The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host its annual Veteran Suicide Awareness Ruck Hikes at Texas State Parks and State Natural Areas next month to raise awareness on veteran suicide.
With September being National Suicide Prevention Month, several Texas State Parks will be hosting hikes to shed light on veteran suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in veterans under the age of 45.
The Veteran Suicide Awareness Ruck Hike, an annual event organized by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Veterans Liaison Nicole Mechler, allows families, friends and veterans to network and build a support system, as well as spread the word about veteran-specific mental health issues.
“This will be our third consecutive year hosting these events, and it’s been growing,” said Mechler, “The more we can advocate and join together, the better for our communities.”
According to the most recent study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2022 there were 6,407 suicides among veterans with an average of 17.6 veteran suicides a day.
There have been at least 6,000 veteran suicides every year for the last 22 consecutive years and more than 140,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001.
Hikes at various locations are scheduled for each Saturday of the month beginning on Sept. 6. Each park will offer a variety of trails and activities. Information on the hikes and the specific host sites are available on the State Parks Events Calendar website.
TPWD offers Texas Parklands Passports, which provide free entry to all Texas state parks for active duty military members, veterans, disabled veterans, Gold Star Families and Senior Full.
Information about the passports is online at the Texas Parklands Passports website. Passes can be obtained with supporting documents at any State Park headquarters. State Park staff advise visitors who plan to acquire a pass at the event to arrive early.
The complete list of parks for this year’s ruck hikes event is below:
Sept. 6
· Brazos Bend State Park: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Tyler State Park: 8-10 a.m.
· McKinney Falls State Park: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Cooper Lake State Park (Doctors Creek Unit): 9-11 a.m.
Sept. 13:
· Atlanta State Park: 9 a.m.
· Hueco Tanks State Park: 7:30 a.m.
· Cedar Hill State Park: 6:30 a.m.
Sept. 20:
· Lockhart State Park: 8:30 a.m.
· Abilene State Park: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Purtis Creek State Park: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
· Dinosaur Valley State Park: 10 a.m.
· Cooper Lake State Park: 9-11 a.m.
· Caprock Canyon State Park: 10 a.m.
Sept. 27:
· Daingerfield State Park: 9:30-11 a.m.
· Inks Lake State Park: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Government Canyon State Park: 8:30 a.m.
· Pedernales Falls State Park: 9 a.m.
· South Llano River State Park: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Lake Tawakoni State Park: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
· Goose Island State Park: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m
· Lake Bob Sandlin State Park: 5-7 p.m.
If ADA assistance is required, visit here or email accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov at least two weeks in advance.
For further questions, email vetcontact@tpwd.texas.gov.