The American Legion’s primary mission, Be The One, is a concentrated effort to save the lives of veterans and servicemembers at risk of suicide.

Across the nation, change is underway to reduce the number of military-affiliated Americans who are lost to suicide. Various estimates have put the daily toll at 18 or 22, while others say those figures underestimate the real number. In any case, The American Legion believes one is too many.

That is why The American Legion has prioritized raising awareness about the issue, providing free suicide prevention training and reassuring those who find themselves struggling that it is “OK to not be OK.” Our goal is to talk openly and boldly about the challenges affecting Americans every day.

What are the warning signs?
A Veteran or Servicemember in crisis might talk about wanting to die, express guilt or shame, or mention being a burden to love ones or others.

What should I say?
Ask them what’s going on. Let them know they aren’t alone.
Ask the direct question: Are you having thoughts of suicide? Encourage them to keep sharing. Offer to connect them to someone who can help.

What should I not say?
DO NOT tell them you know how they feel.
DO NOT condemn or minimize their thoughts or feelings.
DO NOT tell them to be thankful for what they have.

What else should I know?
In these cases, remember your mission is not to act as a mental health professional. Your mission is to connect them to professionals. It is best to listen carefully, take any comments about suicide seriously, and look for cues in their words and behavior.
Reassure them that it is OK to ask for help and offer to connect them with resources.
DO NOT ignore warning signs.
DO NOT keep it a secret.

BE THE ONE

To ACT
To CALL
To SERVE
To SAVE

Question: What is Be The One?

Answer: At its core, Be The One is The American Legion’s top priority, a mission to reduce the number of veterans and servicemembers who die by suicide. It involves everyone throughout the entire American Legion Family.

Post members are able to support Be The One by conducting Buddy Checks, raising awareness of resources for veterans in their communities, taking the Columbia University training so they know what to do in a potential time of crisis and more.

Posts, units and squadrons can work together to host or support events aimed at bringing the darkness of suicide into the light. By talking about it, raising awareness and fostering camaraderie, you are demonstrating how to “Be The One.”

At the department level, staff can elevate awareness about how posts and members are contributing to the cause, and also create opportunities for training sessions, fundraisers, awareness events and other means to promote Be The One.

At the national level, staff is promoting the initiative through various marketing, internal media and external media means.

National Headquarters staff is also focusing energies on creating more training opportunities, resource materials and other ways that posts and members can further the mission.

Question: How can my post best support Be The One?

Answer: There are many ways to lend support.
Like other sanctioned American Legion initiatives, it is best to take the concept for Be The One and incorporate it into the needs of your community. The majority of posts already conduct events that can be adapted for a Be The One event. Those include a fundraising ride, cornhole tournament, car show and other activities that posts regularly conduct. Still, there are other ways to support Be The One. For example, a large post in a populous area might want to consider a symposium or similar event where VA staff members, mental-health experts and community agencies that support mental health and similar topics could present their information to veterans, their families and others. A smaller post in a rural area might want to conduct Buddy Checks as a way to educate local veterans about Be The One and the assistance the post and other community groups can provide.

Question: When is the best time to conduct a Be The One event?

Answer: Through resolution, The American Legion has declared the first day of each month as a Be the One day so that is ideal. But there is such a critical need to spread the word about preventing veteran suicide, really any day, anytime, anywhere is appropriate.

Question: What materials are available for posts to use for their Be The One events and to promote the initiative?

Answer: National Headquarters distributed a sample printed toolkit in 2024 to departments. The sample represented some of the many materials available at the dedicated resource page, betheone.org/resources. On that page, you will find a “start here” PDF, links to how-to videos, brochures that can be customized for local use, pop-up banners, wallet-sized cards and other resources  The web page was updated throughout 2024, and additional resources will be added during 2025.

Question: What is covered in the training by Columbia University?

Answer: All American Legion Family members are encouraged to take The American Legion-Columbia University training that walks them through the steps to interact with and respond to veterans who may be in crisis.  After the training, participants will be able to:

• Use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to determine at-risk individuals.

• Identify risk factors and warning signs.

• Outline the types of suicidal ideation and four behaviors that indicate imminent risk.

• Communicate effectively with an individual who may be at risk of hurting themselves.

Question: Where can I learn about upcoming sessions and sign up for the training?

Answer: There will be multiple monthly virtual sessions, as well as in-person ones at national meetings, some department events and at other times. For updates on training dates and times, and to register, visit betheone.org/training. 

For More Information
Click on the Logo to go to the Official
American Legion Be The One Website