A Unique and Far-Reaching Resource to Support Veterans and Their Families

By Terri Hendry

(Reno, NV) – If you’re a veteran, or family member of a veteran, and you are facing challenges in your everyday life, there is free and valuable online tool designed specifically for you. It is an online site called, Make the Connection. It is a friendly, easy-to-use resource that puts information, even solutions to issues affecting your life, right at your fingertips.

Visit MakeTheConnection.net or click the link to visit the website: https://maketheconnection.net/whats-new

The online program addresses every challenge a veteran or their family may face as they go through life. Whether it is a death in the family, transitioning from military service, dealing with challenging relationships or health issues, even spirituality, the online program navigates you to safe ground as well as solutions.

No topic is out of bounds.

The program places emphasis on letting you know you are not alone. It is from the perspective of one vet talking to another.  It is also designed to help clinicians’ better work with the veteran community providing toolkits, materials and information.

Make the Connection is a national campaign from the VA’s Mental Health Services program office within the Veterans Health Administration.

You can find more information and additional programs as well as campaigns from the office online by clicking here: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov

The videos below provide examples of the many videos available through Make the Connection.

https://maketheconnection.net/stories-of-connection

https://maketheconnection.net/events/death-family-friends

Additional Resources

Veterans Health Administration

To access the locations of the 2 main VA Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics located in the State of Nevada click this link: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?STATE=NV&dnum=ALL

The Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 this service can be accessed by phone or by texting.

By pressing 1 on the phone, a responder specially trained to support Veterans and Service Memebers will answer your call and provide support.

The Veteran Crisis line can also be accessed by texting 838255. Since Novemeber of 2011, the Veterans Crisis line has answered over 92,000 texts.

VeteransCrisisLine.net is another option to access the crisis line; your anonymous online chat will be answered and to-date has responded to over 395,000 chats.

July 2018, the VA announced the Apple function available on Iphones and Google Assistant function on Android phones to connect Veterans and or Service Members to the Crisis line using these simple words,

“Hey Siri, Call the Veterans Crisis Line”  Siri: “ It sounds like talking with someone might help, would you like me to call them for you?”  The Veteran taps YES or NO

Coaching Into Care is a national telephone-based support service for family members and others who want to help reluctant Veterans access their VA health care benefits, particularly for mental health issues.