Need help right now?
If you or someone you care about is in crisis, help is available 24 hours a day:
- Call 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Text 838255 to reach a trained responder.
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Who Are Red Star Families?
Red Star Families are the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and loved ones of military personnel, veterans, and first responders lost to suicide. In 2024 alone, the VA recorded 6,488 veteran suicide deaths - each one leaving behind a circle of people facing grief, questions, and often isolation. Behind every number on our veteran suicide page is a family.
The Red Star Foundation exists so those families are not forgotten. We honor their loved ones, provide compassionate support, and build a strong community where they can heal together. By embracing terms like Red Star Family, Red Star Wives, and Red Star Moms, we are reshaping the language around suicide loss - reducing stigma, promoting solidarity, and encouraging open conversations about mental health and healing.
The Challenges Red Star Families Face
Losing a loved one to suicide brings unique struggles, including:
- Stigma - Many families feel isolated due to the lingering stigma surrounding mental health and suicide.
- Unanswered questions - Grief is often compounded by guilt, anger, and confusion.
- Lack of support - Many families struggle to find the right resources to cope and heal.
For families
Request a free Red Star Banner and Service Pin. Connect with peers. Share your story when you're ready.
Request a bannerSupport
How we stand with Red Star Families
01
Honoring their loved ones
Veteran Suicide Awareness Ribbon - a powerful symbol of remembrance and advocacy. Memorial programs - events that celebrate and honor those who served and sacrificed.
02
Grief and bereavement support
Peer-to-peer networking - connecting families to others who truly understand their loss. Counseling resources - access to grief counselors and support groups.
03
Raising awareness & fighting stigma
Public awareness campaigns - educating communities about the impact of suicide among military, veterans, and first responders. Advocacy for change - working toward better mental health care and suicide prevention programs.
04
Training and education
Survivor advocacy training - empowering families to become voices for change. Educational workshops - insight into mental health challenges and how to support others.
Request a Red Star Service Banner and Pin
The Red Star Service Banner is a visible sign of recognition for the families of military personnel, veterans, and first responders lost to suicide. Displaying it honors the life of your loved one and tells other grieving families that they are not alone.
Requesting a banner is simple: complete the request form with your information and your loved one's details, and the Foundation will use it only to verify eligibility, honor your loved one, and provide support if you ask for it. The first banner and Service Pin are provided at no cost; additional banners are available for a fee.
Connect, share, and find support
Healing happens in community. Here is how Red Star Families can connect with others who understand this loss:
- Peer-to-Peer Network - connect with other family members who have experienced a similar loss.
- Red Star Voices - share your story when and if you choose. Sharing is always voluntary, and nothing is published without your permission.
- Understanding the crisis - the facts about veteran suicide, including what the VA's data shows and how it is counted.
- Prevention guidance - warning signs and practical steps a concerned family member or friend can take.
- Crisis support - call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, any time of day.
What to expect
Available now and in development
Available now
- Red Star Service Banner and Pin requests for eligible families.
- Peer-to-peer connections through our Peer-to-Peer Network.
- Voluntary story sharing through Red Star Voices.
- Awareness campaigns, memorial programs, and community events.
- Our quarterly newsletter for families and supporters.
Still being developed
We are building additional family support resources, including expanded grief and bereavement connections and more ways for Red Star Families to gather. We will share every new resource on this page as it becomes available.
In the meantime, the crisis lines above and the community links on this page are here for you today.
A community of hope and healing
At the Red Star Foundation, no family grieves alone. Through our nationwide peer network and community-building events, we provide a safe space for Red Star Families to connect, heal, and support one another.
Join the movement: support Red Star Families
Red Star Families deserve recognition, support, and resources to rebuild their lives. You can help by:
- Supporting our programs for grieving families.
- Advocating for better mental health care and suicide prevention.
- Honoring the memory of those we've lost.
Together, We Can Make a Difference. Join us today and stand with Red Star Families.
Stay connected
Join our mailing list
Stay connected with our Red Star Foundation community advocates by joining our mailing list for our quarterly newsletter and events.
Programs for families