Face The Fight

Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month may be ending, but the need for support continues. Engagement doesn’t stop here. Staying informed, connected, and involved makes a difference year-round. As we move beyond May, let’s continue showing up for those who serve and those who support them. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MilitaryAppreciationMonth #FaceTheFight Harrison Bernstein, Soldiers To Sidelines, Gala True, The Armory Project, Mike Rosen, America's VetDogs, Kristen J. Vescera PhD, MPH, MA, WorriedAboutaVeteran.org

May is almost over, which means so is Mental Health Awareness Month. Every day, 135 Americans die by suicide. It’s the equivalent of a commercial plane crash every single day. Or one death every 11 minutes. And still, we look away. Among post-9/11 veterans, the crisis is even worse. Since 9/11, more than 120,000 veterans have died by suicide — more than 17x the number killed in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan or Iran. In January, a veteran named Luke High reached out to me. He’s given me permission to share his story. Luke was a junior in high school when he watched the Twin Towers fall. He enrolled in ROTC, competed as a Division I pole vaulter at Ohio University, and was part of the first class to graduate knowing they were heading straight into the war on terror. He rose to Lieutenant Colonel, taught marketing at West Point, and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne — the same unit I served in. Today, he faces a battle no military training could prepare him for. In 2020, he came home from Afghanistan with a rare disease that is slowly turning his lungs to bone. Luke is one of only 30 documented cases in medical history and one of just four known veterans to have it. On New Year's Eve 2024, the night he finally got his diagnosis, he attempted suicide. Luke is navigating this ordeal without the full veteran benefits he earned because current law penalizes combat-wounded veterans who retire before 20 years. The bipartisan Major Richard Star Act would fix that. Congress needs to pass it. If you know a veteran who is struggling, check on them. And if you’re a veteran reading this who is struggling right now — know you have a community of support. There is no shame in asking for help. Veterans Crisis Line (24/7): Dial 988, press 1 | Text 838255 | VeteransCrisisLine.net I share more of Luke’s story in my latest substack. https://lnkd.in/gYhPpHa4 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Our military community has long embraced the ethos of looking out for those on our left and right and leaving no one behind. It is time to extend that promise beyond military service—to the veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors who continue to carry the weight of service long after the uniform comes off. As Military Appreciation Month, Month of the Military Caregiver and Mental Health Awareness Month come to a close, I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the power of connection. A call, a text, a check-in can make a meaningful difference. Supporting those who serve- and those who serve alongside them-is not a one-month commitment. It's a responsibility we share every day. Thank you to Military Times for the opportunity to share this message and help elevate this important conversation and to our team of passionate partners and 300+ coalition members who bring the impact to Face The Fight. Kelly Facer Mort Greenberg Steven Schwab Elizabeth Dole Foundation Sonya Medina Williams Samra Lazarus, Alfred K. Flowers, Jr. Tiffany Benjamin Lindsey O'Neill Jenna Saucedo-Herrera Lewis Pryor, APR, CLU Chris Ford Katy Dondanville, Psy.D., ABPP David Rozek, PhD, ABPP Rajeev Ramchand Abigail Haigh Aspen Bergmann Emily Elston JoAnne Bass Patrick J. Murphy Todd Duso

America witnessed the full force of its military’s commitment when extraordinary efforts were launched to rescue two downed F-15 pilots behind enemy lines. Read on to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gwGvJBs8 . . Sponsored by Face The Fight

“These are men and women, mothers, dads, spouses, kids, siblings in every corner of the country that are selflessly taking care of veterans.” — Steven Schwab, Elizabeth Dole Foundation This Month of the Military Caregiver, we recognize the 14.3 million spouses, children, parents, family members, and loved ones who continue to serve through the care and support they provide every day. Their dedication continues long after service ends, making a lasting difference for veterans, families, and communities nationwide. #MonthOfTheMilitaryCaregiver #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #FaceTheFight

Supporting veterans starts with listening. Face the Fight grantee WorriedAboutaVeteran.org has spent the past year listening to families and building stronger tools and resources to help prevent veteran suicide. In partnership with Vets4Warriors, they’ve launched a dedicated phone line providing veterans with real-time peer support and help navigating resources when they need it most. Visit their website to learn more. https://lnkd.in/gDewKqPG #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MilitaryAppreciationMonth #FaceTheFight Kristen J. Vescera PhD, MPH, MA

A well-deserved congratulations to Cohen Veterans Network on receiving the 2026 Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for the “Have Her Six: Prevent Military Women Suicide” campaign! This powerful initiative helped shine a light on the unique challenges facing military women and veterans while encouraging support, understanding, and action. We’re proud to partner with an organization helping drive awareness and support for the military and veteran community. #FaceTheFight #HaveHerSix #SuicidePrevention

This Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who served our country and those who gave their lives, whether in combat, in service, or in the years that followed. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten. Today, we reflect on their legacy and the profound impact they’ve made on our nation. 🇺🇸 #MemorialDay #NeverForget #HonorAndRemember

Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for our veterans. With support from Face the Fight, Cohen Veterans Network is advancing critical research on suicide risk, social drivers of health, firearm safety, and clinician decision-making, while helping close long-standing gaps in research for military women and their experiences. We’re proud to support an organization driving real impact. Learn more about their work: https://lnkd.in/dC-bEdf #FaceTheFight #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters David J Linkh