Suicide Prevention Month | Strength Can Mean Asking For Help

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical, psychological, or mental health care. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or see the specific resources below for military, first-responders and even athletes. If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 911 or seek emergency medical care. 

Reaching Out Is Strength

At True Victory, we talk often about resilience, perseverance, discipline, and pushing through difficult things.

But resilience does not mean suffering silently.

There are moments when perseverance means taking another step forward on your own.

And there are moments when perseverance means reaching out your hand and allowing someone else to walk beside you.

There is courage in saying you need help.

There is strength in going to therapy.

Your mental health matters every bit as much as your physical health.

If you are struggling right now, you do not have to figure everything out today. You do not have to have the right words. You do not have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help.

Here are some ways to help you through these difficult moments.

Stay Connected

Isolation can make difficult thoughts feel even heavier. 

Social connection and support from friends and family are recognized protective factors against suicide.

Make an effort to stay connected to people you trust. A spouse, friend, family member, teammate, coworker, faith leader, counselor, fellow veteran, or someone who makes you feel safe enough to be honest.

Sometimes you simply need someone willing to sit beside you while you work through it.

Speak Up When Something Feels Wrong

You do not need to meet a certain threshold before seeking mental health care. The sooner the better.

Persistent sadness, anxiety, anger, emotional numbness, difficulty sleeping, substance use, withdrawal, overwhelming stress, or simply feeling unlike yourself are all reasons to start a conversation.

Talk with your doctor or a licensed mental health professional. Use your Employee Assistance Program if one is available. Veterans can also reach out to VA mental health services, and first responders may have confidential peer-support programs available through or outside their departments.

Getting support early can help prevent struggles from becoming crises.

A Story About the Battles We Cannot Always See

For those who want to better understand some of the invisible battles carried by veterans, service members, trauma survivors, and their families, we also want to recognize Dennis J. Call, author of Nothing As It Seems: A Memoir.

Drawing from his experiences as a U.S. Army infantry officer and his life after combat, Dennis writes candidly about trauma, grief, family, faith, isolation, and the difficult journey toward healing.

His story reinforces an important message: healing rarely happens in isolation, and no one should have to carry life's heaviest burdens alone.

You Do Not Have to Carry It Alone

The strongest thing you do today may not be pushing harder. It may be recognizing when the weight has become too heavy to carry by yourself.

Asking for help does not erase your resilience. It can be part of it.

Whether that means calling someone you trust, talking with a counselor, making an appointment with your doctor, or reaching out during a moment of crisis, taking that step matters. You deserve the opportunity to be heard, supported, and reminded that difficult seasons do not have to be faced alone.

At True Victory, strength has never been about being unaffected by hardship. It is about continuing forward… and sometimes, moving forward begins by allowing someone else to stand beside you.

If you or someone you know could use additional support, check out these helpful resources below.

24/7 Help is Available

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and conversations are free and confidential. Online chat and accessibility options are also available for anyone experiencing emotional distress, a mental health crisis, substance-use concerns, suicidal thoughts, or simply needing someone to talk.

Veterans Crisis Line
Call: 988 and Press 1
Text: 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, confidential support 24/7 for Veterans, service members, and their families. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or VA health care to use it.

Safe Call Now
Call: 206-459-3020
Peer advocates are current or former first responders and are available 24/7 for crisis support and referrals specifically for first responders, emergency personnel, and their family members. 

COPLINE
Call: 1-800-COPLINE (1-800-267-5463)
COPLINE provides confidential peer support specifically for current and former law enforcement personnel and their families. Calls are answered 24/7 by trained, retired law enforcement officers.

Courage First Athlete Hotline
Call: 1-888-279-1026
Courage First Athlete Helpline provides 24/7 confidential crisis support for athletes and people within sports communities, connecting them with counselors who understand challenges specific to athletes.