How To Be The One

Today, the No. 1 issue facing the veteran community is suicide. In the United States, 22 veterans a day commit suicide. The mission of the American Legion Be The One Initiative is to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. Be The One offers a multitude of resources to assist in making a difference in the lives of veterans. Be The One is actively working on lessening the stigma associated with mental health treatment and empowering everyone to take appropriate action when a veteran or service member may be at risk - one life at a time. 

Whether you are a veteran or the friend or family-member of a veteran, you can Be The One. 

You can "Be The One" to save a veteran by conducting Buddy Checks, raising awareness of resources available for veterans in your community, taking the Columbia University training course so you know what to do in the event of a potential crisis. By talking about veteran suicide, raising awareness, and fostering camaraderie among your peers you are demonstrating what it means to Be The One. 

Suicide Prevention Training

All American Legion Family members are encouraged to take The American Legion-Columbia University training that walks them through the steps to interact with and respond to veterans who may be in crisis.  After the training, participants will be able to:

• Use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to determine at-risk individuals.

• Identify risk factors and warning signs.

• Outline the types of suicidal ideation and four behaviors that indicate imminent risk.

• Communicate effectively with an individual who may be at risk of hurting themselves.

There are multiple monthly virtual sessions available, as well as in-person ones at national meetings, some department events and at other times. For updates on training dates and times, and to register, visit betheone.org/training