With Veteran’s Day coming around the corner. It is time that all veterans are being celebrated. LGBTQIA+ Veterans have been at risk for higher levels of stress, anxiety, substance use disorders, and depression. This group of service people deserve the same levels of respect as other members of the US military and deserve to be celebrated just the same.

With an estimate of 16.2 million veterans, an estimated 1 million of those identify within the LGBTQIA+ community. It is time we honor and celebrate ALL who served. Mental health struggles for veterans have been documented for decades, across countless global conflicts and across different generations of veterans. Of the 41% of veterans who need mental health services over half of them did not or do not seek care.

Here are a few ways to support all veterans as we approach Veterans Day:

Ask someone about their service.
Understand the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Saying thank you through advocacy work for all veterans.
Writing a letter through the nonprofit “Soldiers’ Angels to deployed troops veterans, and their caregivers.
Volunteer at local VA Hospital. The Nashville VA Hospital is the busiest VA Hospital in the country. Check out their policies to see if volunteering is something that is interesting to you.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran, here are some additional services for them as well:

The Wounded Warrior Project
Operation Stand Down
Til Valhalla Project – Suicide awareness group for Veterans
K9 For Warriors
Modern Military Association of America – The voice of the LGBTQIA+ Military and veteran community

Veterans Day is a time for thanking and honoring those who served. It is easy to forget the reason why we celebrate and observe Veterans Day. If you or someone you love is a veteran and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community looking for mental health support, we would be happy to serve you.

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Honoring All Who Served