President Trump recently signed the Executive Order on a National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Veteran Suicide, or PREVENTS.
Watch the video.
“Our mission is to mobilize every level of American society to save the lives of our great Veterans and support our Veterans in need,” the president said.
Surrounded by Veterans service organizations, state and local Veteran leaders, and those who have lost a friend or family member to suicide – the president pledged his support.
“To every Veteran I want you to know that you have an entire nation of more than 300 million people behind you. You will never ever be forgotten, we are with you all the way,” the president said.
The executive order creates a new cabinet level task force co-chaired by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. The task force will create a comprehensive public health road map that brings together local government along with private sector to improve the quality of life for our Veterans and turn the tide on the Veteran suicide crisis.
U.S. Navy Veteran Frank Larkin, who lost his son, U.S. Navy Veteran Ryan Larkin to suicide said “We need a holistic approach with a heightened sense of urgency to push scientific research.”
“We hear these stories consistently – and it takes the entire community to be able to do this,” said U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Thomas Winkle, director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families.
The executive order calls for additional state and local community engagement to ensure resources are working together for collective impact.
“It is about pulling together the resources of the federal government, our states and localities our charities non- government organizations and coming together with a road map and resources to make sure we no longer have those 19,” said Wilkie.
VA’s Veterans Experience Office will support this executive order and supports the existing National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide by leveraging state-of-art best practices in customer service data, tools, technology and engagement.
The 153 Community Veterans Engagement Boards across the country serve as community integrators for state and local resources, allowing VA to listen and support local initiatives. These boards are actively involved in the BeConnected campaign created by the Arizona Coalition for Military Families. These efforts also include the OMHSP/SAMHSA Governors Challenge.
The White House / VA Hotline conducts warm-hand offs to the Veterans Crisis Line, and new contact relationship management software has been deployed to the crisis line to enhance response. The Veterans Signals survey allows Veterans to provide feedback, and is able to identify Veterans in crisis for direct crisis line assistance.
Seventy percent of those who die by suicide have not received or sought care from the VA in the previous two year, and so increasing access and awareness of VA’s care, benefits, and services is also critical.
Tools such as VA.gov, the VA Welcome Kit, and a unified knowledge management library across all VA contact centers and with state directors of departments of Veterans affairs increases access and referrals to VA services.
Veterans Experience Action Centers are being hosted around the country to provide local one-stop destinations to provide all VA and local resources available, including direct claims assistance and healthcare enrollment.
“I’ve said many times that the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to remind our fellow citizens why they sleep soundly at night. They sleep soundly at night because of the sacrifices of a select number of their fellow Americans,” Wilkie said.
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Obviously the other vets agree with me that no one is listening to the individual vets. When Battle Creek keeps making every doctor order an appeal for the vet just who the hell do you Washington jerks think your helping? 42 years and counting yet you Washington bastards co UK ld clean up B.C. management but you don the. The f(redacted)g worthless IG w(redacted)s AT B.C. hasnt done a damn thing. Your CHAPTA system keeps erasing my message. Same as the VA
Fire B.C. Mgt.
I hear all of you and this is old news. The problem has always been the VA leadership. most of the directors have never seen action, let alone been disabled either temporary or permanent. The VA administration needs a vested leader; someone who has experience with the system from the receivers side of the counter.
There are a wealth of senior prior-service military leaders (Col, Gen, Top Sgt) who are qualified to lead the VA with an understanding of the needs of service members. If the powers to be were really concerned with the physical and mental well being of “our veterans”, they would vet and appoint the right person for the job, not a loquacious bureaucrat on a string.. They would empower that appointee to assemble the staff that he needs and provide the necessary resources to get the organization running efficiently, so that “our veterans” will receive the benefits that they were promised, and have earned.
I am the Son of a 24 year disabled vet. The VA refuses to recognize that my father suffers from depression due to multiple service connected disabilities that causes him constant pain, lost of mobility, and a home bound quality of life. His appeal has been going on since 2010.
They are gathering all, local government, businesses to come against vets in the name of help.
They already have vets on super surveillance programs, and vets are discriminated against in things
like housing because of their medical records being shared, that they have no right to share.
This is just a way to tighten the noose, now everywhere a vet who has sought help before goes the community
is alerted & hyper vigilant because they have been made to believe they are a danger to the community & this means to them this person may perform a mass shooting or something just as bad like being framed.
Right now, the vet is looked at as though they are a strange specimen and people are afraid to talk to them or have them in their businesses. Now its going to get worse.
this is what i am talking about I have typed this out two times before. I agree with the “deny deny deny until we die “statement, when you fill out a claim- service connected when you were there you are told that you are not to receive that what you have earned.
In my opiniin, this is nothing but a marketing scheme to make it APPEAR the VA cares about veterans. A good friend and fellow veteran committed suicide about 3 weeks ago. He was prescribed medication for a service connected disability, which was working great to aleviate his pain until about 2 years ago. The VA; in its knee jerk reaction to the opiod “crisis” stopped the treatment , which had been working well and enabled my friend to function without pain for the most part. The VA failed to provide a suitable substitute treatment for my friend and he could no longer live with the pain so he killed himself because of it.
