In a significant stride forward in its mission to prevent Veteran suicide, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives and grants amounting to $52.5 million. These measures encompass a variety of approaches to tackle this critical issue.
Preventing Veteran Suicide: A Top Priority
VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the absolute importance of preventing Veteran suicide, underlining that one Veteran suicide is one too many. It's a top clinical priority for VA, and they are committed to utilizing every available tool to save Veteran lives.
Key Updates in the Battle Against Veteran Suicide
$52.5 Million in Veteran Suicide Prevention Grants: VA is taking a proactive approach by awarding over $52 million to 80 community-based organizations in 43 states and territories. These grants, part of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, will enable these organizations to offer crucial suicide prevention services for eligible Veterans and their families.
Over 32,000 Veterans Receive Emergency Care: VA introduced a groundbreaking program offering free emergency medical care to Veterans in acute suicidal crisis. Since its launch in January 2023, more than 32,000 Veterans have received life-saving emergency healthcare at VA or non-VA facilities at no cost. This expansion of care has been instrumental in preventing Veteran suicide during times of crisis.
New Veteran Suicide Prevention PSAs: VA, in collaboration with the Ad Council, has released new Public Service Announcements (PSAs) as part of the "Don't Wait. Reach Out." national campaign. These PSAs, including those directed by Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and featuring Metallica, encourage Veterans to seek support at VA.gov/REACH.
Veterans Crisis Line: Over 1 Million Contacts: Since the introduction of the shortened Veterans Crisis Line number, "Dial 988 then press 1," in July 2022, it has received more than 1.1 million contacts. This includes over 953,000 calls, showcasing a 12.1% increase from the previous year. Additionally, there was a significant rise in text messages (58.1%) and online chats (10%), illustrating the hotline's effectiveness in providing immediate help to Veterans in crisis.
All States and Territories Join the Governor's Challenge: All 50 states, along with five territories, are now part of the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. This nationwide initiative aligns with the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, with each state and territory developing a focused action plan for suicide prevention.
Collaborating with 1,500+ Community-Based Coalitions: VA is working with over 1,500 local community coalitions to prevent Veteran suicide. This collaborative effort now reaches more than 11 million Veterans across the nation.
Progress in the Battle Against Veteran Suicide
The 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report demonstrated a decrease in Veteran suicides from 2019 to 2020, marking the most recent available data. Fewer Veterans died by suicide in 2020 than in any year since 2006. VA is set to release the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report later this Fall.
In addition to the aforementioned policies and grants, VA continues its endeavors to end Veteran suicide. Efforts include awarding $20 million through Mission Daybreak, a grand challenge aimed at reducing Veteran suicides, and ongoing public outreach on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety.
VA remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing this critical issue, and these latest initiatives underscore its dedication to saving Veteran lives.
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