What can you do?

Suicide is preventable and we can all help prevent suicide.  So, what can you do?  You can Be There. 

A first step is to learn more about suicide prevention: Check out this free VA training.

Be There is a national suicide prevention strategy focusing on taking action to Be There for the Veteran in your life.  Being There for someone is an art, not a science.  There is no formula or instruction manual to make everything better because every situation is different. You don’t have to fix things; you just have to Be There. Check out this site for warning signs of suicide.

Join a Wisconsin Coalition in your area and share your expertise to reduce suicide! 

Follow the link at: Prevent Suicide Wisconsin and Find a Local Coalition

Our “Be There Wis” icon.

We know that there are many veterans who are eligible for VA services and aren’t yet using them as well as veterans who are not eligible for VA services, yet could use assistance and support. We are doing this campaign to reach those veterans and assist them in getting the care and resources they need.

Mission of the Task Force

  • We agree to work on ending suicides in all populations with a focus on Veterans
  • Develop and share new ideas and innovations to reduce suicides and reduce the risk of suicide
  • Teach the community about military culture and on their role in preventing suicides
  • Provide support to those affected by suicides
  • Definition of Veteran is anyone who has worn the uniform including National Guard and Reservists even if they have not been active duty.

The Task Force was formed in November 2019 with more than 25 community agencies as a component of the VA’s Suicide Prevention plan which is focused on developing community coalitions to develop action plans to prevent Veteran suicides. The Task Force has developed 4 Action Areas to save Veteran lives:

If you are interested in joining  the Task Force Email us at: Taskforce@betherewis.com

 

Southeastern Wisconsin Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force

The Task Force is focused on actions in the following areas: Public Health Awareness, Outreach, Clinical & Research/Policy. Check out our progress below

 Contact: Taskforce@betherewis.com

 

Universal or ALL People

 Public Health Awareness 

This Action Area is promoting VA’s “Be There” suicide prevention campaign. We are seeking earned media events through  the Wisconsin news media to market the Task Force’s BeThereWis.com website.

Many People

 Outreach to Veterans 

The Outreach and Whole Health action area is engaging Service members, Veterans, and their friends and family to use their healthcare benefits, provide improved access to these resources (e.g., IMACT 2-1-1) and participate in healthy living behaviors.

The Few

 Clinical Services for Veterans 

The Clinical Services action area is working to ensure that Service Members, Veterans, and their family and friends who are in a crisis have access to appropriate mental health services at the VA and throughout the community with clinicians that understand military/veteran issues and culture. It is focused also on Veterans who don’t have VA health care benefits. The partnership with the Veterans Health Coalition provides a listing of clinical resources for Veterans.

Change the Culture

 Research & Policy 

This action area is investigating and initiating policy and program changes through research projects which can inform on legislature changes which will decrease Veteran suicides. The current research focus is to study the effects of Veterans use of firearm storage and firearm safety methods to reduce the use of firearms in suicides. This research will hopefully support laws which can impact Veteran suicide prevention.

 

Check out one of our research projects at ReachOutWis.org!

You can help by sharing and educating Veterans ways to prevent suicide. A first step is to safely secure firearms to reduce the access to a firearm by someone that is in a crisis.

Check out these materials:

Check out the news clip about one of our gun shops: Gun shops join Wisconsin program working to help veterans put guns down (tmj4.com)

 

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