More Kentucky veterans are getting the support they need for the challenges they face, but making sure more of them know what's available is an ongoing challenge.

According to leaders of veterans service organizations who gathered at a recent Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs conference.

The information they most want veterans to know about what mental health resources are available to them.

Yes, there's gaps because there's so many organizations out there, and that's why this conference is designed is kind of get everyone on the same sheet of music as one team to work together.

It's important that we recognize and honor and pay back to our veterans who have served this great country of ours and to do it with services.

Many veterans struggle with getting benefits because they think they're taking from somebody else.

Some people don't understand the veterans that are struggling with underemployment.

What that means is I have a job.

I like the job.

I don't think I can get another.

So I have to I got to stay here because I'm getting some money, but I'm not getting enough.

So it's almost a endless cycle.

As we know, there's a lot of struggles when it comes to issues that veterans and other Kentuckians are dealing with.

And many roads leads to issues with mental health, including, you know, folks who actually die by suicide and stuff like that.

When it comes to our our mental well-being and mental health, when we try to handle ourselves.

Sometimes this situation piles on, other things happen, and we get to the point where either when I do ask for help, it's way deep in a situation, or sometimes I am in a mental state where I can't completely or clearly communicate the issues I'm having.

There are more people reaching out, but there are more people who don't know of the option.

So the biggest thing we need to do is give more awareness, let more people know more about what we do.

They enacted the Compact Act and a lot of people do not know about it.

If a veteran meet certain criteria, if they're in a emergency suicide ideation situation, they can get assistance from any hospital with an emergency room.

The costs will be underwrite it by the VA Hospital 30.

It got passed and signed in an act enacted in April.

What it's going to do is allow us to formally coordinate what government challenge Kentucky Department of Land fares Cabinet on Health and Family Services to really coordinate and collaborate more on the things that we already do for suicide.

A prevention.

I think that to me, the single issue is that with less than 1% serving in uniform, that connection between those we serve our citizens of this great country and those who serve in uniform, the sacrifice they make for them to keep our freedom.

That connection needs to be made strongly in not only influences recruiting for the future, but it also helps in that transition for the veteran who's coming back.

We can't have just a few defending this country and have them not be appreciated, nor have the citizens who don't serve, which is all right to appreciate that and to know the benefit of that national towards our national defense.

It's critical in that relationship, whether it be in the church or in community organization or whatever.

It's not a mystery.

It's a matter of appreciating each other.

Leslie Beavers, who you heard from in the story, was presented with a letter of recognition from President Joe Biden at the conference.

Beavers was appointed the first commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs in 1998 by then Governor Paul Patton.