Veteran Suicide Prevention / Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs

Veteran Suicide Prevention

First Steps for Veterans or Helping a Veteran

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1.

The Veterans Crisis Line is the world’s largest provider of crisis call, text and chat services, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It serves more than 650,000 calls every year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users also may text to 838255 or chat online to receive confidential crisis intervention and support.

What is 988?

Suicide Prevention in Minnesota

Minnesota loses around 100 Veterans to suicide each year. The mental health and well-being of our Veterans continue to be a top priority. MDVA is collaborating with other organizations to identify risk factors of Veteran suicide and create an innovative, cooperative way to reverse this trend, reducing Veteran suicide deaths in Minnesota.

Veteran suicide is often the result of a combination of factors, including mental or physical illness, alcohol or drug abuse, painful loss, exposure to violence, social isolation, and access to lethal weapons. Veterans are at a higher risk for suicide than the civilian population. MDVA is working with local, state and federal partners to expand access to mental health services for service members, Veterans and their families (SMVF) in the state of Minnesota.

Minnesota aims to increase the ability of its local communities to coordinate culturally appropriate suicide prevention activities through the following objectives that are set in place by the Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Taskforce:

Goal 1: Increase individuals, organizations and communities’ capacity to develop and implement a comprehensive public health approach to prevent suicide.
Goal 2: Promote factors that offer protection for suicidal experiences across the individual, relationship, community and societal levels.
Goal 3: Identify and support individuals who are experiencing mental health challenges or who are having suicidal experiences.
Goal 4: Strengthen access and delivery of care for mental health and suicide.
Goal 5: Connect, heal and restore hope to those impacted by suicide.
Goal 6: Improve the timeliness and usefulness of data.

Video Resources

Veteran Suicide Prevention (10 minutes)
You Are Not Alone (30 seconds)
We're All Human (30 seconds)
Impacts to Families (30 seconds)
Gun Lock (30 seconds)
Checking In (30 seconds)

Free Gun Locks

MDVA wants to partner with the state’s SMVF population on staying safe. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a locked gun can mean the difference between a tragic outcome and a life saved for someone in crisis. Though Veterans are well-versed in firearm safety, all gun owners should understand that during emotional or stressful times, delaying access to a gun could mean the difference between life and death. Gun locks can prevent someone in crisis from tragically taking their own life.

Veteran-affiliated agencies have distributed tens of thousands of gunlocks over the past few years. If you would like a free gunlock, please email suicideprevention.MDVA@state.mn.us with your mailing address.

Off-Site Firearm Storage Options

Minnesota has a map of safe, approved locations for voluntary, temporary firearm storage. This map was developed to help community members seeking local options for out-of-home firearm storage, which can be especially helpful to persons in crisis. The businesses and law enforcement agencies listed on this map are willing to consider requests for temporary, voluntary gun storage.

Minnesota Gun Storage Map

Find a CVSO

Minnesota County Veterans Service Officers are a first point of contact for service members, Veterans or their families when needing assistance with benefits associated with military service.

Visit macvso.org to find your local CVSO.

Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention (MVSP) Collaborative Members

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Minnesota Department of Health
SMAHSA SMVF TA Center (Service Members, Veterans and their Families Technical Assistance Center
Minnesota National Guard
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (Minnesota National Guard)
American Legion – Department of Minnesota
VA Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinators

Resources for Veterans

Be the One - Now available to assist Veterans in crisis and those around them | The American Legion

BeThere Campaign – Learn how to help a Veteran in crisis.

Make the Connection – This online resource connects Veterans, their families, and friends with information on suicide symptoms and conditions.

MY3 – Support Network App – Allows users to add names of three people you would like to talk with when having thoughts of suicide.

VA Mental Health Services – Find a wide variety of mental health services.

Vet Centers – Learn more about the full spectrum of counseling services here.

Spread the Word | Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans Crisis Line - Dial 988, press 1
Resources for Family Members

Be the One - Now available to assist Veterans in crisis and those around them | The American Legion

American Legion Buddy Checks - Learn how Legionnaires reach out to Veterans in our communities who need connection and assistance though organized Buddy Checks.

MY3 – Support Network App – Allows users to add names of three people you would like to talk with when having thoughts of suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Provides  a variety of resources.

PsychArmor Institute – Receive free online education.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – TAPS offers care to those who have lost a loved one through suicide.

VA ACE Brochure – Learn steps Veterans and their families can take to prevent suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Variety of resources.
Resources for Health Care Providers

Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention – Find educational resources for clinicians.

S.A.V.E. Training Video – Watch a free online suicide prevention training video.

VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention – Find additional suicide prevention resources here.

Suicide Safety Plan App – Input warning signs of suicide risk and emergency contacts in times of crisis.

The Lighthouse Project - The Columbia Lighthouse Project - The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the most evidence-supported tool of its kind, is a simple series of questions that anyone can use anywhere in the world to prevent suicide.
Free Training

MHFA – Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges.

Changing the Narrative on Suicide and Mental Health - Talking about mental health and suicide can be an uncomfortable and uncertain topic that brings up different feelings, beliefs, and attitudes for everyone. Changing the Narrative is an interactive conversation that empowers participants to change perceptions of mental health towards hope and resilience. The goal is to know that individuals are not alone, help is available, and healing is possible.

PsychArmor - Access more than 250 military culture educational products for healthcare providers, Veterans, employers, military family members, caregivers, and more.

ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 18 or older can learn and use the ASIST model.
Calendar
A calendar of Veteran Suicide Prevention related events can be found on our Veteran Suicide Prevention Calendar.