 You are not alone.
Help is available.
If you are a Veteran in crisis or know one who is, call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to confidentially speak with a trained, caring VA responder and get connected to services that can make a difference. Or, chat online with a VA responder to receive anonymous support now. Click here for more information.
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential, toll-free hotline and online chat.
Veterans and their families and friends can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or chat online to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line and what the VA is doing to help Veterans who face serious challenges or who may be at risk of suicide.
You may find additional guidance through the Coaching into Care program.
Learn to Recognize the Signs
Many Veterans may not show any signs of intent to harm themselves before doing so, but some actions can be a sign that a Veteran needs help. Veterans who are considering suicide often show signs of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and/or hopelessness, such as:
- Appearing sad or depressed most of the time
- Clinical depression: deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating—that doesn’t go away or continues to get worse
- Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep
- Neglecting personal welfare, deteriorating physical appearance
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and society, or sleeping all the time
- Losing interest in hobbies, work, school, or other prior interests
- Frequent and dramatic mood changes
- Expressing feelings of excessive guilt or shame
- Feelings of failure or decreased performance
- Feeling that life is not worth living, having no sense of purpose in life
- Talk about feeling trapped—like there is no way out of a situation
- Having feelings of desperation, and saying that there’s no solution to their problems
Their behavior may be dramatically different from their normal behavior, or they may appear to be actively contemplating or preparing for a suicidal act through behaviors such as:
-
Performing poorly at work or school
- Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities—seemingly without thinking
- Showing violent behavior such as punching holes in walls, getting into fights or self-destructive violence; feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
- Looking as though one has a “death wish,” tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, such as driving fast or running red lights
- Giving away prized possessions
- Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, and/or making out a will
- Seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means of harming oneself
If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who is showing any of the above warning signs, please call the Veterans Crisis Line or chat online today.
The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance is committed to helping homeless veterans.
West Virginia Veterans Home
The West Virginia Veterans Home in Barboursville, West Virginia can serve as a convenient and comfortable home in time of need for veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions. See here for more information or call 304-736-1027.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) believes that any Veteran who is at risk of homelessness or who is trying to exit homelessness should have easy access to programs and services. See the VA’s page on Homeless Veteran resources here or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838.
Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center
The Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC), located at 624 9th Street in Huntington, West Virginia, can provide veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with one-stop access to community-based multiagency services to promote permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development and access to VA and non-VA benefits. Call Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for assistance. 304-429-6755.
Find a homeless shelter
Homeless Shelter Directory provides a list of homeless shelters in West Virginia. This list includes emergency shelters, homeless shelters, and transitional housing opportunities.
Find a food bank
Homeless Shelter Directory provides a list of emergency food programs in West Virginia. This list includes Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, and food banks.
Volunteers of America
Supportive Services for Veterans and Families Program (SSVF) program promotes housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. https://veterans.wv.gov/resources/Pages/FightingHomelessness.aspx
West Virginia Coalition to end Homelessness
The WV Coalition to end Homelessness is committed to the cause of ending homelessness in West Virginia. They seek to unite service providers, state agencies, business and concerned members of the community to achieve this goal. For more information see their website here - https://www.wvceh.org, For immediate assistance, call the WVCEH Coordinated Entry System Intake Line – 833-722-2014
Marshall Center for Business and Economic Research Assessment of Housing Needs for West Virginia Veterans
The WVDVA commissioned the Marshall Center for Business and Economic Research to assess and report on Housing Needs for West Virginia Veterans. This report gives us a greater understanding of the challenges veterans face throughout the state. You can view the final report here.
Employment
WorkForce West Virginia stands ready to help jobseekers kickstart their future career and offers many resource assistance opportunities thgoughout every step of the job searching process. Services are provided to all veterans through a network of Career Centers throughout the state.
Veterans Facilities
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has several facilities in West Virginia. There are 4 VA Medical Centers, 11 Outpatient Clinics, 9 Vet Centers. In addition to medical facilities, there is a Regional Office in Huntington and two National Veterans Cemeteries in Grafton.
According to the most recent VA state summary, released in 2017, there are 142,694 veterans in West Virginia, 10,218 of whom are women. 11,033 of those Veterans are retirees. Veterans make up 10.22 percent of the population, much higher than the national average of 6.6 percent. 72,607 Veterans in the state, 50.88 percent, are 65 years old or older.
Many state Veterans are receiving VA Healthcare and/or other Benefits
Number of WV Veterans Receiving Disability Compensation: 35,226
Number of WV Veterans Receiving Non-Service-Connected Pension: 2,399
Number of Dependency & Indemnity Compensation Beneficiaries: 3,803
Number of WV Veterans using Education Benefits: 21,459
Number of WV Veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare System: 79,183
In 2017 VA expenditures in West Virginia totaled more than $1.95 Billion
Compensation and Pension: $746,902,000
Construction Projects at VA facilities: $4,627,000
Education and Vocational Rehabilitation: $47,821,000
General Operating Expenses: $369,056,000
Insurance and Indemnities: $10,829,000
Medical Care: $776,048,000
Gold Star Family Registry
The National Gold Star Family Registry provides a searchable database of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen killed while in the service of our country since the beginning of WWII.
Gold Star Mothers
Gold Star Mothers is an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.
West Virginia Gold Star Mothers
West Virginia Gold Star Mothers is an affiliate of the American Gold Star Mothers. The WV Gold Star Mothers are active in Veteran advocacy throughout the state.
Honor Flight Network
Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transport America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that were built in their honor. This trip is 100% free to veterans.
The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues empowers veterans adjusting to life at home to find new missions. They redeploy veterans so that their shared legacy will be one of action and service. The Mission Continues has helped thousands of post-9/11 veterans transition successfully by focusing their talents and energy on tackling challenges here at home.
Project Healing Waters
Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.
Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.
Veterans Upward Bound Program
Veterans Upward Bound is a free educational program for military Veterans. It is a U.S. Department of Education TRIO program, and it is funded by a competitive grant. Participants in VUB receive preparation for success at colleges and universities, technical and trade schools, and other post-high school training institutions.
WVABLE
West Virginia Achieving a Better Life Experience is an investment account designed to give people with special needs more independence and financial security. Balances and distributions do not affect federal needs-based financial aid. Earnings on savings are tax-free when used to pay for qualified expenses.
Operation Jackson County Veterans
Operation Jackson County Veterans’ mission is to support, encourage and honor Veterans in Jackson County, WV.
National Archives
The National Archives Veterans’ Service Records section has a variety of resources for research, including requesting discharge paperwork, service records and requesting replacements for lost medals and awards.
The Veterans Identification Card (VIC) provides a convenient and secure method of providing proof of military service.
It is available for all veterans with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) who do not have an identification card issued by the Department of Defense or the Veterans Health Administration.
Those veterans who have a DoD retired identification card or a VA Health identification card should continue to use those cards to prove veteran status.
For more information and to learn how to apply, click here.
Click here for voter registration information.
Click here for more information on the West Virginia Secretary of State's website.
|
|