According to a briefing released in January 2014 by the Department of Veteran Affairs, at least 22 veterans die by suicide every day; and young male veterans (under the age of 30) are three times more likely to kill themselves than civilian males in the same age range. And, in 2015, alarming statistics revealed that female veterans are six times more likely to die by suicide than civilian women.
With these numbers in mind, the Crisis Center has stepped up its efforts to reach out to Long Island veterans and their families. Long Island has the second highest number of veterans – second only to San Diego.
The initiative includes: counselor training has been stepped up to include recognition of the warning signs of PTSD; collaborations with Long Island agencies working directly with veterans; and increased resources and referrals to meet the many needs of our veterans.
Most important is the availability of the Crisis Center’s 24/7 hotlines that are free, confidential and anonymous. This initiative is dedicated to the idea that no veteran or family member should think that they are alone and that no one cares.
