Recently, the American Legion launched “Be The One,” a new program that urges everyone to reach out and check on military veterans, especially those who may be struggling with mental or physical health conditions.
“Be The One” is a recent addition to the litany of American Legion initiatives and programs aimed at ending veteran homelessness and suicide.
Military Matters recently spoke with Bob Looby about these many American Legion programs. Looby is the past commander of the American Legion New Jersey Department as well as a leading advocate and tireless worker for these initiatives.
Looby has received multiple awards for his efforts including six National Homeless Veteran Outreach Awards from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, two New Jersey Meritorious Service Medals and, last year, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) awarded him the Mary Roebling Award.
MM: How did you get involved in the issue of veteran suicide?
Bob Looby (BL): Back in 2020, I heard about the Governor’s Challenge. This is a nationwide initiative to end military-related suicides. There were 35 governors who signed on. We had a meeting with Governor Murphy and his staff to explain what the challenge is, and they signed off on it.
There are three priorities to the Governor’s Challenge.
One is to identify service members and their families and make them aware of the resources available from the Governors Challenge.
Two is to promote connections for veterans, especially when they come back from service. Connecting with veterans is the key.
Three is to increase “lethal means” safety. Firearms are the most predominant vehicle veterans use to take their own lives.
Then, in 2021, the American Legion teamed with the three VA hospitals serving New Jersey (East Orange, Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware) to create KOVA – Keep Our Veterans Alive.
This brought together local veteran service organizations, government agencies, law enforcement, faith-based organizations and other health care systems to develop strategies and programs to help end veteran suicide in New Jersey. This is probably the most active suicide prevention program in New Jersey.
MM: What does your experience tell you is the reason veterans take their own lives?
BL: Multiple reasons – homelessness, unemployment, mental health issues and now food insecurity. They are all connected to suicide; it is cause and effect.
The Legion has been very active in the homelessness issue because it is one of the major contributors to suicide. A report by The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans says homeless veterans are 30 percent more likely to commit suicide than non-homeless veterans.
The mental health issues are a challenge. A veteran can come home to a loving spouse and family, but they were not in the near-death situation the veteran was, nor did they see death the way the veteran has. That can cause mental problems, and the veteran may think the spouse doesn’t care but it is more the spouse does not understand.
In some cases, the reason for suicide can come from causes that occurred before the veteran enlisted in the military. Unless the veteran leaves a note, you usually can’t be sure what caused the suicide.
MM: Does your experience provide you with a perspective on how to reduce veteran suicide?
BL: Two-thirds of veterans that commit suicide are not connected to the VA. We know this has been the case for some time. So, whenever we encounter a veteran, or we go to a veteran’s program, we encourage them to register with the VA. That is so important.
MM: It remains an issue in military culture that there is a stigma attached to asking for help or admitting a mental health issue. How can this be overcome?
BL: That is best done peer to peer. But it is so tough to get to our vets when we have events. They just don’t come out, especially the younger ones. They say they do not need the VA’s services. These vets just do not connect. It comes down to connectiveness; just as all of us want to be connected to our family and friends.
MM: “Be The One” is a new American Legion program. What is the gist of “Be The One?”
BL: It was started by the American Legion as a way to check on your buddies, not just those here at the Legion, but every veteran you see. The goal is to help reduce the incidents of veteran suicide. There is a process behind it. Reach out to veterans you know, talk to them and listen. We need to pick up on any key words or phrases in the conversation that could mean a veteran is struggling.
NOTE: The American Legion offers a schedule of “Be The One” virtual training for
the purposes of talking with veterans. For more information and the training
schedule: https://www.legion.org/advocacy/be-the-one/be-the-one-training.
MM: How can the business community help?
BL: The logical answer is financial help. There are many programs they can support that help veterans. There are two I can immediately think of – Project Refit, where veterans are brought to Montana to hunt and fish, and Operation Braveheart, where veterans ride horses for therapeutic benefits and to raise money to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide.
