American Legion National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer stopped by the Le Center American Legion Post 108 Tuesday during his statewide tour of Minnesota to speak on the organization’s initiative to prevent veteran suicide.
Suicide remains a stark issue in the veteran community. In Minnesota, over 100 veterans take their own lives each year and veterans make up over one in eight deaths by suicide according to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Across the country, the National Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report found between 17 to 22 veterans or servicemembers die by suicide each day.
“When you deal with veteran suicide and have 140,000 veterans killing themselves that’s a problem,” said Seehafer. “That’s more than all the veterans that died in war from Korea to present.”
These startling figures have inspired the American Legion’s “Be the One” campaign, which focuses on destigmatizing mental health and encouraging veterans and their family, friends and the wider public to “be the one” to check in and offer support to veterans who may be struggling.
“Be the one to ask the hard question when you see somebody hurting. Are you ok? What’s going on? Ask those hard questions,” said Seehafer. “People will often be like, ‘They have family, they’ll take care of that.’ No, you’re here for a reason.”
In his visit to the Le Center American Legion Post, the former US Navy military chaplain emphasized the role that posts like 108 can play in preventing suicide by giving veterans a place to form deep connections with fellow veterans and opportunities to give back to the community through programs like American Legion baseball and shooting sports.
Collin Scott, a member of Post 108, said having a space like the Legion was essential for forming the kinds of long-lasting friendships that can save a life.
“What we try to do here is keep that connection. The more connection you have with people the more you find out about what’s going on in their life and you can be that preventative measure,” said Scott.
“We’re like a big family,” he continued. “You really know when someone is in a bad spot and we all come together and try to help people out.”
Beyond its role as an avenue for social connection, Seehafer said the Legion plays an important part in preventing suicide by helping veterans connect to resources and benefits they’re entitled to and directly alleviating some of the financial strain they may be experiencing through the Minnesota Veterans Assistance Fund, an American Legion-backed program which awards grants to veterans and veteran families to help cover their basic needs.
The national commander further pointed to the Legion’s advocacy for VA benefits in Congress as an important measure to relieve financial pressure and stress on veterans.
“What we do to help alleviate a financial strain or a relation strain on the military could be very much a preventative measure,” said Seehafer. “I think people need to be reminded that what is passed does change lives and saves lives.”
After his visit to Le Center, Seehafer is planning a visit to St. Paul Wednesday for Veterans Day on the Hill, where he will talk to state lawmakers on the issue of veterans suicide.
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