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MSVA Provides Virtual Suicide Prevention Training
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JACKSON – Mississippi Veterans Affairs (MSVA) joins it’s national and state partners in observing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
During September, MSVA is partnering with the Mississippi Air and Army National Guard, the United States Navy and the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center to provide virtual training for local clergy and awareness tips for the general public in hopes of reducing the suicide rate of the heroes that have served our state and country.
According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 60,000 Veterans died by suicide between 2008 and 2017. The same report shows Veterans’ total population decreased by almost 20 percent during that span, adding more alarm to the statistic.
“Providing this training to clergy and making our Veterans and active duty members aware of this service, hopefully, lets them know that we care and want to help,” said MVSA Executive Director Stacey Pickering. “Last year, we helped facilitate face-to-face training for clergy that work with our military partners daily. With the restrictions of COVID-19, we will utilize technology to continue to the mission of awareness and assistance.”
The training video will discuss suicide indicators, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety exhibited by service members and veterans, and resources to Veterans, active military members and their families.
The video will be made available via Mississippi Veterans Affairs’ YouTube channel. Click here to visit the channel.
Our partners at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also offer the The Veterans Crisis Line, a free, confidential, 24-hour hotline for Veterans and their families/friends. Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 1.25 million calls and made more than 39,000 lifesaving rescues.
MSVA encourages Mississippi Veterans and their families to take advantage of this service. To reach someone right away, you can dial a number, speak with someone, send a text or quickly start an online chat.
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