Washington, D.C., April 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Give an Hour, a national nonprofit organization which provides free mental health services, announced today that it has expanded its focus to support the immediate and long-term mental health needs of those affected by the recent deaths by suicide on VA properties in Texas, Georgia and Washington, DC including staff, veterans being served by these facilities, first responders and family members of those who died.
Currently, 20 veterans die by suicide each day — a rate 1.5 times higher than those who have not served in the military. While the number of suicides within the veteran community is alarming and tragic, government agencies and nonprofit organizations are working tirelessly to increase access to care and to raise awareness about the signs that tell us someone is in emotional pain and needs help. According to the Veterans Health Administration, there have been more than 260 suicide attempts on VA property since beginning to track them in 2017, with 240 of those having been interrupted.
Give an Hour mourns the loss of those who could not be helped – and stands with all of its partners to continue efforts to serve those in need.
“Those who contemplate suicide are in severe emotional pain. They are not acting out of selfishness – they are unable to see another way to end their suffering,” said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder, and President of Give an Hour. “We must continue to do all we can to provide help and hope to those who feel such despair.”
