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Minnesota loses more than 100 Veterans per year to suicide. This is a tragedy that is preventable and must be stopped.
Mark your calendar for the 3rd annual Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day on Saturday, Oct. 2. The event will be held in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park and will also be livestreamed on the MDVA Facebook page.
- Join St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis to hear about his personal connection to Veteran suicide
- Learn how to identify Veterans at risk
- Receive resources to help combat the tragedy of Veteran suicide
The in-person event begins at 11 a.m. with resources available and the in-person and livestreamed program will begin at 11:30 a.m.
For more information, email MDVA.Communications@state.mn.us.
Fergus Falls
Luverne
Minneapolis
Silver Bay
St. Paul
Mental Health Crisis Services are Available in Minnesota
Educate yourself to prevent suicide. Suicide is complex and there is no single cause. Understanding the issue of suicide, how to talk about it and what the warning signs are can help us prevent suicide in Minnesota.
Learn about safe messaging. The way we talk about mental health, mental illness, and suicide shapes the way we feel about the issue. Use safe messaging to talk about suicide and mental health to support well-being and prevents suicide.
Talking about suicide carelessly can increase the risk of a person already at risk of suicide. But talking about it safely can help save a life. Check out Safe Messaging around Suicide for information on safe messaging.
Know the warning signs and take action. Conditions such as mental illness, substance use, painful losses, exposure to violence, and social isolation can all be contributing factors.
You can help prevent suicide by knowing the warning signs.
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
If you are concerned someone is at risk for suicide:
- Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. Research shows that asking directly does not put the idea in their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.
- Stay with the person; do not leave them alone.
- Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for support and local resources.
- Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
See more at Everyone Plays a Role in Preventing Suicide.
Sadly, an average of 100 Minnesota Veterans die by suicide each year. Two-thirds of these deaths are by guns.
To help prevent Veteran suicide MDVA is partnering with the VA Healthcare System to distribute free gun locks. 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
In an effort to reduce these preventable tragedies, MDVA is offering free gun locks. To request a gun lock, please email MDVA.Communications@state.mn.us with your name and address. This information will not be shared; requests are confidential.
Thank you for supporting the efforts of MDVA and the “Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.” For more information on MDVA’s suicide prevention efforts, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/EndVetSuicide.
The Suicide Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health presents the Suicide Prevention Webinar series. These educational webinars serve as a way to connect and share information. The series includes six webinars with subject matter experts working across the state on these topics:
Sign up here for the Suicide Prevention Webinar Series.
Please contact the organizers: Shelly Dieu at shelly.dieu@state.mn.us or Tanya Carter at tanya.carter@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and subsequent Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has created a commemorative coin as an expression of appreciation to Minnesota Veterans who have served since that fateful day. These coins are a limited edition and available for a short time.
Minnesota GWOT Veterans are invited to register for this free coin by visiting https://bit.ly/GWOTvetcoin (registration site works best using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox). If you’re having trouble registering please e-mail mdva.communications@state.mn.us.
Coins will be distributed by County Veterans Services Officers.
The application period is now open for the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs “SOT Grants.” The grants are available to qualified organizations that support Minnesota Veterans. The grant application period is open August 30 through September 24, 2021. SOT grant applications may be submitted any time during this period.
MDVA launched the Support Our Troops (SOT) grant program in 2016. The grants are financed from sales of the Minnesota "Support Our Troops" License Plates. Minnesota organizations with programs designed to “support and improve the lives of Veterans and their families” may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.
The SOT grant application is available on the MDVA website at MinnesotaVeteran.org/Grants during the open grant cycle. Detailed instructions for how to apply are outlined in the application.
Interested organizations may also sign-up here to receive alerts for future grant applications periods.
Older adults are one of Minnesota’s most valuable resources. Age-Friendly Minnesota wants to hear what you have to say about what you want and need in your community as you grow older that will help ensure you can age well.
The results of the survey will be used to set priorities and develop strategies for plans, policies, and services that ensure that all Minnesotans can thrive across the lifespan. Results will be used by the State of Minnesota as well as by regions, sovereign nations, and community organizations.
This survey has 10 sections will take about 20 minutes to complete.
Take the survey here >>
VA is extending debt relief for Veterans through September 30, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. VA will suspend collection of all Veteran benefit overpayments incurred between April 6, 2020, and September 30, 2021. No adverse actions or collection attempts will occur during this suspension period. Additionally, all co-payments for medical care and pharmacy services incurred from April 6, 2020, through September 30, 2021, will be cancelled, along with any fees or interest. Any payments for this time period will be refunded.
More information >>
We can see the end of this pandemic, but we are not quite there yet. We will take concrete steps to keep Minnesotans safe while we get the vaccine to even more people.
The latest COVID-19 updates from the Governor's office are available at mn.gov/covid19.
MDVA's latest COVID-19 updates can be found at MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVID.
All Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and clinics that administer COVID-19 vaccines are accepting walk-ins for eligible Veterans, spouses and caregivers.
This walk-in service ensures all Veterans enrolled in VA health care and those authorized under the SAVE LIVES Act have an opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from VA at a time convenient for them.
The urgency to vaccinate as many eligible individuals as quickly as possible remains a top priority for VA.
“VA encourages those who wish to get their COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment to check the walk-in hours and requirements at their local facility,” said Acting VA Under Secretary for Health Richard Stone, M.D. “ Individuals taking advantage of walk-in vaccinations may need to wait for the vaccine to be prepared and will be screened when entering the facility.”
To date, VA has vaccinated more than 2.7 million individuals, including over 60,000 individuals under the SAVE LIVES Act. For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations at VA, click here.
VA vaccination clinics are not open 24 hours. Face masks are mandatory for all and physical distancing measures will be in place.
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