Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to recognize those who have served our country. We attend ceremonies, fly flags, and thank veterans for their service.
But after a decade in the military, and now working as a mental health clinician, I’ve come to believe that one of the most meaningful ways we can honor veterans is to ask a harder question: Who are we failing to reach?
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 62% of veterans who died by suicide in 2024 had not received VA healthcare in the year they died or the preceding year.
This doesn’t necessarily mean those veterans received no healthcare at all. But it raises an urgent question about our responsibility to support veterans beyond the walls of any single healthcare system.
When someone leaves military service, they don’t simply exchange one job for another. They may be leaving behind an entire way of life.
During my years as a Non-Commissioned Officer, I witnessed the importance of camaraderie, structure, and shared purpose. Service members learn to depend on one another, operate under pressure, and find meaning in something larger than themselves.
Returning to civilian life can mean navigating a world without that same built-in community. For some, the transition is relatively smooth. For others, questions of identity, belonging, and purpose can linger long after their final day in uniform.
And when those challenges intersect with trauma, depression, or substance use, knowing where to turn isn’t always easy.
Military service also reinforces qualities like discipline, self-reliance, and perseverance. These are tremendous strengths, but they can sometimes make acknowledging the need for help more difficult.
As a clinician specializing in trauma and addiction, I’ve seen how important it is to create environments where veterans feel understood, respected, and comfortable seeking support.
Supporting veterans is everyone’s responsibility.
The VA provides essential healthcare to millions of veterans. But reaching those who aren’t connected to its services requires a broader approach.
That’s particularly true in rural communities, where distance, transportation challenges, and limited access to specialized care can create additional barriers.
At Mountainside Treatment Center, I lead a free weekly Veterans Recovery Support Group where veterans can connect with others who understand their experiences, share challenges, and find encouragement in recovery. The group reinforces something I’ve come to understand through both military service and clinical work: community isn’t a luxury. For many veterans, it’s an essential part of finding their footing.
But healthcare providers cannot do this work alone. Families can check in without judgment. Employers, veteran organizations, and local communities can help create spaces where veterans feel valued and understood. And civilian healthcare providers can start by asking a simple question: “Have you ever served in the military?”
This Veterans Day, I hope we can move beyond asking veterans what they did during their service and start asking something else: What helped you find your footing afterward?
For some, the answer is family. For others, a trusted therapist, a new career, a recovery community, or a renewed sense of purpose.
We cannot expect one institution to reach every veteran. But we can build communities where fewer veterans feel they must navigate life’s challenges alone.
Honoring veterans means more than remembering what they gave while wearing the uniform. It means continuing to show up long after it comes off.
Keith Appleton is a military veteran, Licensed Master Social Worker, and Clinical Lead of Military & Veteran Programming at Mountainside Treatment Center in Connecticut.
