MVAA launches 'Talk to Your' campaign to encourage conversations with veterans

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has launched their new "Talk to Your" campaign, an initiative encouraging Michigan residents to have conversations with the veterans in their lives about various aspects of life after service. The campaign aims to motivate family and friends to reach out to their veterans about their military experiences, the benefits they earned from their service and their mental health.

"When veterans are able to talk to loved ones and VSOs about their military experience, it reinforces that their service and sacrifice are respected and valued," said MVAA director Terry J. Sabo. "This campaign reminds us of the crucial and potentially lifesaving impact that these conversations can have."

The "Talk to Your" campaign invites veterans to reach out to their local veteran service officer (VSO), who can assist them and their families with applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits they earned. VSOs can also conduct benefits reviews to help ensure veterans are receiving everything to which they are entitled.

"Every veteran has someone they trust - a battle buddy, coworker, sibling, neighbor or friend," said MVAA mental health and suicide prevention manager Erika Hoover. "The 'Talk to Your' campaign is an invitation to reach out to the veteran in your life and ask how they're really doing. Those everyday conversations build connection, and connection is one of the strongest protective factors we have against suicide."

To help reduce the stigma, the campaign also encourages people to speak with veterans about their mental health. MVAA's Mental Health and Suicide Prevention team coordinates Link2Life - a program that offers Michigan veterans immediate and ongoing support such as education on suicide prevention, benefit coordination, emergency assistance and outreach to identify those at risk of suicide. Link2Life is open to all veterans from any branch of the United States Uniformed Services, along with families of enrolled participants.

For a full list of VSOs statewide, please visit Michigan.gov/VSO.

To participate in the Link2Life program or to learn more about veteran benefits and resources, call the Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838).

Please note that the Link2Life program is not a substitute for the Veterans Crisis Line. If you're a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention 24/7/365. Call 988 then press 1, text to 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency - The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, the MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about the MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.

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