“… Speaking after touring New Hampshire’s only VA medical center in Manchester, Wilkie said the effort would require the help of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other agencies. He also said efforts would be made to reach out to state and local governments in a bid to find veterans at risk, many of whom are not on the VA’s radar.”
“Wilkie also said that veteran suicides couldn’t be seen in isolation. He said the issue must be tackled by working on ways to combat homelessness, drug abuse and mental illness among veterans. That means changing the way the VA prescribes opioids, he said, and boosting the amount of transitional housing for homeless veterans at the state and local level…”
“Last month, President Donald Trump signed an order directing his agencies to develop a plan within 12 months to address veteran suicides. The new task force will look to create a grant system similar to the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program, which provides funding to state and local programs. The effort, which is being dubbed the PREVENTS Initiative, will also aim to…” Read the full article here.
Source: Wilkie: Entire Government to Focus on Reducing Vet Suicides – By Michael Casey, April 20, 2019. Associated Press. Military.com.
