In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, nonprofits and organizations across the city are offering resources to support veterans struggling with their mental health.<\/p>\n
Sept. 22 marks Texas Veteran Suicide Prevention Day<\/a>, in recognition of the historic estimate that 22 veterans die by suicide per day. The day was designated by lawmakers during the state legislative session in 2023, and last year they passed a law requiring de-identified data from death certificates of veterans who die by suicide to be reported to the Texas Veterans Commission.<\/p>\n Texas is home to the\u00a0largest veteran population<\/a>\u00a0in the country, with about 1.5 million veterans calling the state home. More than 160,000 of those veterans<\/a> reside in Bexar County.<\/p>\n Veterans and service members are particularly at risk for death by suicide, with the most recent VA report<\/a> now estimating that on average 17.5 veterans die by suicide each day. This is nearly double the suicide rate of the general population.<\/p>\n In Military City USA, veteran groups are offering prevention trainings, new mental health initiatives and events to support the military community. <\/p>\n VFW San Antonio<\/p>\n VFW Post 76 will host its fourth annual<\/a> Veteran Suicide Prevention Awareness & Remembrance Day ceremony on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at 10 10th Street. The program will include an Honorary Flag Ceremony at 11:22 a.m. to honor veterans who have died by suicide.<\/p>\n The event will raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention while remembering those who have been lost to their struggle with mental health.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we are breaking the silence in the silent war,\u201d organizers of the event said.<\/p>\n South Texas Veterans Health Care System<\/p>\n Suicide prevention coordinators will set up a table at the San Antonio Northwest Health Care Center<\/a> at 9939 Texas 151 Access Road on Wednesday, Sept. 23. to talk with patients, staff and visitors.<\/p>\n Dr. Daniel Steinberg, suicide prevention chief for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, stated in a flyer for the event that suicide prevention awareness month has been ongoing for more than two decades, aiming to help the military community and others.<\/p>\n \u201cEach year, the Veterans Health Administration recognizes this event and focuses on outreach to Veterans, family and loved ones, friends, and the community at large to make sure everyone knows what resources they have available, including support from the Veterans Crisis Line<\/a>,\u201d he said. Dial 988 for the veterans crisis line and press 1 or text 838255.<\/p>\n Circle of Arms<\/p>\n San Antonio nonprofit Circle of Arms<\/a>, dedicated to mental health support for veterans, is rolling out a new pilot to help veterans in crisis and prevent them from reaching a suicidal point.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is important because I, along with many other veterans, have experienced moments of crisis where immediate intervention and a safe environment were needed, even though we were not suicidal,\u201d said founder Larissa Martinez. <\/p>\n \u201cThere is a critical space between \u2018I\u2019m okay\u2019 and \u2018I\u2019m suicidal,\u2019 and that is where people can too easily fall through the cracks.\u201d<\/p>\n Called RESET<\/a>, it provides a voluntary, nonclinical, peer-supported space where veterans can step away from an escalating situation and receive support. The initiative will launch this November.<\/p>\n \u201cFor veterans and first responders especially, stigma, past experiences with systems, fear of hospitalization, or simply not knowing where to turn can make people hesitant to ask for help early,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cRESET is our effort to create another door they can walk through.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas Veterans Commission<\/p>\n The TVC offers a military veteran peer network<\/a>, where members of the military community can find support in their area. <\/p>\n Its services include suicide prevention and military cultural competency trainings, direct peer-to-peer assistance, mental health first aid, and support connecting to local resources based on the individual needs of the veteran and family.<\/p>\n The organization also provides free suicide prevention<\/a> trainings and videos on its website. Schedules for mental health courses and trainings can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Additionally, Bexar County Public Health<\/a> is hosting a month-long free webinar series called Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan. <\/p>\n Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors<\/p>\n The clinic will host a hybrid SAVE suicide prevention training<\/a> on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. SAVE (S-signs of suicide, A- asking about suicide, V-validating feelings, E- encouraging help and treatment), is the VA\u2019s model for identifying and assisting veterans in crisis.<\/p>\n This training will be hosted both virtually on Zoom and in-person at 6333 De Zavala Road.<\/p>\n The training is open to veterans and active-duty service members and anyone in the general public interested in learning suicide prevention tactics to help veterans. <\/p>\n For in person-attendees, childcare options are available along with light snacks and refreshments will be provided.<\/p>\n Adult Suicide Prevention Initiative for Recovery and Empowerment Bexar County (ASPIRE Bexar County) has also planned an event<\/a> at the Endeavors Wellness Center on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. to educate community members about suicide prevention.<\/p>\n The San Antonio Report\u2019s military and veterans coverage is supported by Report for America.<\/p>\n \t