Military and veteran suicides is not only a public health concern within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, but a concern within which the communities they live and serve.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we want to highlight upcoming events from OneOp that may be helpful for service members, veterans, and military families within your local communities and surrounding counties.
Suicide is a leading cause of death overall in the United States and the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-14 and 25-34 (CDC, 2022). It is the top nine leading cause of death among people aged 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 (CDC, 2022).
There is no single cause for why someone dies by suicide, but rather include a range of risk and protective factors at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. A 2021 Brown University study found that military suicide rates are four times higher than deaths that occurred during military operations. To breakdown the data, 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide, compared to the 7,057 service members killed in combat in those same 20 years.
Upcoming Suicide Prevention Events
OneOp, a United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute for Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and Department of Defense initiative that supports Extension and military providers, will be offering several opportunities to enhance your knowledge of suicide prevention in your communities.
Get connected with us below to learn more. Note: All of these upcoming events offer a variety of continuing education credits, including Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for Extension professionals.
- Suicide Prevention and Working with Military Families
- Date: September 20, 2022
- Details: Become more informed on current military suicide data, including trends and common risk factors as we explore culturally competent best practices and resources for professionals working with service members or military families.
- Disability and Mental Health in the Military
- Date: September 21, 2022
- Details: Webinar discusses the intersection of disability with military service for service members and their families, looking closely at the impact of trauma on the brain and possible physical cues and reactions when a trauma response occurs.
- Suicide Prevention and Intimate Partner Violence
- Date: October 27, 2022
- Details: Webinar will provide an overview of the intersection of suicide and intimate partner violence (IPV) risk factors and discover prevention strategies for Extension professionals, advocates, and clinicians serving the military community.
Suicide impacts millions of individuals, families, and communities. It can have detrimental effects on the nation’s economy, in addition to the physical and emotional well-being of all individuals concerned. To be better prepared to support service members, veterans, and military families, start by getting connected to Extension resources, such as OneOp, that address suicide prevention in the military.
Comments (0)