{"id":69710,"date":"2023-10-16T14:27:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T14:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/16\/buddy-check-week-to-stem-veteran-suicides-starts-today\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:59:18","slug":"buddy-check-week-to-stem-veteran-suicides-starts-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2023\/10\/16\/buddy-check-week-to-stem-veteran-suicides-starts-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddy Check Week to stem veteran suicides starts today"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs officials are asking veterans to reach out to fellow service members and friends as part of the first National Buddy Check Week<\/a>, a public campaign designed to reduce suicides<\/a> among current and former military members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effort, which runs from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20, has been observed unofficially by veteran groups in recent years and was mandated by Congress in legislation adopted in late 2022. The stated goal is to \u201cto build peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to VA resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roughly 20 veterans and military members die each day as a result of suicide<\/a>, according to research from the Department of Veterans Affairs. That number has decreased slightly in recent years<\/a>, but still translates into around 7,000 deaths annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters of the effort have said that increased outreach from trusted friends and family members to veterans experiencing emotional trauma or lingering mental health issues could help break down stigmas surrounding getting help for those problems and better educate the public on available assistance resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\t