#BeThere for Our Veterans and Make Sure No Veteran Is Left Behind

This is a story about heroes.

About the men and women in our United States military who have risked their lives for our freedom and safety but now, after returning to civilian life, need our help.

It begins last spring when the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), David Shulkin, turned to J&J to help address a serious, yet invisible problem. The data he shared with us was jarring: many veterans suffer from a condition that isn’t as visible as the physical wounds associated with battle, yet is taking the lives of 20 veterans every day.

That invisible problem is suicide.

And, sadly, most people today are unaware of the scope of this heart-breaking problem affecting vets of every age, gender and race. People of varying backgrounds and experience.

It was a frustration that led Secretary Shulkin to pick up the phone and give me a call. The VA has made significant progress in raising awareness and eliminating stigma around mental health. But, he said, only broader support for suicide prevention efforts from society at large—individuals, families, communities and organizations—can defeat this difficult enemy.

Secretary Shulkin then asked Johnson & Johnson to join forces—an ask we vehemently accepted—with the VA on a mission to help save the lives of struggling veterans by raising awareness of the challenges that our returning heroes face. And, very quickly, we pulled together a working team to create an integrated marketing campaign.

My thanks go to our J&J employees, partner companies and organizations—including BBD&O and J3, who worked tirelessly pro bono—for jumping in and asking, selflessly, “How can I help?”

We talk a lot about how critical it is at J&J to unite our knowledge, people and relationships to ignite ideas, mobilize minds and move hearts. I believe this a fine example of that leadership. Our strategic private–public partnerships—like this specialized effort with the VA to address veterans’ unique health needs—are at the heart of what we do to make our world a better, healthier place.

You may have seen that we recently announced a new awareness campaign. It’s a powerful public service announcement—“No Veteran Left Behind,” narrated by actor, filmmaker and long-time veteran advocate Tom Hanks. This sobering message is designed to educate people on the scope of the veteran suicide problem, and encourage them to take action by reaching out to a vet in need.

I hope you will all take a moment to view it.

Suicide is preventable. Everyone—whether you’re a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker—can make a difference in the life of a troubled vet through simple actions that matter so much to these heroes among us. Johnson & Johnson, as the world’s largest healthcare company, has a special responsibility to help raise awareness of veteran suicide and care for all those who have served us so honorably and with such great sacrifice.

I’m a veteran, and one of the many promises we all make to each other is to leave no one behind. So, as we launch this important effort with the VA, I hope you’ll join us. Get informed. Learn about veteran suicide and how you can help prevent it. They’re counting on you.

As Tom Hanks says so well, “What matters is that we’re there for them just like they were there for us.”

For more information on supporting Veterans, see:

·     Suicide Prevention Month website: VeteransCrisisLine.net/BeThere

·     Make the Connection website: https://maketheconnection.net

·     VA Mental Health website: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov

Veterans and service members in crisis, or concerned family or friends, can call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text to 838255.