{"id":8326,"date":"2024-03-13T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8326"},"modified":"2024-03-13T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T18:30:00","slug":"communities-help-with-veteran-suicide-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8326","title":{"rendered":"Communities help with Veteran suicide prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-03-13T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

You may think VA only works with Veterans at VA-owned facilities like medical centers, Vet Centers and VA regional offices. While VA does offer comprehensive benefits and health care services at hundreds of sites across the country, we also expand our programs and initiatives beyond VA facilities to ensure we reach all Veterans, even those who don\u2019t use our services. <\/p>\n

This is especially important with suicide prevention. <\/p>\n

We know from talking with Veterans from different service eras and backgrounds that Veterans are more likely to be receptive to advice and information coming from sources they trust: Their fellow Veterans, friends and relatives, Veteran organizations and local organizations.<\/p>\n

By providing community-based and Veteran-centric organizations with suicide prevention resources, we increase the chances of reaching Veterans and their supporters where they are.<\/p>\n

We do this by encouraging suicide prevention coordinators (SPCs) located in each VA medical center across the country to make connections with community groups, businesses and academic institutions to share VA resources and educational materials.<\/p>\n

How coordinators support local organizations<\/h2>\n

SPCs can collaborate with local organizations to share suicide prevention best practices and improve the community\u2019s awareness of suicide risk and protective factors, military culture, firearm and medication secure storage and resources like the Veterans Crisis Line<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve spoken to a few of them about their work with local organizations and I can tell you they are passionate about helping Veterans. They know some Veterans only want community services, so they\u2019re happy to partner with local organizations to provide what Veterans need.<\/p>\n

You may see an SPC hosting a VA S.A.V.E. training<\/a> event, speaking at a community program or distributing information about VA resources at local events.<\/p>\n

The following is a brief list of what SPCs can provide to your organization:<\/p>\n