Kaine, Warner announce $4.5 million for suicide prevention for Virginia veterans
Suicide prevention programs serving local veterans and those around Virginia recently received a substantial boost in federal funding.
Volunteers of America Chesapeake will receive $750,000 to help veterans and active military members in Alexandria, Bristol, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Norton, Winchester, 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, according to a release from the offices of U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, D-Virginia.
United States Veterans Initiative was awarded $400,000 through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant for its work in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, serving Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren.
The senators announced a total of $4.5 million for veterans suicide prevention in Virginia in the midst of National Suicide Prevention Month.
The funding, through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, will support community-based prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans and their families through outreach, prevention services and connection to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and community resources, according to the release.
Staff Sgt. Fox joined the Army in 2014 and was a sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Known for a life of generosity and kindness to others, he died by suicide on July 21, 2020, at the age of 25.
The program in his name was created through the Warner-sponsored and Kaine supported IMPROVE Wellbeing for Veterans Act, legislation introduced in 2019 and signed into law with the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.
“Too many veterans are silently suffering with their mental health when their tours of duty conclude,” said Warner in a statement.
“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. I am thrilled that Virginia’s veterans will receive more support as we continue to tackle the alarming rate of veteran suicide.”
Kaine added the nations veterans have made great sacrifices.
“We owe it to them to provide them with the best support possible, including mental health resources. I’m proud this funding (will) expand community-based suicide prevention efforts for veterans across Virginia.”
Since 2001, over 125,000 veterans have died by suicide, and the veteran suicide rate is 71.8% higher than that of non-veteran adults, according to Face the Fight.
Source:
Culpeper Star-Exponent