Have questions about peer wellness checks, resiliency, referrals, or crisis intervention? Ask Questions and Share Insights Now!

2023-09-26T17:36:26-04:00

Share your stories, insights, and how your buddy checks are going now through October 23rd.

VA and community experts will be here to answer your questions on October 16th regarding peer wellness checks, resiliency, referrals to VA for care, and crisis intervention. Tell us how you are reaching your battle buddies, family, caregivers, and survivors.

You can ask questions to the following people:
» Melissa Comeau - Director, Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, American Red Cross
» Sgt Christopher Vidaurre - Senior Program Manager, George W. Bush Institute
» SSG Jonathan Pylypiv - Community Engagement Manager, Fox Valley Veterans Council
» Aaron Eagan - Director, Community Based Suicide Prevention, VHA
» SGT Tiffany Ellett - Division Director, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, American Legion
» Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton - Senior Director, Suicide Prevention/Postvention, TAPS

Learn More: https://rly.pt/VANationalBuddyCheckWeek

National Buddy Check Week | Veterans Affairs

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Sep 26 at 2023 6:45 PM

2023-09-26T18:45:43-04:00

Good evening. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this on RP.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 30 at 2023 8:20 AM

2023-09-30T08:20:11-04:00

THANKS FOR SHARING

Response by SSG Jonathan Pylypiv made Oct 3 at 2023 1:36 PM

2023-10-03T13:36:53-04:00

Thank you.

Response by CPT David Gowel made Oct 10 at 2023 11:57 AM

2023-10-10T11:57:12-04:00

Thanks for joining! How does the VA offer peer support to the veteran, family, and caregiver community? Also does VA work with non-gov't organizations who offer related support?

Response by Serina Mergulhao made Oct 10 at 2023 12:42 PM

2023-10-10T12:42:19-04:00

I check in often with my fallen brother's fellow battle buddies from his Engineering unit deployed together from Alaska to Afghanistan on their FB group for updates and let them know mom and I appreciate them and are always family.

Response by PO2 Miguel Estrema made Oct 12 at 2023 12:19 AM

2023-10-12T00:19:22-04:00

Response by Sgt Christopher Vidaurre made Oct 16 at 2023 2:01 PM

2023-10-16T14:01:12-04:00

Hello All, My name is Christopher Vidaurre, I am the Senior Program Manager at the George W. Bush Institute. I am here on behalf of the Veterans Wellness Alliance to share “Check-In” Check-In is a first-of-its-kind network that unites peer-led organizations and mental and brain health service providers to connect veterans and their families with high-quality care for mental and brain health services. Please go to veterancheckin.org and fill out our short form to get connected to care. Once you fill out the form within in 72 business hours our Care Coordinator will reach out to you and find the most appropriate care and get you connected. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you.

https://www.veterancheckin.org

Check In

Connecting veterans with the support and services they need to live happier, healthier, more successful lives-and to make sure veterans are treated like people, not case numbers, every step of the care journey.

Response by Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton made Oct 16 at 2023 2:07 PM

2023-10-16T14:07:45-04:00

Hello all, I am Carla Stumpf Patton with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), where I oversee our suicide prevention and postvention programming. We are here to offer peer-based grief support and suicide postvention response for those who have been impacted by military-related suicide loss. For those needing to talk or with questions about grief and loss, we have the TAPS National Military Survivor Helpline available 24/7 at [login to see] .

Response by SGT Tiffany Ellett made Oct 16 at 2023 2:24 PM

2023-10-16T14:24:11-04:00

We just held a webinar kicking off Buddy Check week and had a few good pointers come through:

- The scripts do help but let everything come from the heart. I have a Vietnam Veteran that has had a rough year, lost his life partner of 30+ years, and then lost everything to recent flooding in our areas. Just reach out to them, be their friend and just be there for them. Just talking to them works wonders. I now talk to this veteran daily. Just to talk about anything and everything.

- Coming from a rural state (South Dakota)-- your County Veteran Service Officers are a great resource for anything that your local post isn't familiar with regarding benefits. We're usually pretty in tune with local resources.

- This week is not just about veterans, we encourage outreach to veterans, caregivers, and survivors since we know it’s not just about the veteran but about their families, support systems, and even providers.

