at all times to help Veterans and their family. 

“[Reaching out] takes a lot of courage. And although they [Veterans] may be feeling shame in the moment, it also tells me that they want to live," Sherri Sedgebear, TVHS suicide prevention case manager, said. "I remind people that there's still some hope in there because you called." 

COMPACT Act 

Passed into law December 2020, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis can go to any emergency room to get medical care. Here is how it works and what’s covered: 

What it is 

  1. Any Veteran – whether enrolled in VA or not – can go to a VA or non-VA emergency room for emergent suicidal care. 

  2. We strongly recommend Veterans in suicidal crisis call 911 or visit their nearest emergency room for expedited care. Veterans may go to a TVHS outpatient clinic however, our clinics are only open Monday – Friday during normal business hours. 

  3. VA will provide the treatment or cover the costs for treatment including transportation, inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days, and outpatient care for up to 90 days. 

How it works 

Veterans or their loved ones should do the following in the event of an emergent suicidal crisis: 

  • Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room 

  • Notify staff that you’re a Veteran 

  • Staff will take you back and provide treatment 

  • Emergencies are never planned so it’s important you and your loved ones know where the closest emergency room is located. 

For more details about COMPACT Act eligibility and billing, visit TVHS’s website or VA’s press room. 

Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program 

TVHS is one of a handful VA medical centers to offer an inpatient residential treatment program. We offer a 34-bed inpatient facility that specializes in substance use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Veterans may voluntarily admit themselves to our residential rehabilitation treatment program after speaking with a mental health provider and the admissions coordinator.  

Throughout the program, Veterans engage in various modalities of care ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy, group sessions, and recreational therapy like fly fishing, gardening, and more therapeutic modes. 

To learn more about the TVHS Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, watch this video.  

You can also read profound testimonies from several Veterans:  

Chaplain Service 

The Chaplain Service can aid you through all walks of life, not just spiritual ones. The service hosts several group sessions for various needs.  

Grief groups are a common place to come together with the Chaplain Service.  

In fact, TVHS Chaplain Service will host its Women Veterans Fall Grief Groups Sept. 24 – Dec. 17 at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center Women’s Clinic in building 106 and Nashville VA chaplain’s office. The group meets in-person or virtually.  

Contact Chaplain Woodretta Allen at  Woodretta.allen@va.gov or  for more information. 

Watch more on the women’s group here.  

Men’s Grief Group will also start in November. Contact Chaplain Chris Headrick at Christopher.Headrick@va.gov or for more info.  

Watch more on the men’s group here. 

Stigma 

Suicide prevention starts with awareness and education.  

“It is important to encourage Veterans and their friends and families to know more about suicide prevention, even if it is something that people don't want to talk about. Suicide continues to be taboo. But we know there are things we can do that save lives, including lethal means counseling,” Sedgebear said.  

Watch more about suicide stigma here.  

“We have Veterans that go out on the battlefield and are told, ‘don't be vulnerable. You've got to be tough. You've got to armor up. It's life or death.’ And then they come home and it's not so easy to take off that armor. And so, they're carrying a lot … and coming into family situations that may be difficult, or they've lost buddies. It's important to remind Veterans and family members that we are here to help when those thoughts occur,” Sedgebear said. 

Testimony 

Take it from Rory Thompson, a Marine Corps Veteran and TVHS employee. Last year, he shared his mental health journey and recovery after four suicide attempts. You can read more here.  

After surviving a harrowing attack in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province in April 2011, U.S. Army Infantryman Scotty Hasting faced severe injuries and a long recovery. Shot 10 times during a patrol, he suffered nerve damage and endured a difficult battle with PTSD, depression, and survivor’s guilt. Now, Hasting found healing through his music and help through VA.  

Watch more on Hasting’s journey here.  

VA has several videos, sharing Veteran testimonies on this subject. You can find those here.  

Lethal Means Safety 

TVHS encourages Veterans and their families to properly secure firearms and medication to protect loved ones in case of a suicidal crisis. 

“The duration of a suicidal crisis is often time limited,” said Lesley Murray, TVHS Suicide Prevention Program Manager. “The time that it takes for someone to unlock a gun lock can often be enough to save a life.” 

According to the 2025 Tennessee State Suicide Prevention Annual Report, there were 1,279 suicides from 2022 to 2023, with firearms accounting for 69% of the cases. 

In the past year, the TVHS Suicide Prevention team distributed more than 5,200 gun locks and supported 90 outreach events. These efforts provided essential resources and information to local communities on safety and the importance of securing lethal firearms and medications, an evidence-based practice known as lethal means safety. 

Lethal means safety is putting time and space in between the thought of suicide and the means. When a person has a thought of suicide, they act within an hour, some within 24 minutes, some even less, according to Sedgebear. 

Lethal means safety is putting time and space in between the thought of suicide and the means. When a person has a thought of suicide, they act within an hour, some within 24 minutes, some even less, according to Sedgebear. 

In this case, gun locks can give time to create that space, according to Sedgebear. 

“We know that firearms are 95% lethal. There is a very tiny window of opportunity to get help after a self-inflicted gun wound. All attempts are serious, but we know firearms have the least amount of time to get help after a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and it can happen just like that,” Sedgebear said. 

Gun locks can also be used to lock up a shed, bicycles and more. Veterans or family members can request any amount of gun locks, no questions asked.  

If you or someone you know needs a gun lock, Veterans can use secure messaging to request a gun lock or stop into your local VA to pick one up. 

Learn more about VA’s Keep It Secure campaign.