Sponsored content by Humana.
Leaving the military can be a fresh start, but for some veterans, the transition to civilian life brings new challenges that aren’t always visible. Memories of combat, trauma, or loss can linger long after service ends, sometimes surfacing years later with unexpected intensity.
While some veterans face challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), survivor’s guilt, or moral injury, many find strength in community, purpose, and support. When these struggles are met with understanding and care, healing becomes possible—and hope takes root.
The numbers are heartbreaking. Veterans are 60% more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Since 2001, more than 125,000 veterans died this way. Behind every statistic is a story—and a family, community, and a nation that grieves.
Breaking the Stigma
“The stigma regarding mental health conditions is still very present in the military and society as a whole,” said Dr. Bethany Davis — a 101st Airborne Division veteran and now a physician at CenterWell Senior Primary Care in Clarksville, Tennessee — in an interview with We Are The Mighty. “So, even when veterans know they need care, they may not open up to anyone about their struggles due to fear of being seen as weak.”
The truth is, asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s courage. Life after service demands a different kind of strength. Meeting the mental health needs of veterans requires a united effort across individuals, communities, and organizations.
Coming Together
That’s why initiatives like Face the Fight, founded by USAA, the Humana Foundation, and Reach Resilience, are so important. This growing movement now includes a coalition of more than 250 organizations working collectively to bring communities together to break the stigma surrounding mental health and veteran suicide. Face the Fight inspires urgent, united action through proven solutions to dramatically reduce veteran suicide.
“Facing the reality of veteran suicide is a struggle, but when people face this fight together, there is hope,” shared Chris Ford, Face the Fight lead at USAA. “By working together across sectors as one team, we can complement existing efforts with community support and magnify hope for the veteran and military community.”
Face the Fight isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about action. The initiative helps veterans get the care they need while also educating families, friends, coworkers, and caregivers on how to recognize signs of crisis and respond with compassion.
“The current generation of patients for whom I provide care comes from a background where mental health was never something about which they felt comfortable talking,” Davis said. “It takes time to build trust before they will open up to me or identify with language like PTSD or anxiety.”
Community Support
That’s why community education is key. By strengthening community, individuals will have access to the help they need. When we know how to talk about mental health and how to listen, we become part of the solution. We become the support system that stands beside veterans in every fight, especially the ones we can’t always see.
“At Humana, we believe supporting our veterans goes beyond healthcare, it’s about standing beside them in every fight, especially the ones we can’t always see,” said George Renaudin, Insurance President at Humana. “That’s why we’re proud to support Face the Fight, a movement committed to ending veteran suicide.”
Building on Humana’s support, Face the Fight shared an update on the initiative’s progress and impact.
Progress and Hope
“We’re only two years into this large initiative, and there’s a lot of work left to do, but impacts we’re already having and the momentum we’re gaining are early indicators of important progress,” Ford said. “To date, we’ve invested more than $41 million to fund evidence-informed programs. Most importantly, we’ve seen more than 355,000 lives directly impacted by these efforts.”
Mental health issues present themselves in many ways, but Davis explains one thing remains the same.
“Regardless of when you seek care, it is never too late.”
If someone you know is facing this fight, you’re not alone. Face the Fight offers discussion guides, practical tools, and training to help veterans and their communities take the next step together.
For more information about how Humana is supporting veteran mental health, visit Humana’s veteran community webpage.
