Suicide prevention efforts for veterans in Virginia received a boost today with $4.5 million in federal grants announced to support the mental health of those who served the country.
The funding is through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox suicide prevention grant program which was extended through 2026.
The funding aims to break the cycle of more than two decades of more than 6,000 veteran suicides per year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45. While there are numerous contributing factors to veteran suicide, among them are the difficulties transitioning to civilian life as the soldiers face isolation, unemployment, housing instability and difficulties navigating care.
Veterans are at a 58 percent higher risk of suicide than those who haven’t served.
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The grant program was established through bipartisan legislation written by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).
“Too many veterans silently suffer with their mental health when their tours of duty conclude. It is our responsibility as lawmakers to make sure that those who have served and sacrificed for our country have the support and resources they deserve,” said Warner.
Virginia grant recipients
The grants will be distributed as follows:
- Western Tidewater Community Services Board: $613,911 to serve the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, as well as Accomack, Essex, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Matthews, Middlesex, Northampton, Sussex, Southampton and Washington counties.
- Volunteers of America Chesapeake: $750,000 to serve the cities of Alexandria, Bristol, Chesapeake, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Norton, Staunton, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro and Winchester, as well as Arlington, Augusta, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Cumberland, Fairfax, Fauquier, King and Queen, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties.
- Boulder Crest Foundation: $725,000 to serve Clarke, Frederick, and Loudoun counties
- Blue Star Families: $750,000 to serve the city of Norfolk
- EveryMind: $750,000 to serve the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park, as well as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties.
- United States Veterans Initiative: $400,000 to serve Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren counties.
- Westcare Kentucky: $512,053 to serve Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
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- U.S. Senate committee moves bill forward to renew veterans suicide program
- Mental health, suicide prevention outreach for veterans set to end this year
- Veterans in crisis: $4.5M in federal funding will support suicide-prevention in Virginia
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Crystal Graham
