BUTLER TWP — Navy veteran Lee Dyer, of Evans City, took a trip to Greenville, N.C., last month to talk to two young veterans who are struggling after unexpectedly losing their friend, an Army Ranger, to suicide.

“You’d have thought he was the toughest guy in the world,” Dyer said of the deceased Ranger.

Dyer planned to connect the Ranger’s friends to services at the nearest U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.

Dyer was made aware of the nationwide suicide awareness and prevention programs available at the VA when he signed on several months ago as a transportation volunteer at VA Butler Healthcare.

Part of the training of all staff and volunteers is the suicide prevention programs and tactics at the VA, which spurred Dyer to plan the trip to Greenville.

Jeff Patterson, suicide prevention coordinator at VA Butler Healthcare, said among the programs at the VA is the S.A.V.E. program, which is used to train staff and volunteers, and even the community, on suicide prevention.

S.A.V.E. stands for signs of suicide, asking, validating, and expediting and encouraging treatment.

“The idea is to train them to identify suicide risk,” Patterson said.

He said the basic warning signs are hopelessness and mood changes, like rage, anxiety and sleep issues.

Patterson said if a veteran says they have a suicide plan, are contemplating suicide or about to act on a plan, they need immediate treatment and 911 should be called.

Dyer said he learned in training to ask veterans if they are thinking about suicide, and not “are you hurting.”

“They already are hurting,” Dyer said. “They want to stop the hurt.”

Veterans in imminent danger of attempting suicide can call and talk to the highly trained professionals at the Veteran Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing option 1.

Amy Tomko, chief at the Center for Development & Civic Engagement at VA Butler Healthcare, said the VA’s goal is to destigmatize feelings of sadness, desperation or hopelessness for veterans, who are trained to be tough.

“We want to train our veterans that it’s OK to have feelings, and we want to support them through those feelings,” Tomko said.

She and Patterson said sometimes a veteran will feel hopeless due to struggles he or she is having, like homelessness, a medical or mental health issue, pain, financial problems, or other challenges.

“Our goal is to hook them up with services that are available,” Patterson said.

He said veterans came come to the walk-in clinic at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center for medical or mental health needs, and the clinic has counselors and doctors who can prescribe medication if needed.

But Patterson said many times, suicidal feelings are the result of a specific situation and the veteran does not need to be prescribed long-term medication.

He said suicide rates are highest among veterans aged 18 to 34 nationally, but it’s a threat to veterans of all eras.

Patterson said the COMPACT Act, which was implemented last year, allows a veteran in a suicidal crisis up to 30 days in a community mental health facility plus 60 days of outpatient care, all of which will be paid by the VA.

Regarding how services for suicidal veterans has changed over the years, Patterson said more information is available to veterans thanks to social media, and more suicide prevention training is provided to VA staffs and volunteers as well as the community.

Tomko said the Butler VA has started accepting donations for veterans struggling with suicidal thoughts. The funds are meant to reduce the stressful situations that could be causing the suicidal thoughts.

Dyer said Rotary District 7280 recently donated $3,000 to the fund.

Patterson said the VA now employs two suicide prevention coordinators, a suicide prevention case manager, a community partnership and engagement coordinator, a medical provider, and one full-time and one part-time case manager.

“That shows how the program is growing nationally,” he said.

Paula McCarl, public affairs officer at the VA Butler Healthcare, said the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center on Duffy Road also offers programs like acupuncture, tai chi, creative arts, Guitars for Veterans, photography and a community equestrian program to veterans to reduce stress.

“These can be outlets for some veterans who are struggling,” she said.

For veterans who just need someone to talk with, the volunteers at the Compass Care Corps call vets once or twice a week just to talk and listen.

“Loneliness is one of the causes of mental health issues in veterans,” Tomko said. “They can find programs at the VA.”

Veteran must be enrolled in services to take advantage of any of the medical or mental health programs at the VA.

“We encourage veterans who aren’t enrolled to come to the VA to apply,” McCarl said.

To enroll, call the VA enrollment team at 1-800-362-8262.