The VA will host its annual Veteran Buddy Check Week that follows the mission of the American Legion’s Buddy Check program.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and the Department of Veterans Affairs is conducting its third annual Veteran Buddy Check Week from Sept. 21-25. This week aligns with The American Legion’s Buddy Check program of checking on the needs and well-being of veterans.
VA’s Veteran Buddy Check Week aims to build peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to VA resources. Veteran family members, caregivers, and survivors are also encouraged to participate. During the week, the VA encourages anyone to visit its website and:
- take the pledge and reach out and talk to 10 veterans
- watch the Buddy Check Week peer wellness training video
Since The American Legion’s Buddy Check program launched in 2019, more than 2.1 million veterans have been reached by phone, text, email or in person to check on their overall well-being. American Legion Buddy Check weeks are scheduled for the week of Veterans Day and the Legion’s birthday, but posts and Legionnaires conduct them throughout the year, and are encouraged to.
Visit legion.org/buddycheck for the following tools:
Buddy Check Toolkit. The toolkit explains the program, shares how to organize a successful Buddy Check, provides sample scripts and more.
Buddy Check door hanger. This printer-friendly doorhanger can be customized as a leave-behind when Legion Family members visit a veteran who is not a home.
Buddy Check FAQ sheet. This sheet can be filled out and printed by post members to show what The American Legion does at the department and post level to support veterans, children and youth, and active-duty servicemembers.
- Buddy Check