U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Allocates $600,000 to Combat Veteran Suicides in Colorado

By Pennie Spruill On Sep 16, 2024

Grand Junction, Colorado – Two Colorado senators applauded the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) release of more than $600,000 in government grants for Colorado groups that provide suicide prevention programs and services to veterans and their families.

“Preventing Veteran suicide requires all of us to work together,” stated VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “By working together with these organizations in the community, we’ll be able to save more lives and get one step closer to our goal of ensuring that no Veteran is ever alone in their time of need.”

The VA gave $477,458 to the Healing Warriors Program in the Eastern Plains and Front Range, and $165,171 to Valley-Wide Health Systems in southern Colorado.

“Each year, about 6,000 veterans die by suicide. “We will not stand by and watch our veterans suffer in silence after serving their country,” added Hickenlooper. “These grants will save lives.”

The funding is part of the VA’s National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to prevent military and veteran suicides.

“Our country’s veterans have sacrificed so much to keep us safe, and we must do more to ensure they have access to the mental health care they’ve earned,” he added. “I’m grateful Colorado will benefit from this investment, which will save lives and expand urgently needed support to veterans nationwide.”

In addition to giving this funding, the VA has taken several other actions this fiscal year to expand Veteran suicide prevention programs, including:

Providing free emergency suicide prevention services, regardless of enrollment status.Streamlining access to the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.
Conducting outreach to Veterans in Need.
Collaborating with local partners to reduce veteran suicides.
Helping veterans who are under financial difficulties.
Using enhanced data to inform suicide prevention efforts;

If you are a Veteran in crisis or are concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line for 24-hour confidential assistance. You are not required to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To contact responders, call 988 and press 1, talk online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/talk, or text 838255.