Latest news with #SuicidePreventionGrantProgram
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
VA Announces $52 Million Boost to US Veterans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced more than $50 million in grants to help suicide prevention. Why It Matters In a 2024 report, the VA revealed there were 6,407 suicides among Veterans in 2022, the latest year for which data is available. According to Stop Soldier Suicide, 140,000 service men and women have died this way since 2001, and the suicide rate among veterans ages 18 to 34 has more than doubled. Veterans are also at 58 percent higher risk of suicide than those who haven't served. According to the VA, most suicide attempts among current or future veterans occur after they leave military service. The risk is highest during the first three months following separation, though it remains elevated for several years after the transition. What To Know In a press release issued on Wednesday, the VA announced that some $52.5 million in funding is now available to support community-based organizations focused on suicide prevention and emergency clinical services for veterans at risk of taking their own life. Eligible organizations can apply for individual grants of up to $750,000, with the opportunity to renew awards annually throughout the life of the program. The deadline for applications is 4:59 p.m. ET on July 18. These grants are part of the VA's Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, established under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019. According to the VA, since its launch in 2022, the Fox grant program has awarded more than $157 million to nearly 100 organizations across 43 states, U.S. territories and tribal lands. Stock image/file photo: The American flag attached to the American military uniform. Stock image/file photo: The American flag attached to the American military uniform. GETTY The announcement follows other health care changes revealed by the VA this week. Veterans no longer need a second VA physician to review and approve their eligibility to receive non-VA health care in an effort to reduce wait times and administrative bottlenecks. The VA also announced earlier this month it is simplifying how survivors and dependents of deceased veterans access VA benefits. The reforms include relocating the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA), launching a personalized "White-Glove" Survivor Outreach Team, and expanding automation in the benefits system. What People Are Saying VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a press release: "Reducing Veteran suicide starts with reaching Veterans when and how it's most convenient for them. One of the best ways to accomplish this mission is by working with community-based organizations. We look forward to ensuring these funds are put to use helping Veterans in need across the nation." What Happens Next The VA will choose the grant recipients by September 30. If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Veteran suicide prevention grant gets bipartisan support in hearings
With suicide claiming the lives of about 18 veterans each day, back-to-back congressional hearings this week focused on bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and push back against what lawmakers called the "Trump agenda." "Imagine, after wearing a uniform and serving our nation, these veterans were dying in silence with the pain of PTSD, depression, substance abuse and the risk of self harm," Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill, said at the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing Wednesday. Lawmakers cited inadequate staff training, long wait times, and weak continuity of care as key reasons veterans suffer needlessly from mental health problems. Ramirez criticized the Trump administration for sending doctors to VA centers who had been performing telework for years. The VA centers had no space for them and, as a result, some had conducted sensitive telehealth appointments in unsuitable locations such as closets and shower stalls. "We can't talk about adequate intervention without talking about adequate investment," Ramirez said. Chairwoman Jen Kiggans, R-Va., a Navy veteran and nurse practitioner, stressed that money alone cannot solve the crisis. She said the VA needs more psychologists and psychiatrists, so veterans get the care they need and doctors and nurses have adequate guidance when issuing prescriptions. "I've heard horror stories from constituents who have been prescribed pain medication and told to take more when they feel bad and less when they feel better," Kiggans said. "As a provider, I would not remember prescribing two medications that might interact without first consulting a psychiatrist. This is unacceptable." According to Kiggans, despite a 479% increase in the VA's budget since 2001, veteran suicide rates have remained largely stagnant. "The VA is doing less with more," she added, urging Congress to scrutinize VA bureaucracy and enforce stronger oversight. She urged her colleagues not to politicize veterans' suicides. "Suicide prevention and veteran mental health are bipartisan issues. Losing these veterans impacts red states and blue states," Kiggans said. At Tuesday's Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing focused on "Enhancing Outreach to Support Veterans' Mental Health," senators from both parties expressed support for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This grant was authorized under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which became law nearly five years ago but must be reauthorized. The lawmakers called for reauthorizing the Fox Grant because it would allow the VA to collaborate with trusted community organizations that can step in when the department lacks resources and staff. By expanding access to care beyond traditional VA facilities, especially in underserved areas, the program addresses gaps caused by systemic VA issues and helps ensure veterans receive the support they need before reaching a crisis point. To ensure positive outcomes, Russell Lemle, senior policy analyst for the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, explained that the reauthorization should continue requiring data-targeted solutions. He said without the data focus, the program's efficacy in tracking veterans' progress could be undermined. "The original Fox Grant legislation required community organizations to measure changes in risk factors like loss of income, relationships, and housing at both the beginning and end of services." Lemle said. "This data collection was the single best part of the program." Austin Lambright, a Marine Corps veteran, who served two combat deployments in Iraq, told the committee that veterans struggle when transitioning out of service. For instance, he battled with post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and thoughts of suicide. He emphasized the first 18 months of transition were amongst the most difficult. Through the Fox Grant, Lambright found a pathway forward. "The program connected me with Upstate Warrior Solution, and I was able to receive both inpatient and outpatient care for PTSD and alcohol abuse," he explained. "It gave me the tools to heal and reconnect with my purpose, especially for my son." Testimony from veterans at the Senate Committee hearing underscored how the program provided veterans with access to essential care and support, especially in the transition period. In Wednesday's hearing, Dr. Ilse Wiechers said suicides among veterans have increased. In 2022, the 6,407 ended their lives in suicides and suicide was the second highest cause of death for veterans under age 45-years-old, according to a December 2024 VA report. "I think ensuring transition from service member to veteran status is important, in particular, ensuring that we have continuity of mental health care, especially for those who may be receiving medication," she said. Members of Congress from both parties emphasized the importance of the Fox Grant. "It's been a game changer for so many veterans. It's geared toward meeting veterans where they are, providing access to services from trusted community partners and underserved communities," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. "And my hope is we'll have bipartisan support for reauthorizing the Fox Grant Program." If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support.
