Note from MOAA: If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (press 1) or via www.veteranscrisisline.net.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, strengthen connections, and recommit as individuals and communities to supporting those who may be struggling.

The VA is encouraging veterans, families, caregivers, and supporters to participate in Buddy Check Week (Sept. 21-25) and its “Don’t Wait. Reach Out” campaign, reminding us that a simple phone call, text message, or conversation can help a fellow veteran feel seen, valued, and connected. Similarly, the Pentagon’s “Joining Your Fight: Connect to Protect” campaign highlights the importance of early intervention, reducing stigma around seeking help, and ensuring servicemembers and their families know where to turn before a crisis occurs.

These efforts matter. But awareness and outreach alone are not enough.

Congress also has an opportunity to support those who are struggling by advancing legislation the military and veteran community have been waiting years to see enacted. The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) is a comprehensive package of more than 60 bills that would strengthen a wide range of health care, benefits, caregiver support, and community-based services for veterans and their families. Together, these provisions could transform today’s commitment to care and connection into lasting action.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act]

Among TCAVA’s provisions are measures to improve access to service-earned benefits and health care, reduce barriers to obtaining needed services, and strengthen support for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. The legislation also includes provisions related to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which supports local organizations providing peer support, outreach, emergency assistance, and other services that help prevent isolation and connect veterans with care before they reach a crisis point.

Just as important, TCAVA would continue efforts to improve access to care through provisions championed in the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act (Veterans ACCESS Act), helping ensure veterans can obtain the health care they have earned when and where they need it. For veterans facing mental health challenges, easier access to care can make the difference between getting help and reaching a crisis point before assistance arrives.

The timing on this important legislation could not be more critical. Lawmakers face no shortage of competing priorities as the 119th Congress concludes, yet few issues are more urgent than addressing the ongoing challenges facing those in the military and veteran community. Delaying action means delaying support that could improve lives, strengthen families, and in some cases save lives.

National Suicide Prevention Month reminds us that hope often begins with a connection. Congress has a chance to build on those connections by enacting meaningful reforms that improve access to care, strengthen community support networks, and expand suicide prevention resources.

Now is the time for lawmakers to turn legislation into a lifeline. MOAA members and supporters must make their voices heard through the Legislative Action Center and urge Congress to act before this critical opportunity slips away.