You may know February 14 as Valentine’s Day, but did you know the week of February 14 is also another special time? The National Salute to Veteran Patients happens every year during the week of February 14. This national salute is a way of paying tribute to the approximately 100,000 patients a day that receives medical treatment in a VA medical facility, as well as the nine million U.S. veterans who receive care every year. This year, the National Salute to Veteran Patients takes place from Sunday, February 14 to Saturday, February 20, 2021.

An emotional or mental health crisis can occur for a variety of different reasons. For those who have served in the military, these crises may be heightened by past trauma related to the military. Whether you are a veteran or the loved one of a veteran, these are some of the signs of crisis:

Many veterans suffer from chronic pain, which is defined as any pain lasting more than three months that results in a loss of life quality. Chronic pain is complex and affects the body, mind, and emotional state. Medications alone are often not enough to help our veterans, and their side effects can cause medical professionals to limit their use.

If you are a veteran, a family member, or a caregiver of a veteran there are a number of resources available to help with mental health issues. Veterans are tough but they don’t have to deal with mental health on their own. After active service or deployment, there is a high incidence of veterans having substance abuse issues, a high rate of suicide, and other mental health problems. It’s a very unfortunate situation but help is available.