A nonprofit has a mission to connect veterans and active duty service members with resources that assist with suicide prevention.
Hope For The Warriors was founded in 2006 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina by military families that witnessed, firsthand, the effects of war on their families and community, explained Jory Watson, regional clinical social worker for the organization.
“The needs of our military are ever-changing, and Hope For The Warriors adapts to find a solution for each individual, family and community,” she said.
Watson said since it began 18 years ago, Hope has served over 171,000 service members, veterans and military families through a comprehensive approach to well-being focusing on stability, strength and community.
The Centers for Disease Control estimated that 13.2 million adults in the United States seriously thought about suicide in 2022; 3.8 million planned suicide and 1.6 million made a suicide attempt. It is also estimated that nearly 22 veterans commit suicide each day in America.
Watson said every individual who connects with Hope is screened for suicide risk level using the Columbia Protocol.
“If a client scores high risk, they are immediately sent to our team of regional social workers who make the initial contact,” she said. “We aren’t a crisis resource. However, we do connect those in crisis to resources that can provide immediate support.”
Watson said Hope has a team of veterans on staff who mentor other veterans as they navigate their life after military service. Depending on the needs of the veterans they serve, these mentors make monthly, bimonthly, or weekly calls to check-in.
“Mentors understand certain mental health triggers and know dates when they need to reach out to certain individuals,” she said.
Those dates include when a particular unit was hit hard, when they lost a brother or sister to suicide or an injury date.
“They will make contact during these key moments in life,” she said.
Hope’s services are available regardless of discharge status, role in uniform, combat experience, ability to pay or insurance, Watson said.
To learn more about Hope For The Warriors, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
