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The VA’s New Suicide Prevention PSA Goes Live

March 11, 2011 - As part of their ongoing effort to help curb suicides among military personnel, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched another PSA on suicide prevention. The focus of the PSA was to raise awareness of the suicide prevention resources available for those in need. One main resource highlighted was the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Unfortunately, the average number of veterans who commit suicide everyday is 18. It is a very real possibility this number could climb as more veterans cycle back to the United States from both Iraq and Afghanistan. This is especially true when the need for mental health care among these veterans is on the rise. The VA's PSA is designed to not only alert the soldier to the available help, but the soldier' families as well; whatever it takes to get help to a soldier in trouble.

The VA named their PSA, "Perspectives" and heavily encourages use of the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. Formed in 2007, that hotline is part of the larger, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline has taken 379,000 calls to date, of which over 200,000 came from veterans themselves or their family members or friends. Over 13,000 rescues have been performed as a result of calls made to the hotline.

Connected to the hotline is an online Veterans Chat program. This program connects veterans and their family members with VA mental health professionals in a real time, online environment. What must be kept at the forefront of everyone's mind is suicide is very preventable and help can and should be sought whenever depression or suicidal feelings emerge.