The Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) held a roundtable discussion at the end of September to highlight ongoing collaborative efforts and programs addressing mental health, PTSD and suicide prevention among Massachusetts veterans and service members.
During the event, the moderator Secretary Jon Santiago, announced that EOVS has been awarded a $300,000 grant as part of the VA's Fiscal Year 2024 Suicide Mortality Review Cooperative Agreement. This funding will support the development of the Suicide Mortality Review programming in Massachusetts, enhancing statewide strategies to prevent suicide and improve mental health outcomes for veterans.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs delivers world-class mental health and suicide prevention care through our extensive programs and wide-reaching services, and while there’s always more we can do, we’ve implemented strong initiatives to improve access to care and are excited for continued collaboration on these critical issues,” said Aaron Eagen, Director of Community-Based Initiatives at the Office of Suicide Prevention, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The roundtable, held Sept. 30, brought together leaders from EOVS, US Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Health Care, and Home Base to discuss collaborative efforts, future plans and strategies and interventions for veteran suicide prevention.
Key attendees included:
•Aaron Eagen, Director, Community Based Interventions, Office of Suicide Prevention, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
•Secretary Jon Santiago, Executive Office of Veterans Services
•Dr.John C. Bradley, MD, DFAPA, Colonel (Retired), US Army, Director of Mental Health Service, VA Boston Healthcare System
•Dr.René Lento, PhD, Director, Addiction Services, Home Base
The discussion focused on current suicide prevention strategies, the root causes of veteran suicide and ways to reduce stigma and enhance support for at-risk individuals. Members of the EOVS SAVE (Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment) and SERVE (Supporting and Empowering Reintegration for Veterans’ Equality) teams joined the panel to share stories from their work and insights into how their outreach has impacted the veteran community.
“The partnerships between the Commonwealth, the VA, Veterans Service Organizations and the private sector are key to addressing the root causes of suicide and providing the services that can prevent the death of people who have given so much,” said Dr.John Bradley, Director of Mental Health Service at VA Boston Healthcare System. “It is imperative that all hands pull together as part of one team.”
The $300,000 grant awarded to EOVS is part of the VA's national Suicide Mortality Review program, which aims to create comprehensive suicide prevention initiatives through statewide data collection and analysis.
The EOVS, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health and Suicide Mortality Review Academy among others worked together to help Massachusetts identify risk factors, enhance data collection and develop tailored interventions to better serve veterans.
The funding will support the establishment of a Suicide Mortality Review Committee in Massachusetts, which will systematically review suicide deaths, identify contributing factors and develop data-informed strategies for preventing future suicides.
"Receiving this grant marks an important step forward in our mission to prevent suicide among veterans in Massachusetts," said Santiago. "By working together with our partners at the VA and using data-driven approaches, we will continue to expand our programming, enhance services and address the mental health needs of our veteran community."
All the panelists agreed that the first step in helping veterans, though, is to get them connected with the right resources. Veterans and their families can also reach the Veteran Crisis Line by calling 988 then pressing 1, or by texting 838255.