Government gives $1.8M in grants to support the fight against veteran suicide in Arizona

PHOENIX — Past and present Arizona servicemembers are set to benefit from $1.8 million in veteran suicide prevention grants.

That’s because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its intention to fight the epidemic of suicide among veterans on Thursday, the anniversary of 9/11.

The VA’s latest suicide prevention report found it was the 13th leading cause of death for veterans in 2021. The risk was higher for younger servicemembers. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for veterans younger than 45.

How will suicide prevention grants help Arizona veterans?

The $1.8 million in grants will go to various Arizonan organizations that provide programs and services for veterans and their families.

When deciding which organizations to support, VA officials look at a variety of factors:

• Organizations that focus on serving rural communities, Tribal lands, U.S. territories and medically underserved areas.
• Areas with a high number or percentage of veterans who are women or minorities.
• Areas with a high number or percentage of calls to the Veterans Crisis Line.

On top of these community grants, the VA will spend an extra $2.4 million to veteran-focused organizations throughout the U.S.

Even more spending is on the horizon. In fact, VA will award a total of $52.5 million this fiscal year to 85 organizations.

Today, VA announced more than $52 million in grants to community partners who provide assistance to prevent Veteran suicide.
To learn more about the organizations we work with, please click on this link: https://t.co/7fa8r22TsA pic.twitter.com/Ci3sp1sPxl

— Veterans Affairs (@DeptVetAffairs) September 12, 2024

That massive amount of cash is coming through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

Why so much money is coming through veteran suicide prevention grants

The distribution of these grants is part of the VA’s national strategy for preventing veteran suicide.

It’s not the only government entity fixated on helping past and present servicemembers, along with their families.

Additionally, the Biden-Harris administration has identified this issue as a priority. In fact, it has its own strategy to reduce suicide among this demographic.

The grants are part of both groups’ long-term goals to support veterans in crisis.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said these grants are just one of many examples of how his department has worked to expand services in recent years.

“It takes all of us, working together, to prevent veteran suicide,” McDonough said in a press release. “By working together with these organizations in the community, we’ll be able to save more lives and get one step closer to our goal of ensuring that no Veteran is ever alone in their time of need.”