Suicide Prevention

With National Suicide Prevention Month coming to an end, we should remind ourselves that suicide prevention doesn’t end with the observation.

Dr. Carla Stumpf-Patton’s work around suicide prevention and postvention is more than a job. It’s personal. Stumpf-Patton is the surviving spouse of Marine Sgt. Richard Stumpf. He was a Gulf War-era combat veteran who died by suicide in 1994, several days before their only child was born. She now serves as the senior director of Suicide Postvention Programs for TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Her message to Veterans and military members is clear: comprehensive postvention care is a key to prevention.

MakeTheConnection.net is an online resource connecting Veterans and their families with help for challenges in their lives. Hear Vets describe how they made it through struggles very much like yours.

On an early Friday afternoon in August, Nurse Practitioner Marilyn Latin answered a telephone call from a Veteran contemplating suicide. The Veteran randomly dialed Latin’s office phone seeking assistance, and Latin brought him to VA.

To shed light on the epidemic of Veteran suicide, BraveHearts—the leading equine rehabilitation program for Veterans in the nation—started its first of three Trail to Zero rides Sept. 7 in northern Virginia. Army Veteran Tim Detert was one of the riders. Detert served from 2005-2010 with the 82nd Airborne, deploying to Iraq twice for 18-month and 13-month tours. Following his service, Detert said he started suffering depression and anxiety, turning to alcohol and opiates. Four friends ended their lives. After a suicidal spell, a friend recommended equine therapy to Detert.

In observance of Suicide Prevention Month, VA encourages Veterans, community leaders, co-workers, families and friends to #BeThere for Veterans.

Russell Fields patrolled the gritty, dangerous streets of Al-Fallujah, Iraq.

An Eagle Scout, college graduate, and airborne-qualified Soldier, Fields led soldiers as a noncommissioned officer in the 10th Mountain Division. His unit fought street-to-street, door-to-door, in urban conflict. He lost Soldiers, placing them in body bags. Reality changed for Fields when he left the battlefield and the military to return home to Texas and start a new life. Fields faced a new form of combat. Flashbacks, images of combat, and the faces of those killed came rushing back. Everyday events like shopping, loud noises and crowds of people left him unprepared.

On the final day of the 2019 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie called upon all Americans to work together to prevent suicide among service members and Veterans.

VA, DoD, and suicide prevention experts from around the country gathered this week to share research findings and the most effective suicide prevention strategies.

VA and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) convened the Mayor’s and Governor’s Challenge participants in July to discuss how safe messaging and social media best practices can help prevent suicide.

MIRECC researchers test suicide prevention treatment approaches--like chain analysis--and then use the evidence-based treatment that work best to help Veterans.

Judge Shakes talks how Veterans Trauma Courts are modeled after problem-solving drug courts, for Veterans ready to take responsibility for their actions.