Page 5 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, Feb. 15 2019

Desert lightning news s. nevaDa veterans’ news February 15, 2019 5 www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisDesertLightningNews
VASNHS strengthens veteran suicide prevention
by John Archiquette
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ top clinical priority is reducing the sui- cide rate among veterans.
However, achieving this goal is dif- ficult as 14 of the estimated 20 veterans who are lost to suicide each day have either never connected to VA care or haven’t recently accessed VA services.
As such, the VA relies on public-pri- vate partnerships to inform and educate veterans, family members, caregivers and other stakeholders of resources available before and during a crisis.
Since October 2017, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System’s Suicide Pre- vention team has conducted more than 350 outreach events locally in support of this effort, and looks to make more improvements in 2019.
“While veterans always can reach someone on the national VA 24-hour Veterans Crisis Line, it’s through local efforts where real suicide prevention takes place,” said Paul Frederickson,
________ See SuiCidE, on Page 6 VASNHS suicide prevention case managers speak with UNLV veterans at a student orientation event.
VA photograph
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