EVETS hosts event aimed at helping veterans

FAIRBURY, Neb. -- More than half of veterans don’t get treated for mental health problems, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

But EVETS, a nonprofit based out of Beatrice, put together a No Wrong Door Training in Fairbury with one goal; to learn how to better serve veterans and their families in smaller communities. 

“We bring in multiple facets throughout the VA, the local community; all over the state,” said Davin Stege, a Veteran of the U.S Air Force. “They come down and they do these briefings to push out as much information to the local community as possible.”

The event had a briefing about military culture, mental health, suicidal thoughts and more, along with members from the VFW and the Jefferson County Veteran Service Officer in attendance.

Stege said the most important thing for veterans to know is about the resources available to them. 

“It’s not so much about being seen in the community as much as getting as much information to the veteran to let them know the different resources for suicide prevention, for mental health awareness,” Stege said.

Stege said older veterans, who don’t have social media or internet access, struggle with finding resources the most. 

But what can community members do to help out with that issue?

“Reach out to your county VSO,” Stege said. "Your County Veteran Service Officers have a slew of information that are different resources and different avenues that they can reach out [to] for any veteran to get the help that they need."

Stege said the updated suicide crisis line is now 988 and for veterans, they can press one.