Pulaski Times

The issue of veteran suicide remains a critical concern in the United States, with an average of 17 veterans taking their own lives each day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This persistent trend highlights the need for comprehensive support and effective solutions.

Veterans Day serves as a reminder to honor those who have served while also renewing efforts to address the mental health challenges they face. "Finding satisfactory answers to the veteran suicide epidemic has been a top priority for me and many of my colleagues in Congress," states a member of Congress. The goal is to ensure that veterans at risk have access to support and hope.

Significant policy reforms have been implemented over the years, aiming to identify and address factors contributing to veteran suicide. The Veterans Crisis Line, launched in 2007, has received nearly 10 million calls, texts, and chats from veterans seeking help. In 2014, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act was passed to enhance mental health resources and support transitioning servicemembers.

Further efforts include the Improve Well-being for Veterans Act, which established a grant program for additional suicide prevention outreach through nonprofits and local organizations. This initiative acknowledges that only about a quarter of veterans who die by suicide had accessed VA health services.

Legislation such as the Not Just a Number Act seeks to examine how VA benefits usage correlates with suicide outcomes. The bill aims to study factors like food insecurity and financial strain that contribute to veteran suicides from a holistic perspective.

VA leaders have expressed agreement with this legislative intent, hoping it will pass into law soon. As emphasized by a congressional member whose father served in the Air Force, there is no more urgent area than preventing veteran suicides: "I will never give up on helping ensure our nation’s heroes have the support and hope it takes."