The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is continuing its mission of preventing veteran suicide by working with community organizations across country, including the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS).

Through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant (SSG Fox SPFP), MBVS received $750,000 from VA to support local veterans.

“The Bureau is very pleased to receive this grant. It will allow us to make direct and more effective connections for veterans in need of mental health resources and care in our state and it will also allow our Bureau to help veterans access all of the benefits they have earned through their service.” said Director David Richmond, “We are fortunate to have a team of dedicated partners made up of state and federal agencies, non-profit and veterans service organizations, all working hard to end veterans’ suicide—everyone of us knows that this is mission number one and that we must find a way to succeed.”

The SSG Fox SPG is a pilot, community-based grant program that will provide financial assistance to eligible organizations to provide or coordinate suicide prevention services to eligible veterans and their families. The grantee organizations have been awarded one-year, renewable funding. With its SSG Fox SPGP award, the Bureau plans to provide positive connection to clinical and benefits resources for veterans who are seeking care through medical providers in Maine; In short, to provide a warm hand off of the veteran from a medical provider to clinical outpatient support resources as well as assistance from Bureau staff in accessing other federal and state veterans’ benefits.

MBVS serves as the state’s advocates for veterans and their families and has specially trained Veterans Services Officers on staff to assist with connection to state and federal benefits. To learn more about MBVS visit www.maine.gov/veterans. Information on the SSG Fox SPGP can be found at https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive, free confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.