Tim
I am in the same boat. I was hurt in IRAQ, was treated by the VA with opiods for 14 years and it was working for me. Then they took them away about a year ago and I’ve been living a life of hell ever since. No one cares. I can’t go on like this much longer.
I agree with the ” deny deny deny until we die ” statement, when you fill out a claim -service connected when you were there. you are told you are not to receive what you have earned.
I agree with ” deny deny deny until we die ” statement when you fill out a claim for something from the time that you were there you are told ” you are not to receive what you have earn.
As a veteran who struggles with suicide ideation every waking moment I’ve come to a point that the VA will do what it wills. I was denied for 10 years in that time I lost my 4 boys and the time to raise them along with that was the divorce. They struggled to deal with me and my moods and stressful environment. The VA finally says it error in there decision and think that by paying $110k makes up for it. I’m now at a total of 80% I’m seeking 100% and I know they will push me aside. I got to make these people hear me!!! I’m in a new relationship and she is ever so patient I just wished she didn’t have to suffer my short comings from my military service. I just wanted to protect my country and now I’m trying to protect myself from my country. What a horrible life this is to be a veteran in America.
I am a female Army wounded warrior veteran. How does one become a part of the veterans experience teams to gelp other vets?
ive got agentorange .. I have these cists, lumps,big ones tiny 1s, feels like a million bumps scalp face neck,back butt legs,scars that look like a war zone,have 1 on my neck the VA lanced, cuz it was 2 close 2 jugular, now its hard as a rock, Big as a dollar and oooses putrid puss out,when turnning head,,,Iam tired of living in this SKIN the U S Gov.. Gave Me!!! went 2 VA in portland ore for Derm. they couldnt do nottha ,.. give me pills, lotions,.. I wanted them cut out
All these promises. No action. The VA still does everything they can to make you give up. As a Minority Woman Veteran and living in Texas, not from Texas, VA staff and their leaders still drop the ball daily. Furthermore Mr. President, why is it that you have no minorities or woman in leadership standing with you while you sign your law. Until the red tape is removed and the good oh boy system is stop. The VA will go on as if everything you say doesn’t touch them. I live in a place where I’m purposely ignored due to ethnicity. I have no one who is standing up for me other than my husband and children. Veterans groups here have not shown me any respect or comradery. I fought 15 yrs for the drops I have now and the Waco VA still has my medical side all messed up. Purposely destroyed medical records. Cloning notes, I mean breaking ADA laws all over the place. They don’t care. No one does. They just smile hard for the cameras and go on about their business. The VA where I am is one of the main sources of my stress. Alone am I. With my head still held high.
Cam Cook has the real scoop on this.. the ‘executive order’ is nothing but window dressing. The VA gets millions of dollars for Suicide Prevention Education and they don’t bother to spend it. Doesn’t anyone remember the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act from 4 years ago? This is just another distraction. Neither the VA nor the White House cares.
Tim,
I appreciate and respect your service as a Marine and continued service with the VA, but can you address why the VAs access to care website (https://www.accesstocare.va.gov/PWT/SearchWaitTimes) is GROSSLY inaccurate??
Across the board grossly FALSE and not at just one facility. The website will say the wait is 3-5 days for primary care and 5-7 days for BH, but when I call to make an appointment its 4-5 weeks for primary care and 7-9 WEEKS for BH. The dentist is 6 months or more…..
The VA uses the data from this website to report grossly inaccurate data to our legislatures. Forget about the wasted tax money to fund it. Since you are a Veteran you can test the system yourself by using the above website for the wait times at the VA you use and then call to see what the actual wait time is.
Respectfully,
Darin
Gulf War 91 DOHA Kuwait I was exposed to toxic smoke from the oil well fires 24/7 for 4 months. Black stuff was constantly coming out of our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. A fire started in our motor pool cooking off rounds for 3 days, then we were sent in for clean up exposing us to DU Depleted Uranium. I was also bit during sleep by what doctors diagnosed and treated me for either a poisonous spider or scorpion. Antibiotics inflammation pain dizziness shortness of breath IBS etc..etc.. Most of my Gulf War Syndrome/Illness started while I was in Kuwait. It would be another 10 years before it had a name. I had served almost 3 years of the 4 that I signed for. They told me they could give me an Honorable Discharge but it would have to be listed personality disorder. They could not understand my declining health, PTSD, shortness of breath, IBS, etc…AND NEITHER COULD I. I was a super soldier. Joined right after graduating HS. Airborne Infantry Lean Mean Fighting Machine. Ft.Benning, Germany, Saudi, Kuwait, Germany, 82 Airborne and then I was age 21 and sick as could be. Multiple digits for hospitalizations and surgeries and over 20 years of paper wars SS was a 7 year battle but 100% permanent and total VA took over 20 years. I will be blessed if I live 10 more. VA rather tell soldiers they have a personality disorder than pay them service connected disability for PTSD. I later got personality disorder removed from my DD214 and they changed it to Secretarial Authority. I was later diagnosed 30% PTSD and 0% TBI. I am also being treated for depression taking Zoloft. I see a va shrink about every 3 months but the va system I am in has had many changes so I am on my 7th va shrink in 12 years in this area va system. 2 retired, 1 got a job outside the va, etc.. I have nightmares, sleep disorder/disturbance, chronic pain, anxiety, panic attacks(New shrink means they always want to change my meds even if I tell them I have been doing a little better, they will change my meds anyway. Makes it even harder to adjust. If MM becomes legal Federally, I would probably stop my opioid contract, let the VA keep their 30-40 pills a day and just do MM the rest of my days. Most likely better for me and I would probably live better and feel better mentally, physically, and spiritually.
