As a combat veteran, I know firsthand that the toughest firefights don’t always happen on the battlefield. For many of our nation’s heroes, the hardest battle is the one that follows them home.
June is National PTSD Awareness Month, a crucial reminder of the silent crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of our brave servicemen and women. Far too many of our brothers and sisters came home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other corners of the world only to be left fighting a new war in the shadows.
Losing an estimated 20 veterans a day to suicide is an absolute failure. It is a national tragedy, and frankly, it’s unacceptable.
Our heroes don’t want hollow thank-yous or bureaucratic excuses. They need action. We have to tear down the wall of VA red tape, fast-track access to cutting-edge mental health treatments, and destroy the stigma around asking for help.
I am fighting every day in Congress to overhaul veteran healthcare, but I need your voice to send a clear message to Washington.
IF YOU OR A VETERAN YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING: Please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in reaching out. The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential and available 24/7. Dial 988 and Press 1, or text 838255.
Don’t let our heroes fight alone. Sign our petition right now to demand better mental health resources and support for our veterans.