Join the Well-Being Challenge (Sept. 12-26)

Amazon Global Military Affairs and VETOGA are joining forces for National Suicide Prevention in September by offering a Mental Health and Well-Being 14 Day Challenge September 12-16, 2022.

Our intention behind this year’s challenge is to bring awareness to Mental Health and Suicide Awareness in the United States.

Please help us spread this message by sharing this challenge with your friends and families using the following link: vetoga.org/AmazonVetogaChallenge

Suicide is a national public Mental Health challenge that causes tremendous pain for individuals, families and communities across the country.

• On average, 132 Americans die by suicide each day accounting for 47,511 suicide deaths in 2019
• In 2019, there were an estimated 1.38 million suicide attempts
• The average number of veteran suicides per day was 17.6 in 2018
• Suicide is also the 10^th leading cause of death among all ages and the 2^nd leading cause of death among those ages 10-34 in the U.S

SIGN UP FREE

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Who doesn’t like candles? The meditation practice on the second day of the challenge focuses on candle gazing. You can use any candle or check out our new VETOGA candle made by LUX ILUME.

As the warrior begins to heal, a new awakening is born. To honor the transformation of the warrior we’ve blended eucalyptus, sage, lavender and honey to anchor new beginnings.  This is the signature scent for the VETOGA Community. A portion of the profit from the sale of this candle will be donated to VETOGA.

PURCHASE CANDLES

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This September we will be hosting our 2nd VETOGA Wellness Retreat at Ojas Retreat Center in Murrieta California. This retreat offers a serene environment where veterans and their families can fully immerse in a holistic healing environment to find nutrition, mindfulness, movement and community.

The cost to sponsor a veteran to attend this retreat is $500. If you would like to sponsor a veteran to attend the upcoming retreat, please consider donating or creating a Fundraising Page by clicking the link below.

Help sponsor a veteran to attend the Fall VETOGA wellness Retreat (Sept. 22 – 25). Contribute here

SPONSOR A VETERAN

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The following resources are available from Veterans Affairs:

• Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net
  For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
• Vet Centers – Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
• VA Mental Health Services Guide – This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
• MakeTheConnection.net – information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
• RallyPoint – Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
• Download VA’s self-help apps – Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) –  Request a Peer Mentor
• VA Women Veterans Call Center – Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET)
• VA Caregiver Support Line – Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET)
• Together We Served – Find your battle buddies through unit pages
• George W. Bush Institute – Need help or want to talk? Check In or call:1-630-522-4904 or email: checkin@veteranwellnessalliance.org
• Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes – Join the Community
• American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network – Peer Support and Mentoring
• Student Veterans of America – Find a campus chapter to connect with.