Building Lifelines: VA Expands Suicide Prevention Outreach

Kessler supports the VA’s Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention (CBI-SP) aimed to reach Veterans through multiple touchpoints and designed to reinforce existing community suicide prevention efforts. In 2018, the VA released a new national strategy for preventing Veteran suicide that called for both enhancing care for individuals at risk within the VA health care system and adding a public health approach to reach Veterans outside VA in the community. The CEPC role is primarily focused on community coalition building and involves regular contact with community leaders; servicemembers, Veterans, and their families; and community partners.

“In 2022, 6,407 Veterans died by suicide. There were 10.5% more Veteran suicides in 2022 than if the Veteran population had the same age- and sex-specific suicide rates as non-Veteran U.S. adults. which means their share of suicides remains disproportionately high compared to non-Veteran adult,” Kessler said during a recent briefing. “If we can find them early, we can change that. About 65 percent of Veterans who die by suicide were either never connected to the VA or hadn’t been seen in the last two years. That’s why our work must include the communities where Veterans live and the families who support them.”

Kessler’s efforts extend beyond data. Earlier this year, our Veteran Justice Outreach, VA police and Suicide Prevention Coordinators created the Veteran Response Team (VRT) resource for community first responders. By utilizing our VA Police Dispatch, we can allow our community first responders and community partners one phone number to call to help connect the Veterans in our community to the appropriate VA crisis. Kessler provides Critical Incidence Training (CIT) for community law enforcement focusing on Veteran culture, VA resources and education on suicide prevention and Veterans Justice Outreach. The new VRT cards feature QR codes that link directly to the VA allowing first responders to guide Veterans toward services on the spot.

“Our law enforcement partners are often the first to meet a Veteran in crisis,” Kessler said. “When they have the right training and resources, they can be the connection that saves a life.”

That hands-on approach has strengthened relationships with law enforcement agencies across the Lowcountry. One longtime trainer says Kessler’s role has gone beyond presentations and handouts, it has reshaped how officers think about Veterans in crisis.

“I have been facilitating this training for over four years since retiring from the Charleston Police Department, where I served for over 25 years as a crisis negotiator and the first commander of the Crisis Intervention Team,” said Peter Farrell, Coordinator with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of South Carolina (NAMISC).

Farrell went on to say, “Jonathan has been an essential part of the CIT Training’s success in the Charleston region. Each month he provides officers with a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by our Veteran community and equips them with resources to assist those who have served in the armed forces. His passion for suicide prevention and protecting our Veterans is evident in his presentations.”

Kessler’s impact isn’t limited to law enforcement or direct Veteran outreach. His partnerships extend to schools and families, where he works with community leaders to support military-connected children facing the challenges of frequent transitions and deployments.

“Jonathan is one of the most approachable and intentional people I’ve worked with in my 20 years serving military families,” said Dr. Sara Jane Arnett, Coordinator for the Military Child Education Coalition South Carolina. “Through the Purple Star School Program (which designates a public or charter school demonstrating a major commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families), he helps schools and communities support the educational and emotional needs of military-connected children. His own experience as a military child makes him a compassionate advocate for students and families across the state.”

Kessler also participates in a wide range of community events, from town halls to resource fairs. He often also visits Joint Base Charleston and collaborates with their Integrated Resilience Office, where he shares information about mental health and suicide prevention. 

“Jonathan is an invaluable partner to the Joint Base Charleston suicide prevention community,” said Andrea Peters, Director of the Integrated Resilience Office. “He is trusted because he participates fully; leading coalitions, joining community action teams, and offering practical guidance. Our office is stronger and more connected because of his efforts.” 

Kessler’s local efforts mirror national strategies such as the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide Roadmap, a White House initiative that emphasizes suicide prevention as a responsibility shared by communities and government. By blending predictive technology with face-to-face engagement, he works to make that vision a reality in the Lowcountry.

“There’s no single answer,” Kessler said. “It’s about building partnerships, using the tools we have, and making sure no Veteran feels alone.”