Veterans and Community step out for Suicide Awareness

The Martinsburg VA Medical Center hosted over 600 walkers at the annual Suicide Awareness Walk in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Month.

The seventh annual walk, held on Wednesday at the VAMC, hosted 668 walkers, 413 of which were Veterans and family members.

The event coincides each year with National Suicide Prevention Month and brings awareness to Veteran suicide, provides education to the community and reduces the stigma associated in seeking mental health treatment.

Social Worker, Jennifer Kelley, organized the walk and said that mental health is the number one clinical priority of the VA.

“The majority of Veterans who are dying by suicide are not connected with VA care so it’s important for us to be able to reach the community, provide education and bring awareness to this public health issue,” said Kelley. ‘We need everyone’s help to save lives.”

Veterans are at a higher risk of dying by suicide than the general population – with over 6,000 Veterans nationally per year.

“We have a saying, ‘suicide is everyone’s business,’” added Kelley. 

Each year the Martinsburg VAMC designs a new shirt for the walk that includes suicide prevention messaging and Veterans Crisis Line information.

“The goal is to get the word out into the community to end Veteran suicide,” said Finkle. “When participants wear their shirts to the grocery store, sporting events or anywhere else, the shirts essentially promote this message and remind others of the national suicide hotline.”

The walk started in 2017 with 40 participants and each year, the walk has grown, with this year’s walk being the largest yet as Martinsburg VAMC continues to build partnerships with Veterans and the community.

“The Suicide Prevention Walk brings us all together to remember those we lost, support our suicide survivors and align us in moving forward with prevention of Veteran suicide,” said Finkle.

The walk also included education tables including overdose education from VAMC pharmacists, lethal means safety education and resources, community engagement and partnership program information, Vet Center information and VA spiritual care information.

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CUTLINES:

Picture 1: Martinsburg VAMC Suicide Prevention Walk participants walk the Martinsburg VAMC campus in support of suicide prevention, Wednesday, Sept. 13th.

Picture 2: Walkers check-in at the Martinsburg VAMC Suicide Prevention Walk, Wednesday, Sept. 13th.

Picture 3: A VA employee hands out shirts and bags with the Veterans Crisis Line information to walkers during the Martinsburg VAMC Suicide Prevention Walk, Wednesday, Sept. 13th.

 

Lona Lozinski, Public Affairs Specialist

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