Entrepreneur and technology leader Marty Brickey has released a free resource aimed at helping individuals support veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, and trauma. The "Veteran Support Conversation Checklist" is a practical guide that family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and community members can use to recognize warning signs, prepare supportive conversations, and connect veterans with appropriate resources.
Brickey, whose current work focuses on using technology to improve veteran support, said the checklist reflects his philosophy of solving real problems with practical solutions. "I've always believed the best opportunities are the ones people overlook," Brickey said. "The same is true with helping people. Sometimes the biggest difference comes from noticing someone who might otherwise be overlooked."
The checklist is designed to be completed in about fifteen minutes. In that time, readers can learn common signs that someone may be struggling, review conversation starters that encourage open discussion, identify local and national support resources, create a personal plan for checking in, and commit to one follow-up action within the next week. Brickey intentionally kept the resource simple to ensure anyone can use it, regardless of previous experience.
The release comes amid significant mental health challenges among veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 17 veterans die by suicide each day. The VA also estimates that 11% to 20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom experience PTSD in a given year. Research indicates that many veterans delay seeking mental health treatment for months or years, often due to stigma or concerns about how others will perceive them.
Brickey emphasized that everyday conversations matter. "Professional care is essential," he said. "But family, friends, and coworkers are often the first people to notice when something isn't right." He also highlighted common mistakes people make, such as waiting until someone asks for help, assuming veterans always want to discuss their service, trying to solve every problem instead of listening, avoiding difficult conversations out of fear, and forgetting that small, consistent check-ins often matter more than one big conversation.
The checklist is available for free download, and Brickey encourages everyone to spend 15 minutes working through it and use it to check in with at least one veteran, service member, or military family member. The resource is part of Brickey's broader mission to use technology and innovation to support veterans. "If you build something, it should make someone's life better," he said. "Otherwise you're just adding more noise."