It’s way too late, I have been telling the VA, the White House VA team along with the Under Secretary of the VA’s office the past couple of years in emails that I sent to them and speaking with them that the VA doesn’t care about the Veterans, they have made it perfectly clear to me on several occasions that they wish I would just quit trying so hard with my claims and other things they don’t need the aggregation from the Vets calling and trying to get information over and over. 2 departments told me that it would not hurt their feelings if I quit and just give up because it would be 1 less extra person they have to deal with. I hear all lot of Vets in the halls say they can’t take the way there being treated like I have been treated for over 33 years and I have physical proof this past year that they refused to even use, and these Vets say they’re going to leave because they can’t deal; with this anymore. The problem is and always has been being the VA system. They refused any service for me for the first 23 years which made the injuries permanent and now at 33 years I’m at 100% but it took 28 years to do it with all the evidence from all the records that the VA didn’t want to use. And I should be DEAD now because I tried suicide twice but somehow someone was looking out for me. So President Trump signing the executive order to empower Veterans and end Veteran suicide is a little too late and not going to do enough to help in my opinion.
This is just my opinion from what I had to live and deal with and heard from fellow Veterans for 33 years. There are other stories that have possibly better turn outs than mine but this is mine and just my 2 cents.
What about the people from Camp Lejeune thet drink contaminated water water that causes cancers nerve damage miscarriages low birth weight. I could go on with more but that’s enough how about helping them or should I say me thanks for listening temper fi
Smoke and mirrors and POLITICS. Wanna fix the VA? End the cycle of government as usual. You know what I mean….SNAFU.
This discussion has gone on since I got back in 2005. SNAFU. Its STILL being discussed!!!
How do you fix it? Cant. Warriors will be cared for when its profitable for somebody.
In US government, it’s about money…nothing else. SNAFU. I tried to see someone….but I guess I wasn’t damaged enough. My situation would be “evaluated by the committee…” Never got an appointment or a call. VA complaints???Still going on. SNAFU.
So….my take? Nothing will change. $$$$$$$$$ only thing politicians care about. “Smoke gets in your eyes……”
1. Contact the Congressman serving your District/State.
Let him get involved in assisting you to see the appropriate person at your local VA. It’s PART OF HIS JOB !
2. Get a diagnosis and get the help from the VA that you have earned with your service.
3. Call your local DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Service Representative (look in local phone book under Govt.) and arrange an appointment to speak with them in filing your claim. You do nothing – allow the DAV do it for you (that’s what they DO).
Good Luck Brother.
SEMPER FI
SSgt. JJ Little Eagle – Freeman
Service Connected Disabled Veteran
U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War
With all due respect, I have never encountered ANY VSO that was worth the time to it takes to hear them say their name. I don’t need a VSO for my claim, but I have tried to help several Veterans and have linked them up with other VSOs from multiple organizations. 100% of the time, including the VSO from the DAV, was absolutely worthless. I would caution any veteran from counting on a VSO for assistance.
Contact the Congressman serving your District/State.
Let him get involved in assisting you to see the appropriate person at your local VA. Get a diagnosis and get the help from the VA that you have earned with your service.
Good Luck Brother.
P.S. Call your local DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Service Representative (look in local phone book under Govt.) and arrange an appointment to speak with them in filing your claim. You do nothing – allow the DAV do it for you (that’s what they DO).
SEMPER FI
SSgt. JJ Little Eagle – Freeman
Service Connected Disabled Veteran
U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War
Until VA ends the “Deny, Deny, Deny, until we die” perception we will not be able to reduce suicides as much as we need to.
I was affected by agent Orange I have has tremors for many years when will our government and our president stand up for me and many othe veterans who have fought in the war???
I struggle with daily functions and no one want to help very disappointing in our government and president please help. PLEASE ggandkd@aol.com (redacted)
The VA has a 50 million dollar media budget for raising awareness for suicide prevention which it was widely reported a fraction $56,000 was spent last year…that is a total disconnect to this article. Spend the money to get the word out about resources already there!!!!!
I wanted to ask the same question…. The VA continues to dodge the truth and refuse to address the real issues that either directly or indirectly cause Veterans to die prematurely. No one, including the new director, will answer why the VAs access to care web site is grossly inaccurate when listing wait times at VA facilities! It is BS!!!!