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.
More information >>
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A new State Veterans Cemetery will break ground in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. This location will be home to the fourth State Veterans Cemetery, joining other sites in Little Falls, Preston and Duluth.
Wednesday, October 13 is the date that Redwood Falls residents, project supporters, Veterans Service Organization representatives and elected officials will gather to celebrate the completion of a multi-year planning and design process and the beginning of construction of the Cemetery, set to open in 2023. A detailed groundbreaking event notice can be found here.
Once completed, this project - funded by an $11,193,840 grant in 2021 from the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - will serve more than 22,000 Veterans, their spouses and eligible family members. An additional $4.5 million was provided by the Minnesota Legislature at the end of the special session on June 30, 2021.
"The NCA is very happy to work with Minnesota to bring this cemetery to the southwestern part of the state," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matthew Quinn. "Currently, the closest Veterans cemetery—Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis—is more than 100 miles away. This new cemetery will make it much easier for Veterans and families who want to bury their loved one closer to home.”
The 77-acre Cemetery, situated at the intersection of US Highway 71 South and Noble Avenue, will be open to all Veterans and has no Minnesota residency requirement.
According to Brad Lindsay, MDVA Deputy Commissioner, the assistance from-and willingness of-Redwood County to make an investment in developing and delivering a State Veterans Cemetery to the western part of the state was essential to bringing this vision to fruition. “A project like this allows us to improve services to the Veterans of the State of Minnesota and their families,” noted Deputy Commissioner Lindsay. “They deserve to be laid to rest with respect, appreciation and dignity.”
The initial planning process, including site selection and analysis, began in 2009. The selected site was identified in 2014; the Redwood County Board of Commissioners signed a purchase agreement for the property in August of that year. The Board of Commissioners, in turn, officially donated the land to the state of Minnesota in May 2021. Detailed design for the project started in December 2020, following the announcement of the NCA grant.
Phase 1 of the project is expected to meet the burial needs of Veterans for 10 years. The first phase (21.7 acres) will include:
- A committal service shelter to host brief funeral services
- An administration building
- A maintenance facility
- An assembly area
- 150 pre-placed crypts for casket burials
- 750 in-ground creamains burial sites
- 1080 columbaria niches for funeral urns
- 50 standard burial plots
- Landscaping
A memorial walkway with benches will be added in a future phase.
MDVA Commissioner Larry Herke expressed appreciation for the long-standing community advocacy and recent NCA financial support that brought this commitment to serving Veterans to fruition. “Our groundbreaking ceremony is an important first step to making the Redwood Falls Cemetery a reality,” said Commissioner Herke.
The public is invited to join us on October 13.
More information >>
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Fergus Falls
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As we close out September as Suicide Prevention Month, here are some helpful resources.
Everyone has mental health and wellbeing, whether or not we are aware of it. Taking care of your mental health and wellbeing can improve or maintain your quality of life. Maintaining mental wellness helps us reach our maximum abilities, cope with day-to-day stress, create meaningful relationships, and contribute to our family and community. Small steps towards mental wellness can help improve how we feel and function.
Everyday tools and tips
Taking care of your mental wellbeing can be as simple as calling a friend, practicing yoga or walking in nature. These mental wellbeing everyday tips can help to spark ideas of ways you can maintain your mental health.
Wellness Plans
A personalized wellness Plan serves as a guide to reach your mental health and wellness goals. This plan can include mental and physical health, but also spiritual, financial, social, emotional and occupational elements. A holistic approach to wellness can create a path that is right for you, while building resiliency and empowerment. Here are some examples to help get started.
Supporting Mental Health during COVID-19
Many people are experiencing increased stress and anxiety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to be gentle with yourself and others, and to take steps to support both your own and your family's mental well-being in times of heightened stress. Consider these tips for supporting your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-10 pandemic.
Connection
Strong social connections can help protect us, and others, from stress. Check in with people and let them know you are thinking about them. “Caring Contacts” are a simple but effective tool in preventing suicide. “Caring Contacts” are messages of support to show someone that you care about their well-being. Letting a person know: "I hope you’re OK and I’m here. I’m thinking about you” can help people stay connected.
For more ideas on sharing support, visit: NowMattersNow Caring Contacts.
For Veterans
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.
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 >>
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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