APA Foundation launches video series to combat veteran suicide and stigma

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation has rolled out a video series that puts veterans and their families front-and-center to discuss experiences with PTSD, depression and suicide. Rawle Andrews Jr., the foundation’s executive director, emphasized that roughly 17 veterans die by suicide daily, and two-fifths of those had no mental-health diagnosis in the year prior. The campaign aims to dismantle misconceptions about the difficulty of transitioning to civilian life and to broaden awareness beyond PTSD.

It outlines common warning signs—altered sleep patterns, appetite changes, heightened irritability and withdrawal—and advises approaching concerned veterans without judgment. Viewers can access additional stories, tip sheets and affordable care options at mentalhealthcareworks.org/veterans, while dialing 988 and pressing 1 connects callers to a veteran-specific crisis counselor.