Millions of dollars in federal funding has been allocated toward suicide prevention efforts for veterans in Virginia and nationwide.
Statistics show that veterans have a 72 percent higher risk of suicide than the general population. For veterans under the age of 45, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
Contributing factors to thoughts of suicide among veterans are the transition to civilian life, sexual harassment, combat trauma and financial struggles, to name a few.
Veterans have also been shown to have an elevated capability for suicide due to their familiarity with firearms.
During National Suicide Prevention Month, $4.5 million in federal funding was announced for veteran outreach and prevention services in Virginia. Nationwide, $52.5 million was awarded to 85 organizations across 41 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico.
The funding is through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox suicide prevention grant program which was created and signed into law in 2020 as part of a broader mental health improvement act.
The grants are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to reduce military and veteran suicide.
“It takes all of us, working together, to prevent veteran suicide,” said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.
“By working together with these organizations in the community, we’ll be able to save more lives and get one step closer to our goal of ensuring that no veteran is ever alone in their time of need.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has a track record showing support for veterans and suicide-prevention efforts.
“Too many veterans are silently suffering with their mental health when their tours of duty conclude. That’s why it is our duty to make sure that servicemembers, who sacrificed so much for our freedom and security, have the support and resources they deserve when they are struggling,” said Warner. “I was proud to help write the legislation that made this funding possible, and I am thrilled that Virginia’s veterans will receive more support as we continue to tackle the alarming rate of veteran suicide.”
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) has also sponsored legislation to provide additional support to veterans and their families.
“Our veterans have made great sacrifices for our nation, and we owe it to them to provide them with the best support possible, including mental health resources,” said Kaine. “I’m proud this funding, made possible by legislation I helped pass, will expand community-based suicide prevention efforts for veterans across Virginia.”
The funding will support all veterans in Virginia primarily through two organizations: Community Building Art Works and Blue Star Families, Inc.
The majority of the funding in Virginia appears to be directed at agencies supporting veterans in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Locally, funding will be directed in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg through Volunteers of America Chesapeake.
No agency that services Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville or Albemarle County exclusively is on the list.
While not specific to veterans, in the SAW area, the numbers of suicides are almost double the state and national average. In SAW, there are 22.7 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 13.4 in Virginia, and 13.9 in the United States.
Suicide prevention funding in Virginia
- Community Building Art Works: Will receive $100,000 in funding and will operate in Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, serving all counties in Virginia
- Blue Star Families Inc.: Will receive $750,000 in funding and will operate nationally, including serving Virginia veterans
- Volunteers of America Chesapeake: Will receive $750,000 in funding and to serve the cities of Alexandria, Bristol, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Norton and Winchester as well as Arlington, Buchanan, Caroline, Clarke, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Essex, Fauquier, Frederick, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lee, Loudoun, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Russell, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington and Wise counties
- Western Tidewater Community Services Board: Will receive $613,910 in funding and will serve Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King William, Middlesex, Northampton and Southampton counties, Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg
- Boulder Crest Foundation: Will receive $725,000 in funding and will operate in Arizona and Virginia, serving Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties in Virginia
- Modern Military Association of America, Inc.: Will receive $669,800 in funding and will operate in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, serving Alexandria, as well as Fairfax and Arlington counties in Virginia
- EveryMind: Will receive $541,138 in funding and will operate in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, serving Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park in Virginia
- United States Veterans Initiative: Will receive $400,000 in funding and will operate in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, serving Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren counties in Virginia
Additional steps to expand veteran suicide prevention
In addition to awarding the grants, Veterans Affairs also took additional steps this year to expand veteran mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
- Offering free emergency suicide prevention care, regardless of VA enrollment status
- Streamlining access to the Veterans Crisis Line via “Dial 988, then Press 1” efforts
- Conducting outreach to veterans in need through “Don’t Wait, Reach Out” campaign
- Introduced “The Bravest Thing” PSA encouraging veterans to seek help
- Collaborating with local partners to prevent veteran suicide
- Supporting veterans experiencing financial stress with National Veterans Financial Resource Center
- Informing suicide prevention action through enhanced data including an annual report providing analysis of veteran suicide rates through 2021
If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7 confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, dial 988 then press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
Related stories
- Secure firearm storage may help reduce veteran, youth suicide deaths
- Legislators want information from VA on root causes, risk factors of veteran suicides
- Region’s suicide rates almost double state, national average; treatment options in the works
- $4.5M in grants available to support veteran suicide prevention, addiction
- Time for VA to ‘recognize its obligation’: Judge orders more veteran housing in West L.A.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
For local mental health resources, visit AFP’s Project Mental Health page.
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Crystal Graham