- This initiative doesn’t need to focus on just mental health, but overall health and stability. Some issues plaguing the veteran and surrounding communities are unemployment, food insecurity, education difficulties, filing claims, and financial burden. During your reach out sessions we encourage you to ask about some of these areas, you may be able to provide resources to that individual that they didn’t know about

Response by PO3 Matthew "DOC" Campbell made Oct 16 at 2023 2:29 PM

2023-10-16T14:29:20-04:00

Thanks to everyone that's joining in! If you have any questions please post them below and our esteemed Subject Matter Experts will answer them. Thank you all for being apart of National Buddy Check Week. For more information on Buddy Check Week please see the link here: https://www.va.gov/initiatives/national-buddy-check-week-talk-to-10-veterans/

National Buddy Check Week | Veterans Affairs

Response by PO3 Matthew "DOC" Campbell made Oct 16 at 2023 2:33 PM

2023-10-16T14:33:38-04:00

When it comes to resources when conducting buddy checks or peer wellness checks please know there are various resources to share. Here are some to help:
• Veterans Crisis Line http://www.veteranscrisisline.net
• Veterans Crisis Line Chat http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat
• Vet Center http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
• National Resource Directory http://www.nrd.gov
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - formerly "Suicide Prevention Lifeline" http://www.988lifeline.org
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention American Foundation for Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/suicide/resources/index.html
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
• International (links and resources for suicide prevention) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327007#international-hotlines-and-resources

Veterans Crisis Line

24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.

Response by PO3 Matthew "DOC" Campbell made Oct 16 at 2023 2:37 PM

2023-10-16T14:37:54-04:00

1-800-MyVA411 is a national, toll-free number that serves as a “front door” to VA. With one phone call, Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors can easily access information on VA benefits and services or be connected to an expert for answers to question.

Response by PO3 Matthew "DOC" Campbell made Oct 16 at 2023 2:44 PM

2023-10-16T14:44:49-04:00

Have you signed up to take the pledge and talk to ten? Visit here to take the pledge and share with others!! https://www.research.net/r/BQ2DMCL

National Buddy Check Week

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Response by PO2 Miguel Estrema made Oct 16 at 2023 3:06 PM

2023-10-16T15:06:42-04:00

Response by SPC Barry Jaye made Oct 16 at 2023 8:19 PM

2023-10-16T20:19:30-04:00

HOW DOES ONE RECEIVE THE $250?

Response by Melissa Comeau made Oct 17 at 2023 3:49 PM

2023-10-17T15:49:17-04:00

Hello! My name is Melissa Comeau and I am the Director of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network at the American Red Cross. I am also the spouse and caregiver to a combat wounded Marine. We serve caregivers of all eras as well as veterans who are caregivers. You can learn more about our programs and services here https://www.redcross.org/get-help/military-families/services-for-veterans/military-veteran-caregiver-network.html

Military and Veteran Caregiver Network

The Military Veteran Caregiver Network provides our nation’s pre- and post-9/11-era military and veteran caregivers with peer support.

Response by Melissa Comeau made Oct 17 at 2023 3:51 PM

2023-10-17T15:51:42-04:00

Military and veteran caregivers, did you know you can participate in Buddy Check Week?

American Red Cross - Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide resources to caregivers during this important week. National Buddy Check Week is October 16-20, 2023.

To learn more about Buddy Check Week, watch this video from the Director of MVCN, Melissa Comeau: https://lnkd.in/gY9pNVcG.

MVCN: https://lnkd.in/g3VkuCb9
Buddy Check Week: https://lnkd.in/g3xmXPDY
#BuddyCheckWeek #MilitaryCaregivers #VeteranCaregivers #milvetcaregiver #Veterans #Caregivers #Buddycheck

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Oct 20 at 2023 10:50 PM

2023-10-20T22:50:37-04:00

We do buddy checks twice a year on our membership in our Legion Post

Response by LCpl Craig A. Charbonneau made Oct 24 at 2023 10:24 AM

2023-10-24T10:24:25-04:00

Completed more than 30 Buddy Checks. Semper Fidelis

Response by Lori Shellman made Nov 2 at 2023 10:41 PM

2023-11-02T22:41:53-04:00

How many pact act claims approved